This week, the new compilation Now That's What I Call Music 9 debuts at Number One on Billboard's Top 200 chart after selling 419,000 copies its first week in record stores. Entering the chart in the Number 2 spot is The Best of Both Worlds by Jay-Z and R. Kelly, which sold 233,000 copies its first week out.
British actor, writer and musician Dudley Moore died at his home in New Jersey on March 27. The 66-year-old had suffered from the rare brain disorder Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for the past several years. Moore began playing piano at age 6. He later earned a music scholarship to study organ at Oxford University. Moore joined Peter Cook's comedy revue "Beyond The Fringe," and also teamed with Cook in several movies. In the 1970s, Moore moved to Hollywood and earned his big break in 1978 in "10." Three years later, he starred in "Arthur," a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
RCA Records plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death later this year with the release of ELVIS 30 Number One Hits. The album is scheduled for a late-October release. The project marks the first time Presley's thirty chart-topping hits have been compiled on one CD. In addition, BMG Heritage will issue a 4 CD box set in July. The collection will reportedly include more than 100 previously unreleased versions of Elvis' classics.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES: April 2
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
On March 24, singer-songwriter Randy Newman won the Best Original Song Oscar for If I Didn't Have You from the animated movie Monsters, Inc. It marked his first win in 16 nominations.
Howard Shore won in the other music category of Best Original Score for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
TOUR DATES/INFORMATION:
Paul McCartney will kick off his "Driving USA" tour on April 1 in Oakland, California. The outing, in support of his latest album, Driving Rain, marks his first major concert tour in nine years. 200,000 tickets to 14 of the show sold out in minutes. McCartney will perform in 20 U.S. cities through May 18th.
On April 4, the Dave Matthews Band will begin a 33-date North American tour in Washington, D.C. This time out, the group will scale down from its usual stadium shows to play arenas and amphitheaters. The Dave Matthews Band has been working on its next album, which will be out later this year.
Bob Dylan will kick off the European leg of his world tour on April 5 in Stockholm, Sweden. He wrapped up U.S. dates in late February. Dylan is performing the tour to promote his latest album, Love & Theft.