June 10, J Records released Luther Vandross' new CD, Dance With My Father. The album features many guests, including Beyonce Knowles, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown and Stevie Wonder. Luther's mother, Mary Vandross, is making television appearances to promote the album while her son continues his recovery from a stroke he suffered in April.
Producer Phil Spector recently gave his first interview since being arrested in connection with the February murder of 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson. Spector told Esquire magazine that he's innocent and that Clarkson "kissed the gun" before taking her own life. He was released from jail on $1 million bail, but has not yet been charged. Authorities say it will take months to gather evidence in the case.
June 10, the Eagles released a new single and DVD. Hole In the World marks the group's first single in nearly 10 years and its first studio work since they recorded four new tracks for the 1994 live album Hell Freezes Over. The Eagles are gearing up for their "Farewell I" tour, which is set to begin on August 5. After completing the trek, the band will focus on completing a new album.
Led Zeppelin debuts at Number One on Billboard's Top 200 chart the week ending June 14, with its new 3 CD live set, How The West Was Won. Featuring performances from 1972 shows in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, it marks the British rock band's sixth chart-topping album. Their last was 1979s In Through The Out Door. Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980 following the death of its drummer John Bonham.
Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys plans to record a solo album. The release will feature songs in English and Spanish. The Backstreet Boys recently announced they will regroup soon to begin work on their next album for Jive Records. Group member Kevin Richardson recently completed his Broadway run in the musical Chicago and member Nick Carter just wrapped up a concert tour in support of his solo debut album, Now or Never.
On June 10, MCA Records released B.B. King's new CD, Reflections. The album contains the bluesman's versions of several jazz, pop and Country standards. They include songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Willie Nelson, and others.
Duran Duran is currently working on a reunion album, which will mark the group's first studio project since the 1985 single A View To A Kill. In the meantime, Capitol Records will release a 13-CD box set called The Singles Box 81-85 to celebrate the height of the band's career from 1981 to 1985. The collection will hit record stores on June 10.
On June 10, American Idol Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken will see the release of their debut singles. Studdard's Flying Without Wings and Superstar will compete on the popularity charts against Aiken's recordings of Bridge Over Troubled Water and This Is The Night. Both 24-year-old singers will have albums out in September.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES / JUNE 10:
MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:
The 2nd Bonnaroo Music Festival will be held June 13-15 at a 250-hectare farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The sold-out event will feature performances by dozens of artists, including Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Widespread Panic, the Dead, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris, Sonic Youth, and others. Organizers are encouraging attendees to camp on the farm grounds.
The 2003 Playboy Jazz Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary with two days of performances at the Hollywood Bowl. This year's headliners are Dave Brubeck, Dave Holland and Roy Haynes. Others in the lineup include Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs, Poncho Sanchez, Boney James and the jazz supergroup Guitars and Saxes, which features Richard Elliot, Steve Cole, Peter White and Jeff Golub. As usual, actor/comedian Bill Cosby will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
The 34th annual National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards will take place on June 12 in New York. This year's honorees include Jimmy Webb, Phil Collins, Queen, Van Morrison, Little Richard, Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett. Among the artists scheduled to present awards or perform at the event are Wynonna Judd, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Pink and Ben Taylor (James Taylor's son).
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR!
Carlos Santana will kick off his Shaman tour on June 11 in Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. dates run through July 14. Santana will then head overseas for the European leg, which begins on August 27 in Helsinki, Finland. He'll donate all proceeds from the entire tour to Artists for a New South Africa, which raises money for the fight against AIDS.
June 13, southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd will begin a European concert tour in Karlsruhe, Germany in support of its new album Vicious Cycle. Shows are also scheduled in England, Ireland, the Netherlands, and France. The group, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, will have just a few days to rest before starting the U.S. leg on July 5 in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Lynyrd Skynyrd's U.S. itinerary runs through September 30.
Country singer Jo Dee Messina will kick off her U.S. summer tour on June 14 in Pryor, Oklahoma. Curb Records recently released Messina's Greatest Hits CD, which includes three new tracks. The set debuted at Number One on Billboard's Country Albums chart.