September 2, Schoolhouse Records will release Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen. The set includes Dan Bern's remake of Thunder Road, Nils Lofgren's version of Man at the Top, Elvis Costello doing Brilliant Disguise, Graham Parker's take on Pink Cadillac and Joe Ely's interpretation of Working on the Highway. All proceeds from sales of the tribute album will benefit the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, which was established after the death of Springsteen co-manager Barbara Carr's daughter. The Kristen Ann Carr Fund raises money for the fight against sarcoma.
Michael Jackson will open his Neverland Ranch to 500 invited guests on September 13. A ticket for two costs $5,000, but here's what they get: dinner, games, magic shows, and the chance to win a stuffed animal. Who could say no? Of course, they won't go away empty-handed. Jackson is handing out goodie bags worth $1,000 and guests will also receive an original painting by Brazilian artist Romero Britto. Michael plans to donate $1,000 from each ticket sold to charity (split between The Make A Wish Foundation, Oneness and the Brazil-based organization E Ai Como E Que Fica). He'll keep $4,000 from each ticket to pay for the party. Wow…there must be some great stuff in those goodie bags!
Bobby Brown was arrested on August 22 for failing to show up for a court appearance. The 33-year-old rhythm and blues singer was dining at an Atlanta-area restaurant with his wife, Whitney Houston, when he was found. Last month, a warrant was issued for Brown's arrest, but he hadn't been seen until a tipster called police to say he was at the restaurant. At his August 27 hearing, a judge ordered Brown to spend nine more days in jail, then he'll be placed on 60 days of house arrest. According to the Associated Press, Whitney Houston arrived at the courtroom halfway through the hearing and was heard to say "stay strong baby" as Brown was led back to his jail cell.
Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin will take part in the 2003 National Football League season kickoff. The September 4 event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. will precede the NFL's first game of the season. The Washington Redskins will meet the New York Jets at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland that same evening. ABC-TV will broadcast "NFL Kickoff Live From the National Mall" beginning at 8:00 p.m.
An update on the February nightclub fire in Rhode Island that claimed the lives of 100 people. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined the operators of The Station more than $85,000 for various violations. And, the Jack Russell Touring Inc., which represents the rock band Great White, also faces $7,000 in fines for failing to protect employees and patrons from fire hazards. A grand jury investigation into the cause of the fire is still under way. In the meantime, Great White is kicking off a series of benefit concerts on September 5 in Springfield, Virginia. All of the group's profits from ticket sales will go to victims and survivors of the fire. The group will also donate 100 percent of the proceeds from its memorial T-shirt sales to the Station Family Fund.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES/ SEPT. 2:
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
Floetry led the winners at the 2003 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, handed out on August 23 in Pasadena, California. The U.K. duo won in the category of Best R&B/Soul Album by a Group, Band or Duo for Floetic, and its hit single, Say Yes, earned two awards. Heather Hadley picked up two trophies. Her CD This Is Who I Am won for Best R&B/Soul Album by a Solo Artist and she received the Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist award for the single, He Is. Other winners included Erykah Badu, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Missy Elliott, who picked up two awards for her hit song Work It.
Nominations for the 37th annual Country Music Association Awards were announced last week. Toby Keith leads the pack with seven nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, an honor he won at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards. Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley and Johnny Cash earned four nominations each. Following close behind are Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, and Darryl Worley with three nods apiece. Vince Gill will host the November 5 show for the 12th consecutive year. CBS-TV will air the three-hour ceremony live from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House.
LOOK WHO'S GOING ON TOUR!
September 6, the Dixie Chicks will kick off an overseas concert tour in Stockholm, Sweden. The 17-date outing includes stops in Germany, the U.K., Ireland and Australia. The trio will wrap up shows on October 5 in Sydney, Australia. Alternative Country trio The Thorns, which consists of singer-songwriters Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, will open for the Dixie Chicks. As previously reported, the Dixie Chicks recently wrapped up the North American leg of its "Top of The World Tour," bringing in nearly $61 million in ticket sales.
Fleetwood Mac will begin the second leg of its 2003 summer tour on September 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi. The group's performing the trek in support of its latest release, Say You Will, which has sold more than 665,000 copies to date.