LOS ANGELES (AP) — “American Idol,” which gave the world Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson, has one more chance to mint a star before it fades into TV and music history. Whether viewers choose a future chart-topper or trivia question remains to be seen. But executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who helped translate Britain’s … Continue reading
KILEY ARMSTRONG, Associated Press Willie Nile, “World War Willie” (River House Records) Willie Nile is loud and proud. While other rockers merely strut around leathered and weathered, Nile takes one giant leap for mankind: glorifying the aging process with the party-hearty song “Grandpa Rocks” (its featured character depicted in a Clash T-shirt and dirty combat … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frank Sinatra Jr., who carried on his famous father’s legacy with his own music career and whose kidnapping as a young man added a bizarre chapter to his father’s legendary life, died Wednesday. He was 72. The younger Sinatra died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest while on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida, … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s estate has agreed to sell its remaining stake in a lucrative music catalog to Sony Corp. for $750 million, the entities announced Monday. The agreement for Jackson’s half-share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog will give the company sole ownership of works by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and other … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Fresh off his Grammy triumph, Kendrick Lamar has released a new batch of old music. The eight-song collection titled “untitled unmastered.” was made available Friday on iTunes, Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify and GooglePlay. None of the songs has a title, just what seem to be dates, ranging from 2013 to 2016. … Continue reading
by Jaquan Anderson Urban Control is a performance group started at NSU. Debuting in 2013, the performance group consist of dancers, music artists, poets and standout media personalities. Shaun Thompson, the creator of Urban Control is a senior at Norfolk State. Thompson has gained the respect of peers and spectators for the work he has … Continue reading
ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper A$AP Rocky said he came away unhurt after a recent fight inside a hotel elevator in New Zealand. Rocky told The Associated Press on Sunday that he was in a “fist exchange” that occurred early Thursday in Auckland, New Zealand. He’d performed a few hours earlier at Auckland’s Vector Arena. The … Continue reading
Bryan Washington of Spartan Echo TV at Norfolk State University shows us how college students who share a musical interest come together through the Province Workshop to form a fraternal brotherhood that bonds them through music. Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift is giving some financial assistance to fellow pop star Kesha as she fights to get out of a contract with a record producer she has accused of sexually assaulting her. A representative for Swift confirmed Sunday that Swift had donated $250,000 to Kesha in a “show of support” to … Continue reading
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer Sonny James, who recorded romantic ballads like “Young Love” and turned pop songs into country hits, has died. He was 87. James, whose given name was James Loden, died Monday in a Nashville hospice facility, according to a family friend, Gary Robble, who was the lead singer of James’ … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Forest Whitaker has not one or two copies of the script he’s memorized for his Broadway debut. Not three or four copies, either. Try five. The actor, director and producer pulled them out of his backpack recently and all of them were battered, underlined and soaked in highlighter. One was studded … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Kendrick Lamar has a chance to become the first rapper to win album of the year since Outkast took the prize in 2004 for “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.” He could also be the first rapper OF ALL-TIME — said in Kanye voice — to win song of the year. But if you … Continue reading
NEW DELHI (AP) — British rock band Coldplay’s latest music video has triggered a debate in India over its portrayal of the country with critics accusing its producers of showing stereotypical images of India with Hindu holy men, peacocks and colorful festivals. Coldplay featured Beyonce in their Super Bowl half-time show Sunday, but they didn’t … Continue reading
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia judge is giving Robert Williams at least three months to earn back his status as rapper Meek Mill. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley on Friday ordered Mill to serve 90 days on house arrest, effective March 1, for violating the terms of his parole in a 2009 drug and gun … Continue reading
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Paul Kantner, an original member of the 1960s rock group Jefferson Airplane who stayed with the San Francisco-based band through its transformation from hippies to hit makers as the eventual leader of successor group Jefferson Starship, has died at age 74. Kantner, who drew upon his passion for politics and science … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 