Music News
1. Paul McCartney granted prelimintary divorce decree
By Associated Press - May 12, 2008
LONDON -- A judge has granted a preliminary decree of divorce for former Beatle Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.Justice Hugh Bennett says the divorce could be finalized in six weeks plus a day. He already has awarded Mills a settlement of $47.5 million.McCartney and...
2. Gospel singer Dottie Rambo dies in tour bus wreck in Mo.
By Associated Press - May 11, 2008
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- Joyce "Dottie" Rambo, an influential gospel singer and songwriter, died early Sunday when her tour bus ran off the highway and struck an embankment. She was 74.Seven other people on the bus were injured in the wreck about two miles east of Mount...
3. Cut-down `The First Emperor' returns to Met Opera
By RONALD BLUM - May 11, 2008
NEW YORK -- Less is more for Tan Dun's "The First Emperor."When the ambitious opera was given its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in December 2006, there were many interesting elements, both musically and theatrically. But overall, it was a mixed night, done in...
4. Former 'Idol' winner Carrie Underwood joins Grand Ole Opry
By JOHN GEROME - May 11, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Carrie Underwood is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. The singer joined the cast of the long-running country music show Saturday. Garth Brooks handled her formal induction and Vince Gill sang a duet with her."This really seems like a great...
5. 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Delta bluesman, outlasts them all
By CHRIS TALBOTT - May 10, 2008
JACKSON, Miss. -- With his 93rd birthday a month away, David "Honeyboy" Edwards admits it's getting hard to walk long distances.Fortunately for the man believed to be the oldest surviving Delta bluesman, fans and admirers never let him walk more than a few feet at a...
6. Toni Braxton's Las Vegas show to remain dark until June
By Associated Press - May 9, 2008
LAS VEGAS -- Toni Braxton's return to the stage on the Las Vegas strip has been pushed back for at least another month.A spokeswoman for Harrah's Entertainment says the target date to resume "Toni Braxton: Revealed" at the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel is now June...
7. Rapper DMX arrested for drugs, animal cruelty
By BOB CHRISTIE - May 9, 2008
PHOENIX -- DMX was arrested on drug and animal-cruelty charges following an overnight raid on the rapper's house Friday, authorities said. The 37-year-old rapper, whose given name is Earl Simmons, initially tried to barricade himself in his bedroom but emerged when a...
8. Mary J. Blige starts foundation to help women with careers
By Associated Press - May 9, 2008
YONKERS, N.Y. -- The queen of hip-hop soul is establishing a foundation to help women develop careers and gain self-confidence. Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute, who founded a youth-oriented brand consulting firm, say they're setting up the Foundation for the Advancement...
9. Correction: Missing Violin story
By Associated Press - May 9, 2008
NEWARK, N.J. -- In a May 5 story about a violin accidentally left in a taxi, The Associated Press misstated the date of violinist Philippe Quint's next New York performance. It is May 19 with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, not his Sept. 23 concert at Carnegie Hall.
10. Foxy Brown pleads guilty to menacing Brooklyn neighbor
By Associated Press - May 9, 2008
NEW YORK -- Rapper Foxy Brown has pleaded guilty to menacing a neighbor with her cell phone last year. She avoided jail based on time already served. Brown and neighbor Arlene Raymond got into a fight last July over Brown blasting her car stereo outside their Brooklyn...
11. LA judge rules in favor of Notorious B.I.G.'s family
By Associated Press - May 9, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- A judge has reinstated a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., reversing an earlier decision to dismiss the case.U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper threw out the lawsuit March 21 after determining the family...
12. Adkins records opening song for 'Black Gold' TV series
By Associated Press - May 8, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Trace Adkins, a former oil roughneck, has written and recorded a song called "Black Gold" that will open an upcoming truTV series of the same name.The show, which premieres 10 p.m. EDT June 18, follows three drilling crews in their quest for oil in...
13. Carly Simon charts new course with Brazilian-inspired CD
By CHARLES J. GANS - May 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Carly Simon was worried about preserving her voice as she rehearsed for her first public performance of tunes from her new CD, but she couldn't restrain herself as she got swept away singing the sexy title song, "This Kind of Love."Tall and slender, her blond...
14. Ne-Yo bringing awareness to foster care system
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - May 8, 2008
ATLANTA -- When he was younger, Ne-Yo watched from afar as his friends hugged their fathers -- and he wondered where his dad might be."A lot of aggravation was inside me," the 28-year-old singer-songwriter told The Associated Press. "Dad stuck around for a minute and...
15. Ne-Yo bringing awareness to foster care system
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - May 8, 2008
ATLANTA -- When he was younger, Ne-Yo watched from afar as his friends hugged their fathers -- and he wondered where his dad might be."A lot of aggravation was inside me," the 28-year-old singer-songwriter told The Associated Press. "Dad stuck around for a minute and...
16. Jammys bring Phish together again; awards show to end
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY - May 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Though the Jammy Awards were able to bring together the members of Phish for the first time since they broke up four years ago, the reunion may not have been everything Phish-heads had hoped for.While all members of the beloved jam-band appeared -- and two of...
17. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon spill wedding beans to People
By Associated Press - May 8, 2008
NEW YORK -- Mariah Carey really did get married to Nick Cannon in the Bahamas last week -- and they have the tattoos to prove it.The 38-year-old singer and the 27-year-old actor confirmed to People magazine that they tied the knot at Carey's Bahamian estate April 30...
18. DMX arrested for speeding, reckless driving in Ariz.
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
PHOENIX -- DMX was arrested after speed-enforcement cameras captured him in his bright yellow 1966 Chevrolet going 114 mph on a suburban Phoenix freeway.The rapper/actor was taken into custody Tuesday at his north Phoenix home without incident, the Arizona Department of...
19. Portishead back after 10-year hiatus with 'Third'
By JAKE COYLE - May 7, 2008
INDIO, Calif. -- As Portishead finished its meticulously sparse evening performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the typically reticent Beth Gibbons suddenly leapt off the stage and ran a 100-yard dash along the fenced-in crowd, exuberantly shaking...
20. Stare to become St. Louis Symphony resident conductor
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
ST. LOUIS -- Ward Stare will serve as resident conductor for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and music director of the symphony's youth orchestra.He will join the symphony's conducting staff in September for an initial two-year term in the newly created position of...
21. Lennon's `Give Peace a Chance' lyrics to be auctioned
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
NEW YORK -- A document containing John Lennon's lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance," written during the legendary 1969 Bed-in protest for peace, will be auctioned in London this summer. In the meantime, fans can see it at Christie's New York auction house through...
22. Frank Zappa's widow supports plans for Baltimore bust
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
BALTIMORE -- Frank Zappa's widow is on board with plans for a bust of the eccentric rocker in his hometown of Baltimore.Gail Zappa tells The Associated Press that she supports the project, which was spearheaded by Zappa fans from Lithuania.Baltimore's public art...
23. New postage stamp honoring Frank Sinatra to go on sale
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
WASHINGTON -- A new stamp honoring Frank Sinatra goes on sale next week.First-day-of-sale ceremonies for the 42-cent stamp will be held Tuesday at three locations familiar to the famed singer and actor. The price of a first-class stamp goes up a penny to 42 cents on...
24. Jury selection to start in R. Kelly's trial
By MICHAEL TARM - May 7, 2008
CHICAGO -- Attorneys in R&B superstar R. Kelly's child pornography trial are expected to begin questioning 150 potential jurors on Monday and it's unlikely any of his fans will be chosen to hear the allegations against one of urban music's biggest stars. The 41-year-old...
25. Cleveland Orchestra will tour Austria, Switzerland, Italy
By Associated Press - May 7, 2008
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Orchestra's summer tour of Europe will include festivals in Austria and Switzerland and first-time appearances in Milan and Turin, Italy.The tour includes 13 performances from August 17 through September 3. It will take the orchestra to...
