Usher Wins Dominate AMA Show

ColumbiaTribune: "Usher wins dominate AMA show, Singer takes home four awards.

Ushers year of astonishing success with the chart-topping, best-selling album 'Confessions' culminated with a clutch of trophies at the 32nd annual American Music Awards.

The suave 26-year-old singer was honored yesterday with a leading four trophies, including favorite male soul-R&B artist, best pop-rock album, best pop-rock artist and best soul-R&B album. 'Thank you for this moment. Thank you for this year,' said Usher, whose album sold more than 1 million copies in its debut week. 'Its been amazing.'

Yesterdays win underscores a host of awards Usher has received this year, positioning him to be a formidable factor in upcoming Grammy Award nominations.

It also was a good night for rap funksters OutKast, who brought home awards for favorite pop-rock band and favorite rap-hip-hop album for 'Speakerboxxx-The Love Below.' They also won best rap-hip-hop group."

Ol' Dirty Bastard Dies In Recording Studio

CBC News: "Ol' Dirty Bastard dies in recording studio"

The rap artist known at Ol' Dirty Bastard collapsed and died inside his recording studio Saturday. He was 35. He would have turned 36 on Monday.

He was dead by the time paramedics reached him. The cause of death is not known.

O.D.B. had complained of chest pains before collapsing, said a spokesperson for the record label.

The rapper, whose legal name is Russell Jones, recently finished serving a prison sentence for drug possession.
As a musician he's best known for his days as a member of the rap group the Wu-Tang Clan. His hits include, Shimmy Shimmy Ya and Got Your Money. "

Eminem's 'Encore' Is Just That

Cleveland.com: "Eminem's 'Encore' is just that: more of the same, few new gems"

The new Eminem CD, 'Encore,' comes out today, four days earlier than originally scheduled. His record company decided to rush-release the album after it was leaked ille gally on the Internet.

All the same, the controversial hip-hopper's latest affront begs the question: Why the rush? The most timely new track, 'Mosh,' already sounds dated. 'Strap him with an AK-47/Let him go fight his own war,' Eminem raps over an ominous groove, sounding a hard-hitting call to oust President Bush.

Spoiler alert! In case you missed it, Bush was re-elected last week. The Detroit MC formerly known as Marshall Mathers sets his sights decidedly lower on 'Just Lose It,' a club thumper with a whiff of latter-day disco. As he fires off potshots at Michael Jackson, the phrase 'fish in a barrel' springs to mind. "

Howard Keel "Dallas" Star Dead At 85

HealthTalk.Ca: "Howard Keel 'Dallas' Star Dead At 85"

Howard Keel, musical and television star died Sunday at his home in Palm Desert, California, from colon cancer, he was 85.

Born Harold Clifford Leek, the tall and muscular baritone starred in several major films, including, 'Annie Get Your Gun,' 'Show Boat,' 'Calamity Jane,''Kiss Me Kate' and 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.'

When musicals became out of fashion in the 1960s, his singing was no longer in fashion and Keel took many secondary non-singing parts in Westerns, until the age of 66, when he suddenly became a star again.

Keel shot to fame as 'Clayton Farlow,' J.R. Ewing's step-dad on the hit television series Dallas. Keel co-starred on the show for 11 years, until it was cancelled in 1991."

Snoop Dogg Bumped Up

Music: "Snoop Dogg Bumped Up
R&G: (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece now to release on Nov. 16.

Originally slated to hit stores on Tuesday November 23rd, Snoop Dogg's new album R&G: (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece has moved its release date up a full week and will now be released by Geffen Records on Tuesday November 16th.

Retail is expecting a huge smash since the first single, from the album, the Neptunes' produced 'Drop It Like It's Hot,' has raced up the charts and is currently a #1 single at Urban radio and #4 at Crossover radio. In fact, the buzz from the single is so hot that Jay-Z flew Snoop into New York earlier this week to perform the song with the Neptunes' Pharrell Williams at his sold out Madison Square Garden show.

Snoop will undoutedly reprise that performance when he and Pharrell perform 'Drop It Like It's Hot,' on the American Music Awards on November 14th on ABC and again on the Vibe Awards on UPN on November 15 with. Additionally, the two will do the song the following week on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Talks to hire Jay-Z in final stages

SignOnSanDiego.com > News: "Talks to hire Jay-Z as president at Island Def Jam in final stages"

Jay-Z is in final negotiations to become president of Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam label, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday.

Discussions with the superstar rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, have been going on for weeks. Barring any last-minute snags, a deal should be finalized within the next 10 days, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Since his first album in 1996, Jay-Z has achieved a string of radio hits, platinum albums and critical respect. After cranking out an album every year, Jay-Z released 'The Black Album' last year and announced his retirement from recording. He still remains a major concert draw and is now touring with R&B superstar R. Kelly.

Although many artists eventually become executives, it's a rare move for one with Jay-Z's current fame. "

Opera singer Robert Merrill dies

CBC News: "Opera singer Robert Merrill dies"

NEW YORK - Opera star Robert Merrill, the singer known for his powerful baritone voice and his rendition of the U.S. national anthem at New York Yankees baseball games, has died.
Reference books give conflicting accounts of his age, some saying 87 and others 85.

Merrill is credited with increasing the audience for opera by making it more populist.

'He was a great artist,' his most recent manager, Jim Murtha said. 'He brought opera across the country. He was one of the few who carried the recital business out and about. He really carried it into the hinterlands.'

Merrill was a fixture at New York's Metropolitan Opera, where he began a career in 1945 that lasted over three decades. "

Lip-Synch Mistake For Simpson

580 CFRA - News Talk Radio: "Lip-Synch Mistake For Simpson"

It certainly looked as though singer Ashlee Simpson has taken up lip-synching her performances.

On Saturday Night Live, Simpson took the stage for the second time, and before she started singing her hit single Pieces of Me, the vocal track started playing for the song she performed earlier in the show started playing.

An embarrassed Simpson left the stage. Her record company called it a computer glitch.

Simpson sang Pieces of Me at the Teen Choice Awards in August. Throughout the performance, she was flat and out of key. "