MUSIC NEWS: WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016
SONGWRITER GUY CLARK DIES
Ricky Skaggs says he loved songwriter Guy Clark for his heart, humour and country wisdom, and for giving him a number-one hit. Skaggs says his version of Clark's song ``Heartbroke'' is still one of his most-requested songs. Clark died yesterday at his home in Nashville at the age of 74. A cause of death was not given. Clark also wrote the number-one country songs ``She's Crazy For Leavin''' with Rodney Crowell and ``Baby I'm Yours'' for Steve Wariner. Other Clark songs include ``L-A Freeway'' and ``Desperados Waiting For A Train.''
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SINEAD O'CONNOR
Suburban Chicago police say they found Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor after she went missing earlier this week staying at a hotel.
Wilmette police spokesman Eric Peterson said Tuesday that 10 departments helped canvass area hotels. He said finding O'Connor safe Monday afternoon was ``a wonderful outcome.''
He declined to provide other details, including about where exactly O'Connor was found, her condition or where she is now.
A rambling message posted Monday evening on O'Connor's official Facebook page referred to emotional trauma she had been through over the years.
O'Connor scored an international hit in 1990 with her rendition of Prince's ballad ``Nothing Compares 2 U.''
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``I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING'' WRITER DIES
The ad executive who co-wrote ``I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)'' as a Coca-Cola jingle that turned into a pop hit has died. The New York Times reports Bill Backer died Friday in Warrenton, Virginia, at the age of 89.
Backer was inspired to write the jingle when his flight to England was diverted and he saw people who previously had been angry on the plane laughing together in the airport over coffee and Coke. The jingle was such a hit in 1971 that people called radio stations requesting it. The New Seekers recorded a version without the Coca-Cola references and took it to number 7 in 1972. The Hillside Singers had a version that went to number 13 the same year.
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TEJANO/COUNTRY MUSICIAN EMILIO NAVAIRA DIES
Emilio Navaira , the Tejano musician who crossed over into country music, has died.
Police in New Braunfels, Texas, say preliminary results indicate Navaira died of natural causes Monday night after he was found unresponsive in his home. He was 53. Navaira was one of the most popular creators of Tejano music in the 1990s. He had a top-30 country hit in 2005 with ``It's Not The End of the World'' and a hit country album with ``Life Is Good.'' He was critically injured in 2008 when he was thrown through the window of his tour bus while driving.
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JUSTIN BIEBER SAYS ``SORRY'' TO ARGENTINA
Justin Bieber is apologizing to his fans in Argentina for not bringing his world tour there, but he's got a pretty good excuse: he faces jail time if he goes there. Bieber tweets he would love to perform there but he adds, ``Until the legal conditions change there I can't.'' He says Argentina is one of his favourite places to tour but ``my lawyers say it is what it is.''
Bieber is charged with allegedly telling his bodyguards to attack a photographer in 2013. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to show up in court. The warrant was dropped but the charges still stand.
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KESHA DENIED PERMISSION TO PERFORM AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
Music producer Dr Luke has blocked Kesha's participation in the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. Kesha was supposed to perform on Sunday's show and had to get written approval from Dr Luke's Kemosabe Records to do it. Dick Clark Productions, which is putting on the show, has issued a statement saying Kemosabe rescinded the approval following a media report from last Wednesday. It did not give details on the report.
However, last Wednesday celebrity gossip site T-M-Z quoted unnamed sources as saying Kesha was planning to reference her ongoing legal battle with Dr Luke in the performance. Representatives for Kesha and for Dr Luke could not be reached for comment.
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ERIC CLAPTON SAYS HIS MYSTERY GUEST IS NOT GEORGE HARRISON
Eric Clapton swears he did not bring George Harrison back from the dead for his new album, ``I Still Do.'' A musician credited as ``Angelo Mysterioso'' contributed guitar and vocals to the record. Harrison used that pseudonym when playing on a previous Clapton album and could not be credited under his own name for legal reasons. Clapton says it's ``really sweet'' that people think it's Harrison, but he says it is not. Clapton says he brought back that name because the real artist's record company does not want him associated with Clapton. Clapton says he gave his word that he will not reveal who it is. ``I Still Do'' is in stores on Friday.
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ELTON JOHN CRITICIZES NORTH CAROLINA'S LGBT LAW
Elton John is jumping into the debate over North Carolina's law limiting L-G-B-T antidiscrimination policies.
John writes in The Hill blog North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory needs a lesson in compassion. John says the state is wasting millions of dollars defending the law and he wants his two children to grow up in a world free of hateful legislation.
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JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN AND RICK WAKEMAN UNITE
Yes fans will remember the late 1980s offshoot band Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. Now say hello to Anderson Rabin and Wakeman, or A-R-W. Original Yes singer Jon Anderson is teaming with guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman for new music to be released later this year and a tour that begins October 4th in Orlando. They have not played together since the 1990 Yes ``Union'' tour that featured members of the band from both the progressive years and the pop years. Wakeman calls A-R-W ``the holy trinity of Yes.''
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``OZZY AND JACK'S WORLD DETOUR'' COMING TO HISTORY CHANNEL
Ozzy Osbourne's road trip with his son Jack is coming to T-V this summer. ``Ozzy and Jack's World Detour'' will run as ten episodes on the History Channel beginning July 27th.
Their itinerary is simply historic places they've always wanted to see, like Mount Rushmore, Stonehenge, the Alamo and a Cold War missile silo.
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(The Associated Press)
MMVA Awards
Drake and Alessia Cara are leading the pack heading into the iHeartRadio Canada MuchMusic Video Awards next month.
The Toronto rapper and the Brampton, Ont., pop sensation are tied with seven nominations apiece, including nods for video of the year for Drake's ``Hotline Bling'' and Cara's ``Here.''
Cara is also nominated in the newly created best new Canadian artist category, alongside Coleman Hell, Dan Talevski, Jazz Cartier and Ria Mae.
Last year's four-time winner the Weeknd will have the chance to add to his trophy haul.
The Toronto R&B hitmaker _ whose real name is Abel Tesfaye _ is tied with singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes for six nominations apiece.
First time nominees include former One Direction member turned solo star Zayn, DJ duo The Chainsmokers, Haitian-Canadian musician Kaytranada and indie rock group The Strumbellas.
American supermodel Gigi Hadid will be hosting this year's telecast on June 19 alongside Much personalities Liz Trinnear and Tyrone Edwards.
(The Canadian Press)
