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Alessia Cara shares how her heritage influenced her career path: “Italians love our music”

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Alessia Cara opened up about her childhood in a new interview, revealing how her family’s love of music paved the way to her becoming a global superstar.

Speaking with Billboard, the “Sweet Dreams” singer, born Alessia Caracciolo, reminisced about growing up in a traditional Italian household in Ontario, Canada. Her parents were on the stricter side, banning sleepovers and stressing the importance of school.

However, Alessia recalls a childhood filled with music.

“Italians love our music and we love to dance and we love to be loud. So that was always kind of around my life,” the singer grinned. “My mom would play the tambourine when we were kids, and we would dance around.”

Alessia was given her first guitar when she turned 10 and the rest was history.

“I feel like I learned manifestation before I knew what manifestation was, because I really would just pretend that I was already successful. I would do fake interviews in my shower and in my room and talk to no one, fake acceptance speeches — the whole thing,” she confessed. “All of the fake acceptance speeches I had done in my room as a kid had just totally come full circle.”

Alessia won the 2017 Grammy for Best New Artist, and took home trophies at the Juno Awards, the VMAs and more.

However, the biggest award came in 2015: It was her dad’s reaction after she performed on TV for the first time, singing “Here” on The Tonight Show.

She tells Billboard, “I remember going backstage after it was done, and he had tears in his eyes… He didn’t want to say it, but I know he cried a little bit. It was really sweet.”

Romantics guitarist Mike Skill releases solo version of band’s classic tune “What I Like About You”

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Founding Romantics guitarist Mike Skill has released a new version of his band’s classic 1979 tune “What I Like About You” in advance of his debut self-titled solo EP, which is due out on September 10.

The updated rendition of “What I Like About You” is available now on all streaming services, including Spotify, SoundCloud and Bandcamp. The track features Skill on lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and bass, as well as current Romantics member Brad Elvis on drums and Patrick Harwood on harmonica.

Skill co-wrote “What I Like About You” with Romantics frontman Wally Palmar and the band’s founding drummer, Jimmy Marinos, who sang the original version of the tune.

Recalling how the song was born one day before a Romantics rehearsal, Skill says, “I offered that I had this new idea…I opened with the simple chords, and [Marinos] jumped in with his signature animal groove…and [he] instantly dropped in singing, scatting, jamming in free form, sketching a lyric, throwing words against the wall to see what would stick, as I scatted with backups…’Uh huh, Hey! Uh huh!'”

The song appeared on The Romantics’ 1980 self-titled debut album, and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #49, although the tune’s popularity continued to grow in the ensuing years.

Skill’s forthcoming EP also will be released on vinyl later in 2021.

Questlove says Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee and his “awesome team” were assets in making ‘Summer of Soul’

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson admits he was “in panic mode” when he decided to put out his directorial debut Summer of Soul, a documentary-film which chronicles the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.

“I called Ava [DuVernay] up a lot,” Thompson reveals to ABC Audio. “Just to get names.. and know, “[Who] should I look for — a writing director, cinematographer?’ That sort of thing.'”

While the Roots drummer shares that he “called up” other directors like Ernest Dickerson and Spike Lee to get advice, he says he felt comfort in knowing that he “also had the right team.”

“I.. was fully transparent with them,” Questlove says. “Like, ‘Look, this is my first time driving this thing. If there’s anything you see that could put us in hot water or that you feel could be better, I’m wide open to it.”

Thompson says those helping him along the way included his “awesome team of producers” and editor, who he says understood the importance of capturing the essence of the music-centered film.

“So even… the rhythm that we used for this film was important,” Questlove notes. “We assembled the perfect team to help deliver this message to the people.”

Summer of Soul is available in theaters and on Hulu.

‘John Wick’, ‘Mad Men’, ‘Dirty Dancing’ NFTs are coming, thanks to new deal with Tom Brady’s Autograph platform

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lionsgate, the studio behind the hit John Wick and Hunger Games movie franchises, has just inked a deal with legendary quarterback Tom Brady‘s Autograph platform to create non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, of those and other entertainment properties.

Autograph announced a “new era of collecting” by also revealing NFT arrangements with the Super Bowl champ’s fellow sports icons, including Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Derek Jeter, Naomi Osaka and Tony Hawk, who sit on the company’s advisory board.

Autograph’s just-announced partnering with digital sports entertainment company DraftKings Inc. will let fans “seamlessly buy, sell and trade digital collectibles across sports, entertainment and culture using their existing DraftKings account.”

The first wave of content developed by Autograph and Lionsgate will focus on franchises including John Wick, The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga, as well as Mad Men and Dirty Dancing.

Just don’t put your NFT of Baby in a corner. Nobody does that.

The Black Keys announce trio of intimate Southeast shows

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Black Keys are “Going Down South” this fall for a trio of intimate tour dates.

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney will play Athens, Georgia, on September 20, St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 21, and Oxford, Mississippi, on September 23. The trek is dubbed the World Tour of America, a reference to each stop on the itinerary being named after a city from another country.

“Dan and I have joked about doing a tour of American cities named after other cities in the world since we were touring together in a van,” Carney says. “It feels like now is as good a time as any, and we are excited to play in some places we haven’t played since the early days of the band and for fans that have not had a chance to see us in a while.”

Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 23, at 10 a.m. local time via TheBlackKeys.com.

Along with the tour, The Black Keys have also announced a partnership with the Save the Music Foundation to raise money for music education programs in Mississippi schools.

The Black Keys released a new album called Delta Kream this past May. It’s a collection of covers paying tribute to Mississippi hill country blues artists including R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough.

Brisbane awarded 2032 Summer Olympic Games

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(BRISBANE, Australia) — The 2032 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Brisbane, Australia, the International Olympic Committee confirmed on Wednesday.

The IOC steered the bidding for the 2032 Games towards Brisbane, avoiding rival bids. The city was given exclusive negotiating rights in February, leaving officials in Qatar, Hungary and Germany disappointed with the failure of their own planned bids.

It will be the first Games in Australia since the 2000 Olympics in Syndey. Prior to that, Melbourne hosted the Olympics in 1956.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the IOC that Australia knows “what it takes to deliver a successful games.” That, in an 11-minute video call with IOC members.

Brisbane is the latest host city to be named, and will follow the Summer Games in Paris in 2024, and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The IOC describes the Brisbane project as “a passion-driven, athlete-centric offer from a sports-loving nation.”

Events will be held across the Australian state of Queensland. The city of Brisbane says it already has more than 80 percent of stadiums and event venues in place, which will allow it to avoid excessive spending.

Listen to new Coheed & Cambria track, “Shoulders”

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Coheed & Cambria has dropped a new song called “Shoulders.”

The ripping tune, which you can download now via digital outlets, follows Claudio Sanchez and company’s 2018 album, Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures, as well as their 2020 single “Jessie’s Girl 2,” a sequel to Rick Springfield‘s ’80s hit.

“Shoulders” is accompanied by a sci-fi lyric video, which might hint at the direction Coheed’s ever-expanding concept might take with future releases. You can watch that now streaming on YouTube.

In a recent interview with Heavy Consequence, Sanchez shared that a new Coheed album is indeed in the works, describing it as a “modern record.”

“It’s a Coheed and Cambria record, but it’s looking forward, not backwards,” he said.

Coheed will launch a U.S. co-headlining tour with The Used in August.

Tiger Woods opens up to Jada Pinkett Smith about parenting

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Tiger Woods is opening up about life and parenthood in his new series, A Round with Tiger: Celebrity Playing Lessons.

The first episode, which was filmed just one day before he was seriously injured in a California car crash on February 23, debuted Tuesday on Golf Digest and features Jada Pinkett Smith. The two engaged in a round of golf as they discussed an array of topics, including parenthood, where 45-year-old Woods shared what he’s learned from his daughter, 14-year-old Sam.

“I don’t like boys,” he joked, before adding that she’s “daddy’s little girl.”

“She’s definitely taught me how to be more patient,” he added. “I don’t ever want her to leave home.”

The five-time Masters winner is also father to 12-year-old son, Charlie, and revealed that he didn’t coach his son on how to play golf because he didn’t want him to feel any pressure. However, it seems even without the coaching, Charlie inherited some of his father’s skill.

“He just watches me do it, and then he kind of does it,” Woods said of Charlie, agreeing with Pinkett Smith that his son is “a natural.”

Woods also opened up about the discipline and resilience he practiced, stating, “I’m always fighting, you know, and I’m always trying to get better. That’s all I know. I feel like I’m never out of the fight, you know, in that regard. I’m always pushing.”

Woods is still recovering from his car crash injuries. Golf Digest begins the video with a title card the states it was released “with the blessing of Tiger and his guests.”

Dolly Parton recreates her 1978 Playboy Bunny outfit for husband Carl Dean’s birthday

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dolly Parton gave her husband Carl Dean a birthday he’d never forget. To mark his 79th birthday, the country legend slipped into the iconic bunny outfit she wore on the cover of Playboy in 1978.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Parton — who was all dolled up — revealed how she planned on spoiling her husband of 54 years.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m dressed like this. Well, it’s for my husband’s birthday,” the “Jolene” singer explained. “Remember some time back I said I was gonna pose on Playboy magazine when I’m 75? Well, I’m 75, and they don’t have a magazine anymore!” Playboy stopped publishing its print magazine last year.

Although Dolly was unable to pose for the physical magazine, she was able to do the next best thing — make her very own magazine cover.

“My husband always loved the original cover of Playboy. So, I was trying to think of something to do to make him happy,” the 10-time Grammy winner grinned. “He still thinks I’m a hot chick after 57 years and I’m not gonna try to talk him out of that!”

“What I did for his birthday is that I did a little photoshoot in this lil’ outfit and I had a cover made of the new Dolly… The old new Dolly,” she dished, before showing off a side-by-side comparison of her 1978 cover and its 2021 reboot.

“In the first one, I was kind of a little butterball in that one,” the Emmy nominee winked while pointing to her younger self. “Well, I’m string cheese now! But he’ll probably be thinking I’m cream cheese… I hope.”

Dolly revealed she planned on ambushing her husband later while singing to him. The video ended on a still of Dolly, all dressed up, surprising Carl.

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Adele’s been dating LeBron’s agent for a “few months,” ‘People’ reports

July 21, 2021 by WDNY Radio

After they were spotted together at Game 5 of the NBA Finals over the weekend, rumors began to circulate that Adele is dating Rich Paul, LeBron James‘ agent. Now a source confirms to People magazine that the two are indeed a couple.

The source says Adele, 33, has been dating Paul, 40 for “a few months.” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst also stated that the game marked the first public outing for Paul and “his girlfriend.”

The source adds that Paul was previously in a relationship with Jennifer Meyer, the ex-wife of actor Tobey Maguire. In addition to LeBron, Paul represents Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis, Lonzo Ball and more through his agency, Klutch Sports Group.

Adele split from her her husband, Simon Konecki, the father of her eight-year-old son, Angelo, in 2019. Since then, she’s also been linked to British rapper Skepta, but that romance has never been confirmed.

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