Music – Page 3153 – 105.7 WDNY

Judith Durham of The Seekers, Australian group best known for hit “Georgy Girl,” dead at age 79

August 6, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Judith Durham, longtime lead singer of the Australian pop-folk group The Seekers, died on Friday, August 5, at age 79 after a lengthy illness.

According to a statement from Universal Music Australia and the Musicoast label, Durham died of “complications from a long-standing chronic lung disease,” and “passed away peacefully” Friday evening at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, after being admitted to palliative care earlier that day.

Formed in 1962, The Seekers were the first Australian pop group to enjoy major chart success in the U.S. and the U.K. The Seekers are best-known in the States for “Georgy Girl,” the title song of the 1966 comedy-drama film of the same name, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

The group also scored two top 20 U.S. hits in 1965 — “I’ll Never Find Another You” and “A World of Our Own,” which reached #4 and #19, respectively, on the Hot 100. In addition, The Seekers topped the U.K. singles chart in ’65 with “I’ll Never Find Another You” and “The Carnival Is Over.”

The Seekers disbanded in 1968 when Durham left the group to pursue a solo career, but they went on to reunite numerous times over the ensuing years. Most recently, The Seekers mounted a “Golden Jubilee Tour” celebrating their 50th anniversary that took place in 2013 and 2014.

Durham’s three Seekers bandmates — Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and Athol Guy — issued a joint statement following Durham’s passing that reads, “Our lives are changed forever losing our treasured lifelong friend and shining star. Her struggle was intense and heroic — never complaining of her destiny and fully accepting its conclusion.”

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted a tribute to Durham on his Twitter feed, calling her a “national treasure and an Australian icon.”

Def Leppard’s Rick Allen featured on wife Lauren Monroe’s new song “Void of Course”

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen is featured on a new song by his wife, singer-songwriter Lauren Monroe. “Void of Course” was released Friday as an advance track from her forthcoming studio album, Messages from Aphrodite.

Allen is part of a two-drum attack on the tune, along with Beth Goodfellow, who has also worked with such artists as Iron & Wine and Boygenius. The track also features cellist/upright bassist Steve Uccello and Larkin Poe guitarist Tyler Bryant.

Explaining the meaning behind “Void of Course,” which was inspired by an astrological term, Lauren says, “This song is an expression of anger, fear, desperation and knowing what can heal you but choosing the opposite. A pattern of our soul choosing self-love but not being strong enough to stay the course alone.”

“Void of Course” is available now via digital formats, while an official music video for the tune will premiere soon.

Messages from Aphrodite will be released on September 9 and can be preordered now. Allen contributes to multiple tracks on the album, while longtime Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers drummer Steve Ferrone plays on the recently issued advance track “Kiss Me Now.”

Meanwhile,Lauren recently announced a series of five West Coast shows to promote the album, running from a September 7 concert in Seattle through a September 22 concert in Venice, California. Allen will join his wife to perform at three of the shows — on September 19 in Mill Valley, California; September 22 in La Jolla, California; and at the September 25 gig in Venice.

Allen is currently on the road with Def Leppard on The Stadium Tour, which also features Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The trek runs through a September 9 show in Las Vegas.

Madonna teams up with rapper Saucy Santana for profane “Material Girl” remix

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Madonna is gearing up for the August 19 physical release of her compilation album Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones and celebrated its impending arrival with a new, profane twist on “Material Girl.” She partnered with rapper Saucy Santana to remix his viral track based off her 1984 hit for “Material Gworrllllllll!”

The track is available now via streaming services. A music video for “Material Gworrllllllll!” will premiere this Monday, August 8.

In other news, Madonna will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, August 10, to talk about her new compilation album. The 50-track physical version of the record will feature all of Madonna’s #1 songs on the dance charts.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Willow Smith chalks up father’s Oscars slap to being human

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Willow Smith is sharing her thoughts on the Oscars slap involving her father, Will Smith, and fellow Hollywood star Chris Rock. In an interview with Billboard, she revealed she wasn’t as bothered as the rest of the world when the incident occurred at the 2022 Academy Awards. In fact, when media scrutiny followed, she said it didn’t “rock me as much as my own internal demons.”

In Willow’s eyes, the slap simply showed that her father was being human — a right that is not always afforded to celebrities, like her entire family.

“I see my whole family as being human, and I love and accept them for all their humanness,” she said. “Because of the position that we’re in, our humanness sometimes isn’t accepted, and we’re expected to act in a way that isn’t conducive to a healthy human life and isn’t conducive to being honest.”

Willow’s thoughts come days after Will issued another apology for his behavior at the Academy Awards.

“I apologize to you, my behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” he said in a message to Chris. “There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There is no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”

Will also issued an apology to his fans, family, fellow nominees and Oscar winners, including Questlove, who accepted his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature shortly after the altercation.

Music notes: Lizzo, J-Hope, The Chainsmokers, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and more

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo is telling naysayers who claim “About Damn Time” isn’t the song of the summer to prove it — because J-Hope of BTS revealed he’s obsessed with the song. She took to TikTok to share the video of the K-pop sensation singing the track and saying it’s his “favorite song.”

How far would you run to meet The Chainsmokers? They revealed on TikTok a fan ran 2 miles behind their car to take a selfie with them — and the guys were so impressed, they gave him a snack! Well, it was a bite of Drew Taggart‘s hot dog, but the fan was so stoked, he began singing “Closer.”

Camila Cabello saluted the fifth anniversary of her breakout solo single “Havana” by reminding fans of when the unedited version of the music video’s dance scene was released by accident.

If someone runs up to you on the street, sticks a microphone in your face and tells you to sing an Ed Sheeran song — do it. Sheeran revealed on TikTok he does watch those videos and is judging people on how well they know his songs’ lyrics.

Speaking of Ed, he has a tattoo of a Heinz ketchup bottle — and Sam Smith just raised him a jar of Marmite. The singer revealed on TikTok that they got a jar of Marmite tattooed on their left calf.

The first slate of performers has been announced for the 2022 MTV VMAs and on the roster is J Balvin, Marshmello, Khalid, Panic! at the Disco, Anitta and Ryan Castro. The ceremony airs Sunday, August 28, on MTV.

New Rolling Stones docuseries, ‘My Life as a Rolling Stone,’ premieres Sunday

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The first episode of the recently announced four-part Rolling Stones docuseries My Life as a Rolling Stone gets its U.S. television premieres on EPIX this Sunday, August 7, at 9 p.m. ET.

As previously reported, the series, which was produced to coincide with the British rock legends’ 60th anniversary, features four hourlong episodes, each focusing on one of the band’s four main members — singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, and late drummer Charlie Watts.

The first episode profiles Jagger, and looks at how important the frontman’s creative vision and commercial sensibilities have been in guiding the band throughout its massively successful and influential career.

The Jagger episode will be available to watch for free via various cable and streaming services for 90 days after it premieres. The episodes focusing on Richards, Wood and Watts will debut on EPIX on August 14, August 21 and August 28, respectively.

My Life as a Rolling Stone will feature new interviews with Mick, Keith and Ronnie, as well as with Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Chrissie Hynde, Jon Bon Jovi, Joe Walsh, AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson, Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Tom Waits and Dan Aykroyd. The series is narrated by actress Sienna Miller.

Bow Wow tapped as host for BET’s ‘After Happily Ever After’ dating series

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Bow Wow is returning to BET after an eight-year hiatus, and no, it’s not for a 106 & Park revival. Deadline reports the star, whose birth name is Shad Moss, will host the network’s new unscripted dating series, After Happily Ever After, set to premiere this fall.

The show will see exes set their past lovers up in an effort to “help them move on and find love once again.”

As the host of the series, Bow will arrange singles parties attended by potential prospects and exes who are scouting matches for their former partners. The exes will then invite one of the prospects back to the house for a two-day period in which their past lovers will determine whether or not they’ll “keep the prospect or send them back to the singles pool.”

A few celebrity daters will make appearances, Deadline reports, though names have not been disclosed.

“We look forward to airing this entertaining dating series that will help singles find love. This show promises to be full of surprises, twists, and turns that will leave viewers asking for more,” said Tiffany Lea Williams, executive vice president of BET Unscripted Programming. “We are also thrilled to welcome Bow Wow home to BET and to partner with Bunim/Murray Productions, who has been creating unscripted hits for three decades and always delivers their latest guilty pleasures to viewers. We can’t wait to add After Happily Ever After to our winning portfolio of acclaimed unscripted shows that engage and delight fans across all of our platforms worldwide.”

Bow Wow previously hosted 106 & Park and expressed a desire to revive the music video show, but said BET wasn’t interested.

Carrie Underwood’s son has raked in “quite the hefty savings” doing gardening work for her

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Carrie Underwood’s 7-year-old son, Isaiah, is already exploring a budding career as a gardener.

The country superstar tells ET Online that she and her husband, Mike Fisher, pay Isaiah to do chores around the house, and he’s been making an impressive amount of cash working in her garden.

“My son’s been doing chores around our farm trying to earn money, so we will pay him for his work,” Carrie says. “He’ll go pull weeds in my garden and stuff like that, and he has quite the hefty savings.”

There’s plenty of work to be done: This summer, Carrie has been treating fans to glimpses into her expansive garden plot, where she’s growing tomatoes, snap peas, beets, squash, zucchini, mushrooms and more.

The singer’s soaking up every minute of summer at home with her family and her garden. In October, she’ll head out on the road once again for her Denim & Rhinestones Tour, which features Jimmie Allen as an opening act.

Silversun Pickups share new ‘Physical Thrills’ song, “Alone on a Hill”

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Silversun Pickups have premiered a new song called “Alone on a Hill,” which will appear on the band’s upcoming album, Physical Thrills.

The track, which is available now via digital outlets and streaming alongside a video now on YouTube, features bassist Nikki Moninger on lead vocals.

“This song exposes a side I didn’t know I had in me,” Moninger says. “It felt freeing, especially with everything going on in the past couple of years.”

“I’m grateful everyone gave me so much support during the recording process as I am a bit timid when it comes to hearing the sound of my own voice,” she adds. “[Frontman] Bri[an Aubert] just kept telling me to channel my inner Kate Bush.”

Physical Thrills, the sixth SSPU album, is due out August 19. It also includes the previously released single “Scared Together.”

Silversun Pickups will hit the road in support of Physical Thrills on a U.S. tour starting September 28 in San Diego.

CMT special celebrating Vince Gill’s career features Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs + more

August 5, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A slew of country A-Listers are joining forces to celebrate country music sensation Vince Gill.

CMT has announced an upcoming special to honor the hitmaker’s career, “CMT GIANTS: Vince Gill,” airing Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.

Some of the artists who will appear include Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Ricky Skaggs, who will perform Gill’s hits during the 90-minute special.

Gill, a 22-time Grammy winner, has made — and continues to make — an immeasurable impact in the music industry in both his solo career and his time in bands Pure Prairie League, The Cherry Bombs, The Time Jumpers and the Eagles.

During the upcoming CMT special, other top artists, including Keith Urban, Reba McEntire and Sting, will share their thoughts on his impact and some of their favorite memories of working with him.

Along with special photos and videos from notable performances throughout Gill’s career, the program will also include a new interview with Gill about “his career, his classic songwriting, musical influences and his future plans,” the network said.

Other artists who have been celebrated in the “CMT GIANTS” franchise include Reba, Hank Williams Jr., Alan Jackson, Kenny Rogers and Charley Pride.

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