Music – Page 3245 – 105.7 WDNY

25 years after his death, Biggie Smalls is still one of the most celebrated names in hip-hop

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G, aka Christopher Wallace, was shot to death at a traffic light in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997 — 25 years ago today.

The murder is said to have been a culmination of rap beef between the East and West Coasts. There’s still much speculation about who killed the rap giant, including allegations against Death Row founder Suge Knight.

As reported by ABC News and according to 359 pages of court documents, Wallace was murdered as he left the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles after attending a post music awards ceremony. Wallace was in the middle of a three-car caravan when a dark Chevy SS Impala pulled next to him and fired several times into the passenger area where Wallace was sitting. He died minutes later at a local hospital.

The Brooklyn-born artist, who is arguably considered the greatest rapper of all time, rose to fame in the early ‘90s for his distinctive, relaxed delivery that accompanied his grimey, gangsta rap lyrics. He wrote and rhymed songs that mirrored his life growing up, portraying the hardships he endured as an overweight, only child, born to Jamaican immigrant parents and raised only by his mother, Voletta Wallace.

Over the course of Biggie’s short-lived but legendary rap career, he amassed a significant amount of accolades including five Source Awards, three Billboard Awards and four Grammy nominations.

Biggie’s 1994 debut album Ready to Die sold millions, his subsequent and final studio album Life After Death was released a few weeks after his murder and went on to peak at number one on three Billboard charts as well as chart in over eight countries.

Biggie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 and will forever be regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop musicians of all time.

Cold War Kids headlining 2022 Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Cold War Kids are headlining the 2022 Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival, taking place May 21 in New York City’s Central Park.

The annual event, now in its fourth year, aims to use music to raise awareness and funds for mental health issues and resources. The 2022 festival will focus specifically on the how mental health has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lineup also includes OutKast rapper Big Boi and “Best Day of My Life” band American Authors.

Along with their headlining performance, Cold War Kids will also be contributing a signed snare drum to a charity raffle, which you can enter by signing a petition supporting improved mental health crisis response services.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit SoundMindLive.org. If you can’t attend the festival in person, it’ll stream live on TikTok.

Women’s (Music) History Month: In the U.S., female artists are the best-known, most-liked

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s Women’s History Month, so now’s a good time to let you in on a little secret: While millions of fans might swoon over male pop stars like Bruno Mars and Nick Jonas, it turns out that in the U.S., it’s the female stars who are the best-known, and the best-liked.

MRC Data, the company that provides Billboard with the info it uses to compile its charts, has a new program called Artist + Genre Tracker, and used it to determine that out of the 10 best-known artists in the U.S., eight of them are women.

In fact, MRC Data says it found that at least 80% of the population knows who Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are. Only Justin Bieber and Kanye West come close to those awareness levels, says MRC Data, with Justin at 80% and Kanye, now known as “Ye,” at 77%.

But tellingly, the women blow the men away when it comes to likeability scores. 52% to 62% of people who are aware of those female artists say they like them, versus just 34% for Justin and 37% for West.

If you’re looking for Women’s History Month music programming, AXS TV is a good place to start. On March 12 starting at 2 p.m. it’ll air documentaries on Stevie Nicks, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton, and on March 19, starting at noon ET, AXS TV brings you profiles of female-fronted groups like Blondie, Eurythmics, The Pretenders and The Carpenters.

Kacey Musgraves to be honored with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kacey Musgraves is receiving a distinct honor from the LGBTQIA+ community.

The multi-Grammy winner will be bestowed with the Vanguard Award at the 2022 GLAAD Media Awards for her support for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout her career, including the release of her queer-friendly song, “Follow Your Arrow,” fighting against legislation that targets LGBTQ people, and taking part in GLAAD’s anti-bullying campaigns.

“THANK YOU x A TRILLION, @glaad,” Kacey writes on Twitter about the award, alongside a rainbow and heart emoji.

“From speaking out against anti-LGBTQ legislation in her home state of Texas, to raising awareness about bullying affecting LGBTQ youth, to uplifting the work of LGBTQ artists, Kacey continues to raise the bar for what it means to be an authentic ally and to inspire her fans to do the same,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis says in a statement.

Past recipients of the Vanguard Award include Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

The GLAAD Media Awards take place on April 2 in Los Angeles.

The Moody Blues’ John Lodge “really looking forward to” first solo tour since the pandemic started

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Moody Blues singer/bassist John Lodge returned to touring Tuesday night in Norfolk, Connecticut, almost exactly two years after he was forced off the road because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lodge has a three-week U.S. trek lined up through a March 26 show in Dania Beach, Florida, leading up to his appearance on the 2022 edition of the Flower Power Cruise.

“I’ve never had two years off [from being on stage] since I was like 14,” the 76-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer tells ABC Audio. “So, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it.”

In January, Lodge released a new live album titled The Royal Affair and After featuring performances from John’s stint on the Yes-headlined 2019 Royal Affair Tour and from his subsequent U.S. headlining trek.

The album is mainly made up of renditions of classic Moody Blues songs, and includes guest appearances by current Yes frontman Jon Davison on two songs, with a set list that reflects the one Lodge showcased on his 2019 and 2020 headlining treks.

Davison, who is friends with Lodge, joined John as a special guest throughout his previous tour, and Lodge says the Yes singer also is taking part in the new trek.

“I said to Jon, ‘You’ve go to go on the road with me,’ and he is,” Lodge tells ABC Audio. “[W]e’re gonna go have a great time.”

Meanwhile, Lodge says the set for this year’s tour, while similar to the one he played before the pandemic, will feature a few changes.

“I’ve been rehearsing some deeper cuts from The Moody Blues…for this tour, so it will be different,” he reveals.

Lodge also says he’s “really looking forward to” the star-studded Flower Power Cruise, which sets sail from Miami on March 28.

Carrie Underwood on what’s next: “I’m always working on something”

March 9, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Carrie Underwood has something up her sleeve, but she’s playing coy regarding what it is.

“I’m always I’m always working on something. Obviously, we can’t spill too many beans right now, but my fans know what I mean when I say ‘soon,'” she says with a laugh. “They actually hate it when I use that word because they’re like, ‘What does that mean?’ But it’s been been busy, for sure.”

While fans are eager to know what she has in store, the superstar has been keeping busy over the past few years. She released her last studio album, the acclaimed Cry Pretty, in 2018. One year later, she welcomed her son Jacob and hit the road on the Cry Pretty Tour 360.

The powerhouse singer has spent the past two years mainly focusing on her first Christmas album, My Gift, and companion gospel album, My Savior, both of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts, and in the top five on the all-genre Billboard 200.

The Cobra Kai fan also made a recent appearance in the season four finale of the Netflix series, performing “The Moment of Truth” from the soundtrack of the original Karate Kid.

Additionally, she and Jason Aldean took the stage at Monday night’s ACM Awards for a performance of their duet, “If I Didn’t Love You,” which was also named Single of the Year.

Five shows on all-star Beatles tribute tour postponed after member of “band’s team” tests positive for COVID

March 8, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Things have not gone so fab for the recently launched “It Was Fifty Years Ago Today: A Tribute to The Beatles” tour: Five consecutive shows have been postponed after someone associated with the participating musicians tested positive for COVID-19.

As previously reported, the trek features Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, founding Moody Blues and Wings member Denny Laine, Badfinger‘s Joey Molland, and former Chicago singer/bassist Jason Scheff performing songs from The Beatles‘ Rubber Soul and Revolver albums, as well as select tunes from their own careers.

According to a post on Rundgren’s Facebook page, the concerts were postponed “out of an abundance of caution…due to an individual on the band’s team having tested positive for COVID.”

The affected shows had been scheduled for March 5 in Westbury, New York; March 7 in Red Bank, New Jersey; March 8 in Annapolis, Maryland; March 9 in Medford, Massachusetts; and March 10 in Derry, New Hampshire.

The concerts will be rescheduled and tickets that have been already purchased will be honored for the new dates. More details will be announced soon.

The next scheduled date on the tour is a March 11 show in Staten Island, New York. The trek currently is slated to wrap up on March 27 in Kansas, City, Missouri.

Fine Point: Tears for Fears’ new album, ‘The Tipping Point,’ debuts at #8 on ‘Billboard’ 200

March 8, 2022 by WDNY Radio

After releasing their first new studio effort in over 17 years late last month, Tears for Fears is making an impact again on the U.S. charts.

The British new wave veterans’ new album, The Tipping Point, has debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200, tying the band’s second-highest chart position ever on the tally.

Tears for Fears previously topped the Billboard 200 in 1985 with Songs from the Big Chair, while their 1989 album The Seeds of Love also peaked at #8.

The Tipping Point also bowed at #1 on a number of Billboard charts, including the Top Album Sales tally, which is based on traditional album sales. The album sold 29,000 copies during the week ending March 3, according to MRC data. Of that 29,000 figure, 12,000 sales were for CDs and 9,500 were for vinyl LPs.

In addition, The Tipping Point currently is #1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums, Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales charts.

Tears for Fears will launch a U.S. tour in support of The Tipping Point on May 20 in Cincinnati. The trek, which will feature veteran alt-rockers Garbage as the opening act, is mapped out through a June 25 show in Wantagh, New York.

D.L. Hughley weighs in on Kanye & Kim divorce, Keyshia Cole gets personal on #Uncensored, and more

March 8, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NOTE LANGUAGE) In a recent interview with entertainment interviewer DJ Vlad, actor and comedian D.L. Hughley offered up his thoughts on Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s divorce.

DJ Vlad kicked off the Kanye/Kim portion of the chat by mentioning how he initially found humor in Kanye’s response to the divorce. But Hughley shook his head in disagreement before responding, “It’s never been funny.”

“He is stalking her,” Hughley said. “You can think it’s cute. If it was my daughter, I’d do something about it. I don’t think it’s funny.” He added that the “difference between [Kanye] and a restraining order is about 20 hits and a couple of hundred million dollars.”

R&B singer Keyshia Cole opened up about romantic relationships, past friendships and her late mother’s battle with addiction on Sunday’s premiere episode of TVOne’s #Uncensored. In the hour-long special, the 40-year-old Oakland, California native recounted the events that led to a fallout between her and rapper Eve.

“We’re walking out, and somebody grabbed her bag or something like that and I kind of turned around and slapped the girl,” Cole started to explain. “And Eve is really pissed off about that, like, we stopped hanging out.”

Cole said she was confused, telling Eve, “I slapped somebody for you, what the f*** is this?”

The premiere episode of #Uncensored, directed by TV personality Tami Roman, garnered kudos by fans who commended Cole for her transparency and openness.

Lastly, Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan are set to star in the upcoming I Am Legend sequel, I Am Legend 2. According to Variety, the film is in the works at Warner Bros. and will be produced by Smith’s Westbrook Studios as well as Jordan’s Outlier Society.

Mick Fleetwood tapped by pop star Harry Styles as the face of Styles’ new Pleasing campaign

March 8, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Many fans know that Stevie Nicks is very close with pop star Harry Styles, but now Harry has tapped one of Stevie’s Fleetwood Mac‘s band mates to star in the new campaign for his beauty and lifestyle brand, Pleasing.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, 74, is starring in the campaign for Pleasing’s new Shroom Bloom line of products, out on March 15. According to Vogue, the line features face and nail products, including four new shades of polish, as well as limited-edition apparel. The campaign was shot at Fleetwood’s home in Maui, Hawaii, and even includes a guest appearance from his pet pig, Tilly.

Mick and Harry first met eight years ago when the drummer took his twin daughters, who were 12 at the time, to see One Direction and then backstage for a meet-and-greet. But since Mick is six-foot-five, he wasn’t exactly fading into the background, and Harry, a huge Fleetwood Mac, noticed him. That’s how their friendship started.

In the photos, Fleetwood is wearing theatrical, colorful outfits and different colors of nail polish. “Oh, I loved that. I kept the varnish on for two weeks!” Mick tells Vogue. “Back in the day in London, I used to wear nail polish and all sorts of stuff, and the attitude was, ‘so what?’ It didn’t have anything to do with sexuality. It’s not about that. It’s about having fun.”

As for why Styles chose Fleetwood for the campaign, he tells Vogue that the drummer “is a magical man,” adding, “Mick is someone who brings me — and countless others — great joy.” He continues, “I felt there couldn’t be a better embodiment of Pleasing, or a person who could so naturally capture the wizardry that we love.”

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