Marie Osmond’s Son Commits Suicide
by admin on Feb.27, 2010, under Music News, Obituaries
Marie Osmond’s teenaged son, Michael Blosil, has killed himself by leaping to his death around 9 p.m. Friday in Los Angeles, reports Entertainment Tonight, which quotes Marie’s brother, Donny Osmond, as saying, “Please pray for my sister and her family.”
According to ET, Michael left a note explaining he intended to end his life after a lengthy battle with severe depression that left him, he said, feeling as if he had no friends and could never fit in.
In 2007, Michael, then 16, entered a rehab facility. His mother said at the time, “My son Michael is an amazing young man, shown through his courage in facing his issues. As his mother, I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
The reason for the visit to rehab was never disclosed. Michael is one of eight children Osmond has raised with ex-husband Brian Blosil.
By March 2009, Marie told PEOPLE that Michael seemed to be turning his life around. He was finishing up his last year of high school while living with his mom in Las Vegas, where she and Donny headline a show.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Marie said at the time. “He’s got a 3.9 GPA in high school. He’s looking at scholarships to some wonderful colleges.”
A rep for Donny and Marie Osmond confirmed to PEOPLE that the show at the Flamingo Hotel was canceled Saturday night. It is being determined how long the hiatus will remain in effect.
Marie Osmond, one of nine Utah-bred Osmond siblings, began performing with her brothers at age 3. She has been outspoken about the trials of her own life in the spotlight.
In her 2001 memoir “Behind the Smile,” she detailed her battle with postpartum depression following the birth of her son Matthew. She also revealed that she had been sexually abused as a child.
She did not identify her abusers but said they were not family members.
In 2006, Marie’s rep denied that the singer had tried to commit suicide, attributing reports about Osmond to the postpartum she suffered.
Steven Tyler Back With Aerosmith And Ready To Tour
by admin on Feb.27, 2010, under Music News
MSNBC.com Reports that after Aerosmith’s turmoil that included public squabbling, threats of a lineup change and a rehab stint, the group is back and ready to rock.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have announced their “Cocked, Locked and Ready To Rock” European summer tour — with Steven Tyler.
The band made the announcement Thursday. It also posted a video on its Web site in which Tyler, sitting with the rest of the band, jokes: “I just auditioned and I got the gig.”
“We’re coming your way and rocking your world! Look out because here we come,” he says as he looks at guitarist Joe Perry and the group breaks out in laughter.
Aerosmith, which has been one of rock’s enduring bands over the past three decades, has been in limbo since Tyler fell off a stage during an August concert in South Dakota, injuring himself and forcing the band to cancel the rest of their summer tour.
After that, Perry expressed anger that the group had been sidelined and said Tyler needed to get his act together. For his part, Tyler was quoted as saying he was interested in going solo, and soon the band was talking about replacing Tyler with another singer.
In December, Tyler checked in to rehab for a painkiller addiction, a problem he blamed on years of injuries suffered while performing with the band.
In an interview this week, bandmate Joey Kramer said: “Everything right now in Aero-land is very copacetic. … We will carry on and do what we do best.”
As far as their latest drama, he said: “The one common denominator that we still all have is that we all love to get up on stage and rock out, play music and bring joy to people. And we let the other drama, as of late, kind of filter itself out by the wayside and concentrate on more of what’s important, which is the playing and the business at hand. “
The band, best known for hits like “Walk This Way,” has a long history of discord and overcame heavy drug abuse in the 1970s and early 1980s, but has been a mainstay in rock since enjoying a revival more than two decades ago.
Their tour starts in Sweden on June 10.
2010 American Idol Finalists Decided
by admin on Feb.18, 2010, under Music News
Auditions ended last night for the ninth season of American Idol, and the judges’ remaining picks for the Top 24 semifinalists were revealed. The Top 24 semifinalists are: (females) Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Michelle Delamor, Katelyn Epperly, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Ashley Rodriguez, Lilly Scott, Katie Stevens, Haeley Vaughn and Janell Wheeler; (males) Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia, Tyler Grady, Todrick Hall, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Alex Lambert, Michael Lynche, Joe Muñoz, John Park, Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban.
Female singers scheduled to perform Tuesday, Feb. 23 8/7c include:
Didi Benami
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Currently Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 23
Didi’s mother inspired her passion for music by singing to her when she was a little girl. She is currently pursuing a career in music in Los Angeles while learning to play the guitar and writing songs.
Crystal Bowersox
Hometown: Elliston, OH
Currently Resides: Toledo, OH
Age: 24
Crystal grew up on a farm in Northwest Ohio and has been playing music since she was 10 years old. She enjoys playing the piano and harmonica and spending time with her son.
Lacey Brown
Hometown: Amarillo, TX
Currently Resides: Amarillo, TX
Age: 24
Lacey began singing when she was 12 years old at churches and holiday parties. Before auditioning for IDOL, she was teaching classes at her parents’ church in Amarillo, TX.
Michelle Delamor
Hometown: Miami, FL
Currently Resides: Miami, FL
Age: 22
Michelle was born in Miami, FL, and began singing at age 5 in church. Prior to her IDOL experience, Delamor was working in retail and conducting a children’s choir.
Katelyn Epperly
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Currently Resides: West Des Moines, IA
Age: 19
Katelyn was born in Iowa City, IA, and has been singing since she was 2 years old. She is a sophomore at Millikin University in Decatur, IL, and enjoys playing the piano.
Siobhan Magnus
Hometown: Cape Cod, MA
Currently Resides: Marstons Mills, MA
Age: 20
Siobhan currently lives in Marston Mills, MA, and graduated from Barnstable High School in 2008. She has been singing since age 9, and counts glassblowing as one of her hobbies.
Paige Miles
Hometown: Naples, FL
Currently Resides: Houston, TX
Age: 24
Paige lives in the Houston area and started singing in church when she was 5 years old. During high school, she was a competitive cheerleader and an after-school tutor.
Ashley Rodriguez
Hometown: Chelsea, MA
Currently Resides: Chelsea, MA
Age: 22
Ashley has been singing since she was 5 years old. She recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she majored in music business.
Lilly Scott
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Currently Resides: Denver, CO
Age: 20
Lilly was born in Houston, TX, and grew up in Littleton, CO. Prior to auditioning for IDOL, she was playing music locally and was the lead singer of a band called “Varlet.”
Katie Stevens
Hometown: Middlebury, CT
Currently Resides: Middlebury, CT
Age: 17
Katie was born in Waterbury, CT, and has been singing since she was 3 years old. She enjoys playing the guitar, piano, flute and cello, and is a senior at Pomperaug High School.
Haeley Vaughn
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
Currently Resides: Fort Collins, CO
Age: 16
Haeley currently lives in Ft. Collins, CO, and is a junior at Poudre High School. In addition to playing the guitar, she is a member of the cheerleading squad.
Janell Wheeler
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Currently Resides: Tampa, FL
Age: 24
Janell began singing and songwriting in second grade. She graduated from the University of Florida at Gainesville in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre. She also enjoys playing the guitar and writing music.
Male singers scheduled to perform Wednesday, Feb. 24 8/7c include:
Lee Dewyze
Hometown: Mount Prospect, IL
Currently Resides: Mount Prospect, IL
Age: 23
Lee has been performing music since age 16. He graduated from Mount Prospect High School and enjoys playing the guitar and scuba diving.
Andrew Garcia
Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
Currently Resides: Moreno Valley, CA
Age: 24
Andrew was born in Compton, CA, and has been singing since he was 18 years old. He also enjoys playing the guitar and spending time with his son.
Tyler Grady
Hometown: Nazareth, PA
Currently Resides: Nazareth, PA
Age: 20
Tyler is currently a sophomore at Temple University in Philadelphia. He plays the drums and is the lead singer of a band.
Todrick Hall
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Currently Resides: Arlington, TX
Age: 24
Todrick grew up in Plainview, TX, and has been singing since age 10. After graduating from Bowie High School in 2003, he went on to perform on cruise ships and in theme parks.
Casey James
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Currently Resides: Fort Worth, TX
Age: 27
Casey has been singing since before he could speak. He enjoys playing the guitar and mandolin, and has been a full-time musician for the past 10 years.
Aaron Kelly
Hometown: Sonestown, PA
Currently Resides: Sonestown, PA
Age: 16
Aaron lives in Sonestown, PA, and is currently a senior at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. He also enjoys songwriting and photography.
Alex Lambert
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Currently Resides: North Richland Hills, TX
Age: 19
Alex was born in Fort Worth, TX, and has been singing since he was 9 years old. He is currently a senior at Richland High School.
Michael Lynche
Hometown: Astoria, NY
Currently Resides: Astoria, NY
Age: 26
Michael grew up in St. Petersburg, FL, and has been singing since he was in junior high. He played football for the University of Central Florida, and currently works as a personal trainer.
Joe Muñoz
Hometown: Huntington Park, CA
Currently Resides: Huntington Park, CA
Age: 20
Joe has been singing since age 12. In addition to playing the guitar, he is fluent in both Spanish and English.
John Park
Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Currently Resides: Evanston, IL
Age: 21
John began singing in the seventh grade. He is fluent in Korean, and is currently an undergraduate at Northwestern University. He also plays the piano, guitar and drums.
Jermaine Sellers
Hometown: Joliet, IL
Currently Resides: Joliet, IL
Age: 27
Jermaine lives in his hometown of Joliet, IL, and began singing at age 7. Before auditioning for Idol, he was singing in his local church and helping take care of his mother.
Tim Urban
Hometown: Duncanville, TX
Currently Resides: Duncanville, TX
Age: 20
Tim was born and raised in Duncanville, TX, and has been singing and playing the guitar since he was 13 years old. He and his nine siblings were homeschooled by his mother.
Next week, the Top 24 contestants will be split into two groups – 12 females and 12 males – who will each perform a Top 10 hit from the Hot 100 chart. The fate of these 24 semifinalists – one of whom will be the next American Idol – now rests in the viewers’ hands. See what happens when the competition heats up, nerves rattle, and contestants shine or fizzle out during the season’s first performance shows. The 12 female semifinalists will perform Tuesday, Feb. 23 8/7c and the 12 male semifinalists will perform Wednesday, Feb. 24 8/7c on FOX.
At the end of each performance show, the phone lines will open for at least two hours and American Idol viewers will be able to vote for their favorite contestants. Fans can use the branded toll-free telephone numbers (, -02, etc.) until 12:00 AM ET/PT (11:00 PM CT/MT), subject to time zone restrictions, and AT&T wireless subscribers can use their cell phones to vote by texting the word “VOTE” to the four-digit short number (5701, 5702, etc.) that corresponds with the contestant of their choice. Then tune in to see who America picks to continue in the competition when two guys and two girls are eliminated on the season’s first results show Thursday, Feb. 25 8/7c on FOX.
New version of “We Are The World” to debut during Olympics
by admin on Feb.06, 2010, under Music News, New Releases
The charity anthem “We Are the World” has been rerecorded by 80 artists who came together in the same Hollywood studio where the original was cut 25 years ago.
Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Brian Wilson and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder on risers at Henson Recording studios Monday night to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief.
“This one, the enthusiasm, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Lionel Richie, who wrote the original with Michael Jackson and oversaw the new version with music mogul Quincy Jones, 76.
Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery efforts after the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12.
“We Are the World — 25 for Haiti” will premiere this month during coverage of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC, according to a release from promoter AEG Live.
On Monday, stars converged on Studio A in the afternoon and stayed several hours. Richie and Jones worked with a select number of soloists, including Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, later into the night.
At one point during a break, the musicians broke out into an a cappella version of “Lean on Me,” a classic moment jump-started by singer Melanie Fiona leaning on another artist because her feet were tired.
Video: It’s a whiz-bang ‘We Are the World’ 2.0
Gesturing with her hands, and shifting her headphones from ear to ear, Barbra Streisand recorded her solo over and over, completely absorbed in the recording process and stopping only to correct her pitch.
Later, a who’s who of rappers, including Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J and Wyclef Jean, recorded an interlude written by Black Eyed Peas frontman and producer will.i.am.
Rapper Lil Wayne said he was blessed to record the tune but was surprised when told he would do Bob Dylan’s part from the original.
“I don’t know how to sing,” he said with a smile.
Asked how the earthquake had affected him, he said he had Haitian friends in Miami who lost relatives in the disaster.
The original “We Are the World” thundered up the charts when it was released in March 1985.
An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper.
The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, a nonprofit organization the singers founded to fund hunger relief in Africa.
None of the original performers returned Monday because none were asked, said Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live and also Richie’s manager.
“This is about a new generation mixed with an old generation,” Phillips said.
Proceeds initially are to go to the newly formed charity We Are the World Foundation LLC, and then be distributed to Haiti.
Some top music names were either unavailable or chose not to rerecord the original, Phillips said. Taylor Swift’s touring schedule kept her from joining, and Beyonce had returned to New York with husband Jay-Z, he said. Janet Jackson, who was out of town, will contribute vocals remotely, he said.
Filmed by Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Paul Haggis, the event was shot using 3-D cameras, a futuristic twist from the 1985 version. A few people dressed in head-to-toe green stood next to the celebrities as place holders so viewers would eventually be able to insert themselves into the star crowd, Jones said.
Josh Groban, flush from doing his high-flying solo, said: “I can only hope this can have the impact the original has had.”
Men At Work loses copyright lawsuit for “Down Under”
by admin on Feb.06, 2010, under Music News
The associated press is reporting that Australian band Men at Work copied a well-known children’s campfire song for the flute melody in its 1980s hit “Down Under” and owes the owner years of royalties, a court ruled Thursday.
“Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree” was written more than 70 years ago by Australian teacher Marion Sinclair for a Girl Guides competition, and the song has been a favorite around campfires from New Zealand to Canada.
The teacher died in 1988, and publishing company Larrikin Music owns the copyright to her song about the native Australian bird. Larrikin filed the copyright lawsuit last year.
“I have come to the view that the flute riff in “Down Under” … infringes on the copyright of Kookaburra because it replicates in material form a substantial part of Ms. Sinclair’s 1935 work,” Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson said.
He ordered the parties back in court Feb. 25 to discuss the compensation Larrikin should receive from songwriters Colin Hay and Ron Strykert and Men at Work’s record companies Sony BMG Music Entertainment and EMI Songs Australia.
Adam Simpson, Larrikin Music’s lawyer, said outside court the company might seek up to 60 percent of the royalties “Down Under” earned since its release — an amount that could total millions.
The songwriters and their recording companies did not immediately comment.
“Down Under” and the album “Business As Usual” topped the Australian, American and British charts in early 1983. The song remains an unofficial anthem for Australia and was ranked fourth in a 2001 music industry survey of the best Australian songs. Men at Work won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
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