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The late Quincy Jones made memorable contributions to General Hospital in the early 1980s, providing songs that were used for not one but two of the show’s most popular pairings – Holly (Emma Samms) and Luke (Anthony Geary), and later, Robert (Tristan Rogers) and Holly. Jones produced the song “Baby Come to Me,” which only hit No. 73 on the Billboard charts when it was first released in April 1982. Later, Gh used it to introduce “widowed” Luke Spencer finding love again with the enigmatic Holly Sutton. The song, performed by singers James Ingram and Patti Austin, swept viewers into Luke’s romance with the English beauty. While viewers heard the tune multiple times a week while watching Holly and Luke, the actors didn’t necessarily hear it as songs are added to scenes after they’ve been shot. “Music isn’t always played at the time of taping a scene,” Samms tells TV Insider.

The legendary Quincy Jones died at 91 years old. The music producer worked with greats like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He also had a soap opera connection. A song he produced aired on an episode of General Hospital.

Rest In Peace

People reported that Jones died on Sunday, November 3, at his home in Los Angeles. His family surrounded him as he passed. In a statement, his family said, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.

“He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with...

Francis Ford Coppola has directed some of the best movies in cinematic history, and while that's brought him financial success at times, his lowest-grossing movies standings have changed with Megalopolis. The Godfather helped establish Coppola as one of Hollywood's biggest talents behind the camera, and the mob crime movie proved he also had plenty of pull with audiences at the cinema. The Godfather's $243 million box office haul suggested that he'd have plenty of other major financial hits, but with his proclivity for risky projects, big budgets, and clashing with studios, that rarely happened after 1974.

Coppola still managed to deliver a hit in Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1992, as it is the only other of his movies to make over $200 million worldwide. None of the other Francis Ford Coppola movies made over $100 million (via The Numbers). The reality is that the director has had more big swings and misses at the box office,...

Angela Deem from 90 Day Fianc has been seen with multiple mystery men on social media post-split with Michael Ilesanmi. Angela's recent photo with an unidentified man and cryptic song choice hints at potential jealousy towards Michael. Angela's dating adventures may not be featured on TV, but she continues to tease fans with her love interests online.

90 Day Fianc: Happily Ever After? star Angela Deem has been spotted with yet another mystery man on social media amid her split with Michael Ilesanmi. Angela from Georgia went to Nigeria in 2017 to meet Michael for the first time. Angela and Michaels age gap led to trust issues between them. Angela also thought she was the best thing that had ever happened to Michael and treated him harshly whenever he didnt act as per her plans. Michael did use Angela eventually. He dumped her after he came to America. Fans think Angela deserved the treatment that she got.

Mumbai, Feb 5 (Ians) Jazz singer-songwriter Nicole Zuraitis lifted the trophy for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the currently ongoing 66th edition Grammy Awards. She won the honour for her album ‘How Love Begins’.

The Recording Academy took to its official handle on micro-blogging site X and congratulated the winner. They wrote, “Congrats Best Jazz Vocal Album winner – ‘How Love Begins’ @nicolezmusic . #GRAMMYs”.

Zuraitis defeated fellow nominees Patti Austin and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Fred Hersch & Esperanza, Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke, and Cecile McLorin Salvant.

Nicole’s album is a collection of original songs.

The 65th annual Grammy Awards, which recognises the best recordings, compositions, and artists are being held at the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles Trevor Noah as the show’s host.

–Ians

aa/sha...

The prime time Grammys telecast gets all the attention, but the afternoon Premiere Ceremony is where awards watchers can glean the greatest insights about the Recording Academy’s preferences. Like the Creative Arts Awards at the Emmys, it’s where the vast majority of trophies are handed out, perhaps cluing us in to who has the strongest chances of winning top prizes during the evening festivities. So who were the day’s big winners? Did anyone make history? Were there any major surprises? Scroll down for our live blog where we dish the afternoon’s biggest developments.

SEE2024 Gold Derby Music Awards winners: Clean sweep for Taylor Swift

Justin Tranter was the host of the show, which streamed live from the Peacock Theater on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.grammy.com starting at 12:30pm Pt/3:30pm Et. Tranter was a previous Grammy nominee for...

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The 66th Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 4 beginning at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah for a fourth consecutive year, will air live on CBS and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

The main Grammy ceremony will also be available to stream live on Paramount+ with Showtime, and on-demand the next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.

A livestream is also available on CBS through DirecTV Stream, which offers a five-day free trial.

The pre-show Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of the day’s Grammys will be awarded, kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Et/12:30 p.m. Pt Sunday and will stream live on live.Grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel. Songwriter-producer Justin Tranter will host.

Other...

With more than 90 awards to hand out this year, the Grammys can’t afford to limit itself to a single televised event. Enter the Premiere Ceremony.

Streaming live at 3:30/2:30c, the Justin Tranter-hosted event will give out the first awards of the year. In fact, more Grammy winners will be announced during the Premiere Ceremony than during the main event, which will air live at 8 pm on CBS.

More from TVLineGrammys Live Stream: Watch Official 2024 Red Carpet Pre-ShowGrammys 2024: See Who's Performing Live, From Billie Eilish to Billy JoelRatings: Grammy Awards Audience Surges 30% to Hit a 3-Year...

The Grammy Awards prime time ceremony takes place on Sunday night, February 4. That’s where top categories like Album of the Year and Record of the Year will be presented. But for savvy awards watchers, the main event is actually the Grammys Premiere Ceremony taking place that afternoon in advance of the CBS telecast hosted by Trevor Noah. The vast majority of awards will be handed out there, and it’s also where we can expect to find some of the best performances.

The awards will stream live from the Peacock Theater on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.grammy.com starting at 12:30pm Pt/3:30pm Et. They’ll be hosted by Justin Tranter, a Songwriter of the Year nominee this year for his work with artists including Renee Rapp, Maneskin and Miley Cyrus. Presenting awards will be Best Jazz Vocal Album nominee Patti Austin,...

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Angelo Badalamenti, the acclaimed David Lynch composer who went from teaching in junior high school in Brooklyn to creating haunting, ethereal music for the filmmaker’s Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, has died. He was 85.

Badalamenti died Sunday of natural causes surrounded by family at his home in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, his niece Frances Badalamenti told The Hollywood Reporter.

The classically trained composer also collaborated with an eclectic mix of singers in virtually every genre during his long career, from Nina Simone, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Bassey, Patti Austin, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithfull, Liza Minnelli, Mel Tillis and Roberta Flack to Pet Shop Boys, Anthrax, Dolores O’Riordan, Tim Booth and LL Cool J.

Badalamenti composed the theme music for ABC’s Twin Peaks, NBC’s Profiler and Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio, and for the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona,...

Marilyn Bergman, the Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy-winning songwriter whose lyrics written with her husband, Alan Bergman, graced such hits as “The Way We Were,” “The Windmills of Your Mind,” “In the Heat of the Night” and the songs from “Yentl,” has died. She was 93 years old.

Bergman was the first woman president and chairman of the board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a post she held from 1994 to 2009. She and her husband and lifelong writing partner Alan Bergman wrote the words to some of the most popular film and TV songs of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, and continued to write together well into the 2000s.

They were Oscar nominated 16 times, and won three. The Bergmans were frequent collaborators with composers Michel Legrand and Marvin Hamlisch (“The Way We Were”).

The Bergmans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980 and received its Johnny...

In 1989, Quincy Jones had already amassed one of the most enviable discographies in pop history, playing, writing, arranging, or producing for Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Lesley Gore, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Patti Austin, and Michael Jackson.

But the legendary polymath still had more to do — Jones set out to create an album that “represents everything I have worked for after 40 years,” according to The Billboard Book of Number One R&b Hits. That turned into Back on the Block, which spawned one of the last hits in Jones’ hit-filled...

Early on in “Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things,” singer Patti Austin tells the story of how Fitzgerald — traveling with a big band in the 1930s and apparently the only one on the bus with no interest in getting high — would sit in the back with her coat over her head to act as her “own personal filtration system.” That’s good for a laugh, and it’s also good for a sense of relief, in being reminded that this will be the rare film about a 20th century jazz giant that doesn’t have to worry about when to start in on the tragic foreshadowing. Living to a ripe old age, in this genre of documentary, is not just one of those things.

It’s suggested in director Leslie Woodhead’s film that Fitzgerald lived a fairly lonely life when she was off the road — but it’s...

Many contemporary albums arrive with less than a week’s notice, but Jhene Aiko started to roll-out her new full-length, Chilombo, months ago. She released four different tracks to stoke anticipation, only to find that when the album finally came out March 6, a brand new song immediately supplanted the lead singles as a fan-favorite. “B.S.”, a casually vengeful back-and-forth with another R&b singer, H.E.R., quickly became Aiko’s highest-charting track.

Collaborations like this one seem to account for more and more of R&b’s big hits recently.

Last week, the SAG-aftra Foundation's 4th Annual Patron of the Artists Awards honored industry leaders and artists who are champions for the arts and whose history of fostering creativity and creating opportunities has made a positive impact on the performing arts and the world.

Jennifer Aniston receives the Artists Inspiration Award

Credit/Copyright: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for SAG-aftra Foundation

The event took place at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

This year’s benefit recognized entertainment industry leader and showrunner Greg Berlanti and trailblazing director/writer/producer Ava DuVernay with the “Patron of the Artists Awards” which commends their commitment to championing the careers of countless performing artists. Legendary producer/writer Norman Lear presented the award to Berlanti and critically acclaimed actor David Oyelowo presented to DuVernay.

The “Artists Inspiration Awards” were given to performers who use their platform to advance humanitarian and philanthropic causes.

An upcoming Quincy Jones orchestral show in London, originally billed as a performance of three Michael Jackson albums, has been changed to “a celebration of ’80s music.”

The June 23rd concert at the O2 Arena was initially announced in February as “Quincy Jones Presents Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad,” with a live symphony orchestra and several unnamed guest stars, Variety reports.

The title change comes after the release of and subsequent controversy surrounding the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, in which two men detailed the alleged childhood sexual abuse they were subjected to by Jackson.

RandB singer James Ingram, known for the soulful, smooth voice behind hits like "Just once" and "I don't have the heart", is dead. He was 66.

Ingram's long-time friend and creative partner, Debbie Allen, confirmed the news to cnn.com.

"I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir. He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close. We will forever speak his name," Allen wrote in a tribute on Twitter.

The cause of Ingram's death was not revealed.

Ingram, an Ohio native, got his start as a musician with the band Revelation Funk and later played keyboards for Ray Charles.?

He was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, winning for best male RandB performance for his song "One Hundred Ways" in 1981 and best RandB performance for a duo...

James Ingram, the multi-talented R&B artist who notched hits as both a singer and songwriter, died Tuesday, The New York Times reports. He was 66.

Ingram’s friend and collaborator, Debbie Allen, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing, “I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir. He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close. We will forever speak his name.”

Over the course of his career,...

Grammy-winning R&B singer and songwriter James Ingram has died from a battle with a form of brain cancer ... TMZ has learned. Sources close to the singer tell us James had been fighting the cancer for an extended period. Actress and choreographer Debbie Allen reacted to the news Tuesday, saying ... "I have lost my dearest friend." Ingram recorded several chart-toppers in the '80s, including his #1 duet with Patti Austin, "Baby Come to Me" ... as...

Michel Legrand, who died in Paris Saturday at the age of 86, was among the most renowned film composers and songwriters of our time. He won three Oscars and five Grammys, and many of his songs have entered the pantheon as among the greatest of the 20th century. Here are 10 great film music moments from the career of this French genius:

1. “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964). The close collaboration of Legrand and filmmaker Jacques Demy produced this stunning, all-sung romantic drama about a star-crossed couple. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and ultimately earned five Oscar nominations (three of them for the score). “I Will Wait for You” was the biggest song hit that emerged and quickly became a standard:

2. “The Young Girls of Rochefort” (1967). Legrand and Demy reunited for this splashy, colorful musical that added Americans Gene Kelly and George Chakiris to the usual French cast. The tuneful score...

Bet has closed deals for Q 85: A Musical Celebration For Quincy Jones, a music special celebrating the life and legacy of legendary producer and musician Quincy Jones. As we reported, the special, which will mark Jones’ 85th birthday, will tape on September 25 at the Microsoft Theatre La Live.

Joining honoree Jones at the celebration will be his daughter, actress-producer Rashida Jones, Brian McKnight, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Meghan Trainor, LL Cool J, Ludacris, Charlie Wilson, Cynthia Erivo, Ledisi, Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Fantasia, Patti Austin, Ne-yo, Terrance Blanchard, Yolanda Adams, Dave Chappelle, Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan, Gladys Knight, Danny Glover and others.

As Deadline previously reported, the special had been in the works for months at CBS, which recently opted not to proceed with it. Jones and his team as well as seasoned live TV events producer Ken Ehrlich took the event out, drawing interest from both traditional networks,...

Patrick Williams, who was best-known for his Emmy-winning television music but who was also a renowned and Grammy-winning big-band jazz leader and arranger, died Wednesday morning of complications from cancer at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 79.

Williams was among the most versatile composers of his generation, earning an Oscar nomination, four Emmys and two Grammys during more than 50 years of music-making in New York and Los Angeles.

In the middle of his most prolific period, scoring music for TV including “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and “The Streets of San Francisco,” he was also nominated for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in music for his groundbreaking “An American Concerto” (1976) for jazz quartet and symphony orchestra.

He scored nearly 50 films, often memorable scores for movies that were not big hits, including “Casey’s Shadow,” “The Cheap Detective” and “Cuba” in the 1970s; “Used Cars,...

International Jazz Day 2018 came to a phenomenal close this week in St. Petersburg, following an extraordinary All-Star Global Concert at the historic Mariinsky Theatre that capped off several days of educational outreach programs across the city.

The concert, led by artistic co-directors Herbie Hancock (USA) and Igor Butman (Russia), was streamed live by the United Nations and Unesco and on www.jazzday.com. It featured performances by an international roster of artists including Oleg Akkuratov (Russia), Till Brönner (Germany), Oleg Butman (Russia), Terri Lyne Carrington (USA), Joey DeFrancesco (USA), Fatoumata Diawara (Mali), Vadim Eilenkrig (Russia), Kurt Elling (USA), Antonio Faraò (Italy), James Genus (USA), Robert Glasper (USA), David Goloschekin (Russia), Hassan Hakmoun (Morocco), Gilad Hekselman (Israel), Horacio Hernandez (Cuba), Taku Hirano (Japan), Anatoly Kroll (Russia), Gaoyang Li (China), Rudresh Mahanthappa (USA), The Manhattan Transfer (USA), Branford Marsalis (USA), James Morrison (Australia), Moscow Jazz Orchestra (Russia), Makoto Ozone (Japan), Danilo Pérez...

Rod Temperton, the songwriter behind several of Michael Jackson's hits, including "Thriller" ... has died after a brief battle with cancer. The chairman of Warner/Chappell made the announcement Wednesday morning ... though it appears Temperton died days earlier. His family has already had his funeral. "Thriller" producer Quincy Jones brought in Temperton to write or co-write "Thriller," "Baby Be Mine" and "The Lady in My Life." He also penned "Off The Wall" and "Rock With You" for Mj.

Stars: Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Lou Adler, Stevvi Alexander, Patti Austin, Chris Botti, Carole Childs, Amy Christian, Kyliyah Clayton | Written and Directed by Morgan Neville

Living in a world obsessed with celebrity when a star is singing on the stage it’s often them that get all the attention, neither they nor their managers would have it any other way really. In 20 Feet From Stardom though we take a look at the singers who often stand in the shadows, either happy to just have their chance to sing and do what they love, or maybe sharing a dream that one day they will be that person in the spotlight and fame will be theirs.

In many ways it’s sad that music is becoming too often about the show and less about the voices. The backing singers have a very important job and they often hold the song...

The stars are coming out to play this summer with Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena Pops and their one of a kind, simply cannot miss popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles Arboretum. Coming off the heels of last summer's critically acclaimed concerts to record breaking crowds, Feinstein and the Pasadena Pops are taking the popular series to new heights. Artists include Laura Osnes 'Cinderella' and 'Bonnie and Clyde', Norm Lewis 'Les Miserables' and 'Porgy and Bess', Julia Goodwin 2013 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador, composerhost Tena Clark, Dionne Warwick five-time Grammy Award winning music legend, Michael Feinstein to sing Gershwin for one night only, powerhouse singers Maureen McGovern, Patti Austin, stars of stage and screen Kevin Earley, Liz Callaway 'Anastasia and 'Aladdin', Jeremy Jordan 'Smash', plus special appearances by Debby Boone, Alan Bergman and pianist Armen Guzelimian.

Tune in alert for the Veterans Day Weekend on The Military Channel watch the live broadcast of the Homeward Bound Telethon Benefitting Veterans with Ptsd and Tbi for Veterans Day Weekend on The Military Channel www.homewardboundtelethon.org From Military Channel Join Alan Alda, Joe Mantegna, Connie Francis, Patti Austin, Michael Feinstein, Jason Gould, Charlie Hirsch, Gloria Loring, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ben Vereen, American Military Spouses Choir, The Temptations Revue, and more, including decorated American veterans. These celebrities join veterans who support the Homeward Bound Telethon - Donations can be made at www.homewardboundtelethon.org or by calling 1-855-824-7873. Homeward Bound, a live four-hour national telethon to support American veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) and Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi) will...

In celebration of this extraordinary legacy on the occasion of the series' 40th anniversary on PBS, a stellar roster of diverse alumni gather to share their personal stories of what Great Performances has meant to them, with reminiscences and performances by Julie Andrews, Audra McDonald, Don Henley, David Hyde Pierce, Josh Groban, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Martins, Patti Austin and Take 6, Met Opera star Elna Garana and Michael Buble. The evening, taped at Lincoln Center last November, will be televised on Great Performances, Today, October 18 at 9 p.m. on PBS check local listings.

In celebration of this extraordinary legacy on the occasion of the series' 40th anniversary on PBS, a stellar roster of diverse alumni gather to share their personal stories of what Great Performances has meant to them, with reminiscences and performances by Julie Andrews, Audra McDonald, Don Henley, David Hyde Pierce, Josh Groban, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Martins, Patti Austin and Take 6, Met Opera star Elna Garana and Michael Buble. The evening, taped at Lincoln Center last November, will be televised on Great Performances, Friday, October 18 at 9 p.m. on PBS check local listings. Click below to watch a preview...

In celebration of this extraordinary legacy on the occasion of the series' 40th anniversary on PBS, a stellar roster of diverse alumni gather to share their personal stories of what Great Performances has meant to them, with reminiscences and performances by Julie Andrews, Audra McDonald, Don Henley, David Hyde Pierce, Josh Groban, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Martins, Patti Austin and Take 6, Met Opera star Elna Garana and Michael Buble. The evening, taped at Lincoln Center last November, will be televised on Great Performances, Friday, October 18 at 9 p.m. on PBS check local listings.

Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 40 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the untold backup singer story “20 Feet From Stardom”!

“20 Feet From Stardom,” which is rated “PG-13” and opens on July 12, 2013, stars Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill and features Ray Charles, Sheryl Crow, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bette Midler, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen from award-winning director Morgan Neville. It also stars Lou Adler, Stephanie “Stevvi” Alexander, Patti Austin, Chris Botti and Mabel John.

To win your free “20 Feet From Stardom” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Monday, July 8, 2013 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases...

Actress Angela Bassett has been confirmed to host the 2013 Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl, Saturday, June 22, at 8 pm. Also confirmed, talk show hostcomedian Arsenio Hall will induct Patti Austin into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame that evening. Bassett and Hall join the star-studded lineup of participants for the special evening in addition to Austin, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith and John Legend will be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame Stevie Wonder will induct John Legend and Darren Criss will perform, then introduce the Youth Orchestra La Yola student performance. Each inductee will perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Thomas Wilkins.

In the wake of the smash success and pop culture phenomenon of AMC's "Mad Men," other networks have been scrambling to develop their own period based dramas. ABC and NBC each tried with "Pan Am" and "The Playboy Club" respectively and failed, with both shows already canceled. But Starz has faith in their late '50s soaked "Magic City," chronicling the glitzy highlife (and lowlife) of Miami of the era. And with show already renewed for a second season, they are looking to stick around for a while.

With show now a couple of episodes in, Starz is not waiting to get the alternate revenue streams rolling as the soundtrack for the series is already on the way. And it's pretty solid. Boasting eleven tunes, it's steeped in the era with blues cuts from Bo Diddley and Johnny Otis, jazz from Lee Morgan, soul from Ray Charles and pop radio...

1,500 supporters, including celebrities, prominent philanthropists, business leaders and elected officials will gather at the L.A. Live Events Deck for “Dream for Kids: The Grand Opening Gala” on Saturday, May 7.

The exclusive black-tie event celebrates the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ 110th anniversary and the completion of its new $636 million hospital building, which opens July 10. Three-time Grammy Award winning jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall will provide the night’s headline entertainment and two-time Emmy award-winner Eric Stonestreet will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Grammy-winner Patti Austin will perform the grand finale with the “Dream for Kids” Ensemble.

Read more...

So if you watched the Grammys last night and caught the Best New Artist category, you were most likely wondering: who is Esperanza Spalding? The 26-year-old beauty shocked millions as she beat out multiplatinum-selling artists like Justin Bieber and Drake, as well as critical and rock radio darlings Florence & the Machine and Mumford & Sons.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Spalding is primarily a singer, jazz bassist, and violinist. She chalks up her early interest in instruments to watching Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" when she was 4.

She attended Berklee College of Music, where she would later become one of their youngest professors in history at age 20. By this point, she'd already toured with Patti Austin and recorded with M. Ward.

But it was her 2008 release "Esperanza," which features her singing in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, that kicked off what's sure to be an illustrious career.

There were a handful of things we could have celebrated this morning. After all, today is the birthday of Charlie and Craig Reid (better known as the Proclaimers, who scored one of the biggest one hit wonders of all time with "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"). Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante will also be blowing out candles today, as he turns 40 years old (hopefully he celebrates with a little "Californication"). But just as we did last week, today we celebrate Michael Jackson's ascent to superstardom.

On this day in 1983, "Billie Jean" found itself at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The second single from Thriller bounded over Patti Austin and James Ingram's "Baby, Come to Me" to take the top spot, where it stayed for seven weeks before being ousted by (of all things) "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners. One week later,...

Directed by Paul Haggis of the Academy Award-winning Crash, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti," a musical fundraiser to help the devastated Caribbean nation, was recorded on February 1, 2010. The setting was the same studio as the original 25 years earlier, Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios. The new version of "We Are the World" features 80 performers of various musical genres and generations. Among them are: Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman, Harry Connick Jr, Gladys Knight, Patti Austin, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Nettles, Celine Dion, and Fergie. Michael Jackson, who co-wrote the original with Lionel Richie, is shown in a clip that makes [...]...

Directed by Paul Haggis of the Academy Award-winning Crash, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" was recorded on February 1, 2010, in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier, Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios. The new version of "We Are the World" features 80 performers of various musical genres. Among them are: Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman, Harry Connick Jr, Gladys Knight, Patti Austin, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Nettles, Celine Dion, and Fergie. Also, Miley Cyrus, Keri Hilson, Zac Brown, Akon, Brandy, Melanie Fiona, Mya, Musiq Soulchild, Katharine McPhee, Robin Thicke, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Vince Vaughn, Freda Payne, Josh [...]...

Director Paul Haggis and producer RedOne give a preview of the Haiti benefit single and video.

By Jocelyn Vena

Wyclef Jean, Kanye West and Jennifer Hudson recording "We Are the World — 25 for Haiti"

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

"We Are the World — 25 for Haiti" is set to premiere on Friday night (February 12) during the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Vancouver. The song features appearances by a number of artists including Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Jordin Sparks, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Pink — along with some newly added artists who won't be revealed until the remake airs. But while we wait for the debut of the Haiti benefit, organized by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, we have a preview from the people behind the song.

"I just keep the class of the original one," producer RedOne told MTV News, explaining how "We Are the World" would differ from the club tracks...

Never in a million years would you imagine pop princess Miley Cyrus singing alongside the soulful Natalie Cole, or even American Idol (TV) judge Randy Jackson belting it out next to Couple's Retreat (2009) Vince Vaughn. But it did. It all went down Monday night, at famed producer Quincy Jones' studio in La, to benefit the earthquake in Haiti. Everyone from the Jonas Brothers to Faith Evans showed up to lend their vocals to "We Are the World" remix. 25 years ago, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and the late Michael Jackson rallied an insane number of famous singers, actors, and performers to lay the tracks for 'We Are the World" written by Richie and Jackson and produced by Jones. The year was 1985 -- big hair was a must have, neon colors drove the fashion industry, and in one La music studio history was made. To help stop famine in Africa,...

A 25th anniversary version of We Are the World, recorded yesterday, Monday, in Los Angeles, will feature quite a mix of voices, spanning generations, genres and styles – including from Kanye West, Pink, Jamie Foxx, and the Jonas Brothers, to Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Brian Wilson and Natalie Cole. Others include… Jay Z and Beyonce, Alicia Keys, India Arie, Akon, Patti Austin, will.i.am, LL Cool J and even Snoop Dogg is in there, too.

As many as 75 stars will be providing their voices to this thing, which is said will have a hip-hip, pop twist to it.

The song and video, filmed in 3-D by Paul Haggis, will premiere on February 12 on NBC as part of the Olympic Games opening ceremonies. All proceeds go toward Haiti earthquake relief.

In 3-D, yo!! Damn. Watch a preview below… and check out some pics underneath:...

Jamie Foxx, Jeff Bridges, Vince Vaughn, Usher, Lil Wayne were also in the house.

By Gil Kaufman

Wyclef Jean, Toni Braxton and Kanye West

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Los Angeles — When it came time to record the 25th-anniversary remake of "We Are the World," the legendary African-famine relief benefit's co-writer and producer, Lionel Richie, said he wanted to approach the project from a modern perspective. That might explain why none of the singers from the 1985 single were in the house for Monday night's marathon sessions, which took place in the same studios where the original song was laid down.

Instead of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper and the late Michael Jackson (whose previously recorded voice, however, will be heard on the tune), the 2010 version will be headlined by Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and Will.I.Am. It features a newly penned hip-hop break written by the Black Eyed Peas...

George Benson Double-threat guitarist/singer George Benson has been sharing his gift of music since early boyhood. Born in Pittsburgh, George began his early career at the age of 8 on the ukulele and singing. In his teens, he fell in love with jazz and shortly thereafter started in Jack McDuff's band. By the mid-'60s, Benson was discovered by the illustrious visionary John Hammond and inked a deal with Columbia Records. Following decade, he signed with Warner Brothers, resulting in the multi-platinum Breezin', produced by Tommy Lipuma. Collaborations include Miles Davis, Jill Scott, Lee Ritenour, Al Jarreau, Lalah Hathaway, Bill Withers, Marcus Miller, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Lukather, Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Tom Scott, Gerald Albright, and Benny Goodman. Accolades include ten Grammys and the Nea Jazz Master Award. With a trove of classics to acquire, don't miss "Come In from the Cold,"...

MoviesOnline recently sat down with Michael Jackson’s musical director, Michael Bearden, to talk about his new film, Michael Jackson’s This Is It, which offers Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this past summer in London’s O2 Arena.

Bearden is an accomplished musical director/keyboardist/arranger/composer for a diverse range of musical superstars. He has performed and/or recorded with some of popular music’s giants including: Sting, Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Chaka Kahn, Patti Austin, James Ingrahm, Patti Labelle, Yoko Ono, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Yossou NDour, Boz Scaggs, Lenny Kravitz, Luther Vandross, Issac Hayes, Aaron Neville, Edie Brickell, Jon Bonjovi and legends Nancy Wilson, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Liza Minelli, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles and served...

The highlight of the star-studded A.M.P.A.S. tribute to the Bergmans was the surprise appearance of Barbra Streisand. (Photo: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S) By Mike Thomas

The Motion Picture Academy has been on a roll as of late, presenting some of the finest exhibits and screenings in its fabled history. The year began with a tribute to Academy founder Douglas Fairbanks featuring legendary film scholar Kevin Brownlow. In April there was a tribute to Milt Kahl, “The Animation Michelangelo,” that featured Brad Bird and others paying tribute to one of Disney’s premier character designers. Currently, there is an excellent display of cells and sketches highlighting the Japanese form of animation, “Anime!” (The Academy is to be commended for their continued celebration of that frequently neglected art of film-making). And last week, there was tribute to Joseph Mankewiecz, one of the finest screenwriters who...

How do you portray democracy through the arts? That question was the inspiration for Visions of America and the collaboration between famed Grammy Award-winning pianist/conductor Peter Nero, renowned Americana photographer Joseph Sohm, and Grammy Award-winning pianist/composer Roger Kellaway. Visions of America paints a portrait of America by choreographing Sohm's photographs to stirring traditional and new music performed by Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, resulting in a photo symphony that celebrates the sights and songs of democracy. With the world premiere taking place at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on January 25, 2009, five days after America inaugurates its new president, Visions of America is a post-inaugural celebration for the people that marks a unique time in the nation's history. Visions of America unfolds for audiences as a visual and musical journey through the 50 states over three musical-movements and 13 "Mosaics" (visualized-songs). Nero, who is the founding music director of the Philly Pops,...

How do you portray democracy through the arts? That question was the inspiration for Visions of America and the collaboration between famed Grammy Award-winning pianist/conductor Peter Nero, renowned Americana photographer Joseph Sohm, and Grammy Award-winning pianist/composer Roger Kellaway. Visions of America paints a portrait of America by choreographing Sohm's photographs to stirring traditional and new music performed by Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, resulting in a photo symphony that celebrates the sights and songs of democracy. With the world premiere taking place at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on January 25, 2009, five days after America inaugurates its new president, Visions of America is a post-inaugural celebration for the people that marks a unique time in the nation's history. Visions of America unfolds for audiences as a visual and musical journey through the 50 states over three musical-movements and 13 "Mosaics" (visualized-songs). Nero, who is the founding music director of the Philly Pops,...

Slimmed-down jazz legend Patti Austin will be showing off her new look at the post-Oscars Governor's Ball. The singer, who recently shed half her 300 pound bulk - thanks to stomach stapling surgery, will celebrate her new trim image by performing for Hollywood's elite on March 5. Austin admits she had to do something drastic about her weight after being told it would kill her. The final straw came when medics refused to operate on a torn tendon in her knee in 2004 because she was "morbidly obese." She says, "I was devastated. Then I saw a doctor at Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, who said I'd need a wheelchair if I didn't have my stomach stapled." Austin underwent the $30,000 surgery in September, 2004 and now feels better than ever: "I even sing better because I can access my diaphragm and sustain notes with a fuller tone."...