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From the category archives:
Celebs Legends
Holland–Dozier–Holland are a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music. They wrote Baby Love for Diana Ross and We are almost there Jackson 5
Read all our Holland–Dozier–Holland posts and see old pictures of them with Diana Ross
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“Nightshift” is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984.
This song was the first hit attained by the Commodores following Lionel Richie’s departure from the group. It was also their biggest hit after Richie’s departure, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart, as well as number three in the UK Singles Chart.
Although the band was against the label’s decision to release it as a single, it won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The song features the lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, whose lead appeared years before on the hugely popular “Brick House”.
The Commodores re-recorded a version dedicated to Michael Jackson in 2010.
Click to hear original version
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Franco Zeffirelli, KBE born in 1923 is an Italian film director and producer of films and television and opera director and designer. He is known for his film version of Romeo and Juliet (1968), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. His television mini-series Jesus of Nazareth (1977) also won acclaim and is still shown on Easter weekend in many countries.
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Congo Square is the thirteenth studio album by American singer–songwriter Teena Marie. Released in the United States on June 9, 2009, it would be the last album released before her death.
The album features collaborations with Marie’s daughter Alia Rose—who now goes by the name Rose LeBeau—and rapper MC Lyte, as well as Faith Evans, George Duke and Shirley Murdock.
The album title references Congo Square, in the Treme in New Orleans, an area in which, during times of slavery, slaves were “allowed to dance and sing in the wardrobe of their mother country on Sundays.”
Marie said of the album:
“I’ve been through quite a few trials and tribulations over the last two years. I spent many of those hours in prayer and felt like God was putting his arms around me. I started thinking about the music I grew up on—how inspired it was. Each song I was coming up with began to sound like the style of some favorite artist of mine from the past… Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, Billie Holliday, the old Chicago soul of The Emotions and the new Chicago vibe of Kanye West… Ice Cube’s bumpin’ in the trunk vibe and of course, Rick James. It’s all in there.”
Marie also expressed her appreciation for Faith Evans, saying, “I’ve always loved Faith and her vocal style. She reminds me of me. Her correlation with Biggie—having a career with him and without him—reminds me of me and Rick [James]. I feel like she’s a younger me. Of the younger ladies, she’s the one I love most.”
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Everyone in this picture has come such a long way…
I suppose you all know that Hollywood Legend and old Jackson Five friend Cher has a new movie out with Christina Aguilera. Here are few pictures of her in London at the Movie Premiere of Burlesque in Leicester Square. We just wondered if anyone has been to see it yet? Is anyone excited? Heard any reviews?
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We were so surprised that this is a certified Thriller.
“Larry King Live” Final Show Wrap Party
He even has Jane Fonda’s arms around him.
Check out photos of MJ and Jane Fonda
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We found this interesting question and answer dialogue online, so we thought we’d share it with you our readers.
Dear Cecil:
My understanding is that Michael Jackson slyly acquired the copyrights to the entire Beatles library, much to the dismay of his ex-friend Paul McCartney. I also hear that despite much pleading, he refuses to sell any of them back. Does this mean that he can overdub the masters with his own voice? Are we liable to see copies of “Abbey Road” with five people crossing the street and mysterious falsettoes throughout?
— Saddened fan from Oregon
OK so clearly this ‘saddened fan’ has got a whole lot of jokes. Anywhooo, we are more interested in the response below…
The response
Come on. Think of the Sgt. Pepper cover, with all the boys in uniform. Michael Jackson would fit right in. (Although you’d want the guy missing the glove to be Paul.) Don’t worry, no musical travesties are going to happen, or at least they’re not going to happen as a result of Jackson owning the Beatles library.
What Michael Jackson bought for $47.5 million in 1985 was the publishing rights to 159 or 251 Beatles songs, depending on who’s counting. To maybe oversimplify a complicated business, publishing rights are basically the sheet music rights. When Paul McCartney wanted to print the lyrics to “Eleanor Rigby” and other Beatles classics in the program for his 1989 world tour, he discovered he’d have to pay a fee to Michael Jackson. The owner of the publishing rights (hereinafter the publisher) also gets a royalty when someone plays a Beatles song on a jukebox or the radio or does a cover version of a Fab Four tune. Particularly in the case of elevator music, to which, let’s be frank, a lot of Beatles tunes are well suited, this can earn the publisher some serious cash.
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A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.
Muhammad Ali
Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.
Muhammad Ali
I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.
Muhammad Ali
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REMOVE THAT SCARF! YOUR HANDSOME!
Awww…
