Entertainment News

Legendary song stylist Bobby Caldwell (http://www.bobbycaldwell.com), best known for the smash hit “What You Won’t Do For Love,” announced today that he will return to the stage on January 29, 2011, for two shows, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

New York, N.Y. (PRWEB) November 15, 2010

Legendary song stylist Bobby Caldwell (http://www.bobbycaldwell.com), best known for the smash hit “What You Won’t Do For Love,” announced today that he will return to the stage on January 29, 2011, for two shows, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

“I consider Bobby Caldwell’s return a re-introduction to one of the great soul/jazz singers of our time,” says Chris Rizik, music critic and founder of the online music magazine Soul Tracks. “He is a versatile vocalist who can handle Sinatra as well as Stevie Wonder, the artist he was most often compared to in his early years. His performances provide an excellent take on some of the great songs of the 1940s and 1950s.”

“An Evening with Bobby Caldwell” will feature some of Caldwell’s best loved hits, including “What You Won't Do For Love,” “Come To Me,” and “Let It Be Me.” Known as the original “blue-eyed soul singer,” Caldwell’s return will remind audiences that this highly respected and often-imitated vocalist and songwriter has continued to touch audiences and impact musicians across genres, including R&B, smooth jazz, Big Band, contemporary pop, and rap.

Caldwell’s 1978 hit “What You Won’t Do For Love” has been recorded and sampled by more than 100 artists, including Boys II Men. A sample of Bobby’s song “Open Your Eyes” appeared in the Grammy nominated platinum rap hit “The Light” by Common. Versions of Caldwell’s numerous songs have been covered or sampled by a diverse array of artists such as Tupac Shakur, Michael Bolton, Roberta Flack, Go West, Vanessa Williams, and Notorious B.I.G.

“I’ve enjoyed a remarkable career as an entertainer both here in the United States and abroad,” says Caldwell, who is well-known for his slouch hat. “I’ve also been fortunate in that my songs have been hugely popular and have earned hits for me and, I’m proud to say, for some wonderful musicians like Chicago, Boz Scaggs, Peter Cetera, Amy Grant, Neil Diamond, and Al Jarreau. I consider this concert a way of giving back to my fans for making all of this possible. It’s going to be a great evening!”

“An Evening with Bobby Caldwell” is presented by Smooth Jazz New York, (http://www.smoothjazznewyork.com/), a subsidiary of Marquee Concerts.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $45 in advance; $50 day of show; VIP Booths $65 advance and day of show. Tickets for the 10:00 p.m. show are $40 in advance; $45 day of show; VIP Booths $60 advance and day of show. B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y.

For tickets and information visit http://www.SmoothJazzNewYork.com, http://www.TicketMaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

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Sam KimballMarquee Concerts212-835-1571Email Information

Celebrity event planner, gown designer, book author and television star, David Tutera, makes his first ever Hampton Roads appearance at a VIP Event on January, 15 at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel and the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase on January 16, 2011, at Norfolk Scope.

Norfolk, VA (PRWEB) November 15, 2010

Celebrity event planner, gown designer, book author and television star, David Tutera, makes his first ever Hampton Roads appearance at a VIP Event on January, 15 at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel and the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase on January 16, 2011, at Norfolk Scope. Tutera, Life & Style Magazine's "Best Celebrity Wedding Planner," and host of WE television's original series, "My Fair Wedding" will dazzle brides-to-be, event planners and attendees when he offers his expertise to make a bride's special day one never to be forgotten. Boasting a client list which includes luminaries such as Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Elton John, Barbara Walters, The Rolling Stones, Vice President Gore, Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger, Tutera will not disappoint guests at the Showcase weekend's events.

Media interested in interviewing Mr.Tutera about his successful vision of ballroom design, please contact Tanya Kaish Keller to schedule an interview. Tutera's schedule is as follows:

Saturday, January 15, 2011 9:00 a.m.: Ballroom Design and 7:00 p.m.: VIP Event Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 3100 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Brides to be, event planners and guests will get a more in-depth interaction with Tutera by attending the special VIP Event. For only $50 per guest, this evening will include a ballroom designed by Tutera and executed by local professionals. Based on David Tutera's vision, local and regional event and wedding planning professionals will transform a ballroom into a memorable ceremony and wedding reception. Along with garnering matchless décor ideas, guests will enjoy sample offerings by the area's top caterers. As an added bonus during the VIP Event, Tutera will host a special presentation -- "David Tutera · Tips and Trends."

Sunday, January 16, 2011 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.: Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase Norfolk Scope Exhibition Hall, Corner Brambleton Avenue & St. Paul's Blvd., Norfolk Tutera will emcee the fashion show during the Showcase which will feature wedding attire from the area's two top bridal and tuxedo stores. Get a glimpse of this year's latest designs and colors in wedding gowns from the runways of New York. Glimpse the hottest new styles in bridesmaid's dresses and elegant Mother of the Bride dresses. David Tutera will be available to sign his latest book release, My Fair Wedding based on his successful WE TV series by the same name. It will be available for purchase onsite. Additionally, a diverse cadre of the most sought vendors from Williamsburg to Outer Banks will be assembled for this bridal showcase to help make a bride's special day as unforgettable and effortless as possible. Each vendor will bring their own creativity to a bride's day making it even more spectacular and giving ideas to make your wedding special. For tickets, exhibitor and sponsorship information for the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase and VIP Event featuring David Tutera, please visit http://uniquelyyoursbridalshowcase.com/ or contact Pearl Taylor at (757) 406-7947, pearltay@cox.net. At the Showcase, brides FREE and guests are $10. All proceeds from guest admissions from Sunday's Bridal Showcase benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tidewater.

About Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase Since 2007, the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase has served the wedding community of Hampton Roads. This event i

Kanye West on Friday canceled a performance on NBC's "Today" show to protest what he called a "set up" when he was interviewed on the program over his flap with former President George W. Bush.

West was due to perform on the morning talk show on November 26, the Friday after Thanksgiving, but canceled after the perceived slight during an appearance on "Today" on Wednesday. Live performances are ratings draws for "Today," the top-rated U.S. morning talk show.

"I'm not performing on the Today Show for obvious reasons. I'm so happy the world got to see just a small piece of 'the set up,'" West, among the most popular hip-hop stars, said on his Twitter page on Friday.

An NBC spokeswoman confirmed the performance was canceled.

The dispute stems from West's comment after Hurricane Katrina five years ago that the slow U.S. government response was because Bush, president at the time, "doesn't care about black people."

The deadly 2005 hurricane devastated largely black areas in and around New Orleans.

Bush referred to West's criticism in his recently released memoirs and told "Today" interviewer Matt Lauer: "I resent it. It's not true. And it was one of the most disgusting moments of my presidency."

Bush's remarks drew attention because, as Lauer said, they were the most emotional comments Bush made during a 3 1/2-hour interview that covered topics including the September 11 attacks, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Katrina disaster.

Lauer had West on the program on Wednesday to discuss Bush's reaction, and West backed off his criticism, saying, "I would tell George Bush in my moment of frustration that I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist."

But West grew agitated when producers played video during the interview, including silent video of Bush's interview with Lauer.

"I didn't need you guys to show me the tape to prompt my emotion," West said.

Lauer then asked West about an incident during last year's Video Music Awards ceremony when he grabbed the microphone to protest an award for Taylor Swift he said should have gone to Beyonce. "Today" played video of that incident with the sound at low volume.

"How am I supposed to talk if you're going to run this thing while I'm talking?" West said. "Please don't let that happen again. It's like ridiculous."

He later complained on Twitter about how he was treated, calling the display of the video disrespectful.

Lauer defended the use of video as standard television practice.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jerry Norton and Peter Cooney)

JERUSALEM - The rapper Shyne is singing a new tune: After serving eight years in prison for a nightclub shooting, the former protege of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has converted to Orthodox Judaism, come to Jerusalem, and is devoting his days to the study of Torah while plotting a musical comeback.

His arrival in the Holy Land caps an unorthodox journey that began in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he grew up and was shot at the age of 15, passed through the high-flying hip-hop universe, and landed him in a maximum security state prison before he was eventually deported to Belize — where his father happens to be prime minister.

"Being in Israel is just the exclamation point," he said Thursday. "This is the ultimate place to be who you are."

During a two-hour conversation on a hotel balcony overlooking the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, Shyne said his connection to Judaism goes back to his childhood — when he was still known as Jamaal Michael Barrow.

His mother claims Ethiopian Jewish ancestry, but the man who now calls himself Moshe Levi Ben-David says his roots go even deeper and that even as a boy in the streets, he was oddly drawn to Judaism and identified with its biblical heroes.



"I grew up in a war, constantly battling and the only person I could relate to was King David. Of course I love Michael Jordan, I love Mike Tyson, I love the typical people that people love, Muhammad Ali, but I had more of a connection with King David," he said.

Shyne, 32, has swapped his hip-hop attire of oversized basketball jerseys and diamond studded teeth with the traditional black suit and white knee-high stockings favored by the Belz Hassidic sect. He wears a black skullcap over his shaven head, but in a reminder of his former life, he still wears stylish black Ray Ban sunglasses.

Where he once rapped about loose women, fancy cars and hollowpoint bullets, he now fires off staccato sentences about Jewish law, peppered with Yiddish, in the same raspy voice once compared to that of the Notorious B.I.G.

"Wherever I go it is going to be the same shtick. This is who I am, you dig," he said.

In his teens, he was discovered by Combs — then known as Puff Daddy — who signed him to his Bad Boy record label. Shyne embraced the lifestyle of women, booze and partying but said he was already turning it around when "the incident" happened.

In late 1999, Shyne was out one night at a Manhattan club along with Combs and his then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, when he was involved in a high profile shooting that left three people injured.

Combs was cleared of gun possession charges but Shyne was sentenced to 10 years for assault, gun possession and reckless endangerment. Shyne says he acted in self-defense after someone else pulled a gun.

It was in prison where he said he became "Baal Tshuva," the Hebrew term for a newly observant Jew. He changed his name, prayed regularly, kept kosher and observed the Sabbath. His faith helped him come to peace with his troubled past and his lengthy incarceration, saying it was God's will and part of his 'Tikkun' — a spiritual voyage to make amends.

"He (God) gives kindness and He gives judgment. I've done some terrible things in my life, I

LOS ANGELES - A duet recorded by Michael Jackson and rapper-producer Akon will go on sale on Monday -- the first single off an album of new music from the King of Pop after his death in 2009, his record label said on Thursday.

Called "Hold My Hand", the song was first recorded in 2007 and was leaked in an unfinished state on the Internet in 2008.

Jackson's Sony/Epic record label said Akon recently completed production on the track. It will be released globally on November 15 as the first official single from the album Michael, which goes on sale on December 14.

Sony and the executors of Jackson's estate said they had a hand-written note from the Thriller singer, indicating his desire that "Hold My Hand" be the first single on his next project.



"The world was not ready to hear "Hold My Hand" when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it," said Akon, who was known to be working with Jackson before his sudden death in June 2009 at the age of 50.

"But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols," the music producer said in a statement.

Sony also released details of the 10 tracks on Michael -- the first album of new material from the singer since Invincible in 2001.

Two of the tracks feature 50 Cent and rocker Lenny Kravitz. Sony said the songs were the work of "an esteemed group of producers along with Michael Jackson. While primarily focused on songs that Michael worked on recently, there are also earlier compelling tracks."

Monday's release for digital sale of "Hold My Hand" follows the streaming on the Internet this week of another new track "Breaking News" from the upcoming album, which has met with initial skepticism.

Some music critics, along with a few of Jackson's family members, have said they do not believe the vocals on "Breaking News" really belong to the entertainer.

Jackson's estranged father Joe has said his perfectionist son would not have wanted his unfinished material released.

But last week Sony countered that after extensive research, it was confident the vocals are Jackson's own.

Michael has the backing of Jackson's official estate and is the latest commercial venture to capitalize on the singer's renewed popularity in death. A Cirque du Soleil show, dance videogame and a DVD set of all his pop music videos is also on its way.




Source: Jill Serjeant & Bob Tourtellotte/Reuter

Kanye West, who once ranted that "George Bush doesn't care about back people" following the slow government response to Hurricane Katrina, dialed back those comments in a TV interview broadcast Wednesday.

"I would tell George Bush, in my moment of frustration, I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist," the music star told NBC television.

"I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that, we as human beings don't always choose the right words," said West, who made his original condemnation of the then-president at a September 2005 television fundraiser for Katrina victims.

West's remorseful comments came after Bush told US television this week that charge that the lethargic federal response to Katrina had been driven by racism was one of the "most disgusting" moments of his presidency.

Bush's strong reaction to the rap star's criticism came during his media tour for his newly published memoir "Decision Points," giving readers an inside look into his eight-years in the White House.

Bush on Wednesday, upon being told of West's apologetic remarks, told NBC: "I appreciate that."

He added however, that "it wasn't just Kanye West who was talking like that during Katrina. I cited him as an example -- I cite others as an example as well," said the former president, criticizing "an environment in which people were willing to say things that hurt."

"I'm not a hater," Bush said. "Nobody wants to be called a racist if in your heart you believe in the equality of race."

Kanye West now says he "didn't have the grounds" to call George W. Bush a racist, and the former president said Wednesday that he appreciates the rapper's regret.

Bush appeared in a live interview on the "Today" show, part of a book promotion tour, and also said that his conscience was clear when it came to recognizing ahead the financial problems at the end of his administration.

In his book, "Decision Points," Bush wrote that it was a low point in his presidency when West declared at a fundraiser to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims that "George Bush doesn't care about black people." In an interview taped Tuesday with NBC's Matt Lauer, West said he would tell Bush that he was speaking in a moment of frustration.

"I didn't have the grounds to call him a racist," West said. "I believe that in a situation of high emotion like that we as human beings don't always choose the right words."

Shown a tape of West's remarks, Bush said he appreciated them and forgave him.

"I'm not a hater," he said. "I don't hate Kanye West. I was talking about an environment in which people were willing to say things that hurt. Nobody wants to be called a racist if in your heart you believe in equality of races."

The former president said he accepted some blame for the financial meltdown that occurred at the end of his administration, but he criticized Congress for refusing to regulate the government-controlled mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"My conscience is clear when it came time to recognizing an impending problem," he said. One of the most difficult things about the crisis was having to explain why the government had to bail out big financial institutions, he said.

Bush said he supported extending tax rate cuts passed during his administration, but joked that "they might have a better chance of being extended if they were called the Lauer tax cuts."

He refused to be drawn into a discussion about whether he believed an Islamic center should be built near the site of the 2001 terrorist attack in Manhattan.

"I think most Americans welcome freedom of religion and honor religions," he said. "I truly do. The problem with the arena today is a few loud voices can dominate the discussion and I don't intend to be one of the voices in the discussion."

While he's enjoying his public reemergence to sell his book, the former president said that when it's done, "I'm heading back underground."

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Wiz Khalifa and 10 of his colleagues have been arrested on marijuana charges in North Carolina.

East Carolina University spokesman John Durham said Tuesday that police arrested the rapper, whose real name is Cameron Thomaz, shortly after a campus concert Monday night. Durham says officers had noticed a prevalent odor of marijuana around the backstage area.

Each of those arrested was charged with three drug counts, including maintaining a place for the sale of marijuana.

Officials at the Pitt County Detention Center said Pittsburgh-based Thomaz posted $300,000 bond Tuesday morning. His record company did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but Thomaz posted a message on Twitter saying, "jail sux."

Court records show a photographer has settled his lawsuit against Chris Brown claiming the singer's bodyguards injured him.

Robert Rosen sued in May 2009, claiming he was seriously hurt at a gym after being chased by Brown's bodyguards after snapping photos of the R&B singer. Rosen's attorney reported the settlement in a court filing Friday.

The incident happened roughly a month after Brown's arrest in February 2009 for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. The 21-year-old singer remains on probation for the attack.

Rosen's attorney, Andrew Bryman, declined to comment through a receptionist. Brown's attorney, Thomas M. Phillips, didn't immediately return a phone message.

The settlement was first reported by celebrity website RadarOnline.com.

Kid Cudi, "Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager" (Universal Motown)

Kid Cudi's sophomore album "Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager" arrives heavy with lo-fi experimentation and personal pot stories that certainly must mean something to the man behind the microphone, if no one else.

But he delivers muffled and lethargic lyrics blended with boring beats devoid of a pulse. That is a recipe for a dud.

The hip-hop performer plods his way through 17 tracks, accompanied by an odd variety of sound samples that might have been best left on the shelf.

Songs like "Scott Mescudi vs. the World" are backed by simplistic melodies that would have felt at home on the new wave radio dial in the late 1980s, and that's not a compliment. If the music was fronted by smarter, less-repetitive lyrics, it might have fared better.

On "Don't Play This Song," Kid Cudi talks about growing up, making some mistakes and trying get his "mind right." Talk of drug use and rocket ship rides are de rigueur here and while a certain amount of crazy is always welcome in pop music, this slides into the territory of incomprehensible.

Kid Cudi makes the listener work awful hard to consume his music. There's a way to be introspective yet welcoming to a listening audience, but that magical mix has escaped this relative newcomer.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: "Wild'n Cuz I'm Young" hits the sweet spot. The deep, resonating backbeat sounds as though it's coming at you from an underwater cave and Kid Cudi drops the hipster-cum-hip-hop routine for a minute to deliver the best rap lyrics and song on the album.

REVIEW BY RON HARRIS