Dancer, actor Gregory Hines is dead at 57

 

It's been quite a year for the passing of our famous afro American talents, Barry White, Skip Scarborough and now another famous american icon - Gregory Hines. Gregory, whose fast tapping feet made him the greatest tap dancer of his generation, died last Saturday in Los Angeles after his long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Born on Valentine's day, 1946, in New York City, Hines was born to be a performer. He took lessons as toddler and by the time he was six, he and his brother were performing jazz tap at Harlem's Apollo Theater alongside their father and soon after were billed as Hines, Hines and Dad.

"I don't remember not dancing," Hines said in a 2001 interview with the Associated Press. "When I realized I was alive and these were my parents, and I could walk and talk, I could dance. Hines says he was influenced by the style and talents of Sammy Davis Jr., the Nicholas Brothers and Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson.

Following the announcement Hines' passing yesterday by publicist Allen Eichhorn, Jelly's Last Jam director George C. Wolfe told AP that Hines "was the last of a kind of immaculate performer--a singer, dancer, actor and a personality. He knew how to command."

Twice married, Hines, is survived by his fiancée, Negrita Jayde, daughter Daria, son Zach, stepdaughter Jessica Koslow, grandson Lucian, as well as his brother and father.

Source: billboard.com

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New Alicia Keys album due in stores Nov, ft:Nas, Rakim

Sultry soul songstress Alicia Keys has been in the studio putting the finishing touches on her yet to be titled set sophomore set that due for release Nov 18th.

Most of us have been wondering what's in store for the follow-up to her 2001 debut smash, Songs in A Minor, said Alicia "It's a very conceptual album goin' on, It's really personal. It's kind of a journey inside, into my mind, into everything that's going on in the world and how that affects us as people."

Keys does have a couple of collaborations on the album. She wrote and produced one song with Easy Mo Bee and Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Toné fame. Another song finds Keys joined by the old and new rap legends Nas and Rakim. Keys is particularly enthusiastic about that track since it's the first time both legendary rappers have ever been on a song together. Keys has worked with Nas before, though, guesting on 'Warrior Song' from his latest album 'God's Son'.

You can also see various stages of the recording process of the new album through pictures and video clips on her website and in a chat session with fans she confirmed that a live favorite, "If I Ain't Got You," will be included on the new album

Source: VH1.com

 

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LSG sophomore set debuts in Billboard's Top Ten

 

R&B crooners Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, and Johnny Gill, collectively known as LSG, released their sophomore album called, LSG-2. The set debuted at Number Six on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week after selling more than 66,000 copies in its initial first week, according to the Nielsen Soundscan.

Recently group member Gerald Levert said that the group re-convened because the fans were asking for it: said Levert "The main reason why we did it was because of the fans. You know they kept asking about it. So it had an impact on people that we really wanted to re-invent it and bring it back to, you know, the forefront. If the impact is the same we'll do another one."

The group recently released the second single from the set, 'Shakedown', which is presently getting spins on the urban AC Radio & Records National Airplay chart. Levert also shared that if he had his way 'Shakedown' would have been the first single: "There is a song on the album called 'Shakedown' that I preferred to be the first single because it put you more in the mindset of 'My Body,' and I thought we should have stayed there in that thing, but 'Friends' is a great song."

Source: billboard.com

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'Respect' festival takes center stage in Manchester, UK

 

Reggae music takes center stage come the end of the month as Gregory Issacs, Mr Scruff and Heartless Crew will headline the Respect Festival in Platt Fields, Manchester on 30th August.

The free all-day event will also include appearances from the likes of Un-Cut (featuring Jenna G), Homelife (featuring 808 State's Graham Massey), J-Walk with Veb, DJ Jon Kennedy (Grand Central), Bhangra crew RDB, Josephine Oniyama, Hohodza from Zimbabwe and Britannia Rumba, a Manchester 12-piece from The Democratic Republic of Congo, whose members are all refugees and asylum seekers.

Audiences of 20,000 are expected for the event which will also feature an alternative market place, sports competition and an arts & craft field.

A Big Hitters contest will be run on the Youth Music Stage to unearth the cream of young urban and MC talent. Further information can be found at www.respectmanchester.org and www.big-hitters.com

source: dotmusic.com