AP
Pearl Jam

Seattle rock band Pearl Jam is recording its seventh album for Epic Records. The project fulfills the group's contract for the label, but Pearl Jam's manager says, "we plan to renegotiate with them and are hopeful we can work out a new deal that makes sense for the band and label." The new album is due out later this year.

Last week, former Destiny's Child members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson filed suit against the trio and its label, Sony Music. The lawsuit claims that Destiny's Child defamed them in the Grammy-winning hit "Survivor," causing "irreparable harm." Luckett and Roberson claim the song's lyrics went against an agreement they signed in 2000 ordering both parties to refrain from making disparaging public statements about each other.

AP
Brenda Lee

On March 6, Hyperion Books will release legendary singer Brenda Lee's autobiography, "Little Miss Dynamite: The Life & Times of Brenda Lee." The 320-page book chronicles the never-before-told stories of her rise to fame. "I always knew that my story had the potential of perhaps hurting some people who were close to me. Quite honestly, I really had to reach into my soul and actually face a lot of things for the first time when I finally saw these things committed to paper," Brenda says. " The writing of the book has been a remarkable two-year journey for me."

Brenda Lee has a busy month ahead. In addition to promoting the autobiography, she'll travel to New York March 18 for her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

NEW ALBUM RELEASES 3/5:

White Lillies Island - Natalie Imbruglia on RCA Records

Full Moon - Brandy on Atlantic Records

The Big Room -M2M on Atlantic Records

England, Half-English - Billy Bragg and the Blokes on Elektra Records

Live & Up Close - BeBe Winans on Motown Records

MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:

AP
India.Arie

On February 28 several music stars and actors went into a Los Angeles studio to record a single to benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. The fund, which was co-founded by former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Bob Dole, offers assistance for the education of dependents of September 11 victims.

India.Arie, Darius Rucker of Hootie & The Blowfish, Mya, Rita Marley, Keb' Mo', Master P and Lil' Romeo were among the artists who volunteered to participate in the recording session, billed "United We Sing."

AWARDS PRESENTATIONS:

The 14th annual World Music Awards will take place on March 6 at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club. Prince Albert of Monaco will host the event, which will air in 160 countries. The show will feature an all-star lineup of the best-selling recording artists in the world.

WHO'S GOING ON TOUR?

AP
Members of the pop group 'N SYNC, Lance Bass, left, Chris Kirkpatrick, second left, Justin Timberlake, center, JC Chasez, second right, and Joey Fatone, right

On March 3, 'N Sync will kick off a North American arena tour in Portland, Oregon. Smash Mouth and Ginuwine will be the opening acts at various locations on the Celebrity 2002 Tour.

12-year-old rapper Lil' Romeo will head out on a 15-date U.S. concert tour on March 8. His first stop will be Jacksonville, Florida. Shows will wrap up on April 28 in Dallas, Texas. This spring, Lil' Romeo will star in the Nickelodeon sitcom "Pieces To the Puzzle." His father, rap star Master P, will also appear in the show.

Jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall will begin the U.S. leg of her current world tour on March 9 in Seattle, Washington. She'll be on the road in support of her latest album, The Look of Love, which is out on Verve Records. Released in September of last year, the collection became the first contemporary jazz album to debut in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 chart. Dates on Krall's U.S. tour are expected to run through May 25. In June, she'll head to Japan to perform a few shows, and in mid-July, she's scheduled to perform three concerts in Australia.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version