DATE=3/22/2002

TYPE=Music Programs Feature

NUMBER=7-400720

TITLE=Music Notes For The Week Of March 24-30, 2002

BYLINE=Mary Morningstar

TELEPHONE=619-1692

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=ML

CONTENT=

POP NUMBER ONE HITS:

1962 Connie Francis "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" (CDP-159)

1972 America "A Horse With No Name" (CDP-807)

1982 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts "I Love Rock 'N Roll" (CDP-8684)

1992 Vanessa Williams "Save The Best For Last" (CDP-4423)

2002 Jennifer Lopez (feat. Ja Rule) "Ain't It Funny" (CDP-24729)

MUSIC NEWS:

Madonna will compose and perform the main title song of the next James Bond movie "Die Another Day." Pierce Brosnan will star as Bond in the film, which features a supporting cast of Halle Berry, John Cleese, Judi Dench, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike and Rick Yune. "Die Another Day" is scheduled to open in theaters on November 22nd.

New Jersey rock band Bon Jovi is back in the recording studio working on its next album, "Bounce." The CD is expected to be out in the fall. The band is also compiling a box set that will coincide with Bon Jovi's 20th anniversary next year.

Now that the legal battles between LeAnn Rimes and her record company, Curb Records, have been resolved, the label plans to release her 2001 compilation "I Need You." Five tracks will be added to the original ten-song collection. Four are radio remixes of the studio versions on the original album and the other is her recording of the theme song of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, "Light The Fire Within."

NEW ALBUM RELEASES:

New albums scheduled for release on March 26th include: "Are You Passionate" by Neil Young on Reprise Records; "Move It Like This" by the Baha Men and Mindy McCready's self-titled collection on Capitol Records; "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion and "This Is" by Ty Herndon on Epic Records; "The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart The Complete Recordings" (expanded to include 12 previously unreleased tracks) on Motown Records; "Scooped" by Pete Townshend on Red Line Records; "Deeper Still" by Beth Neilsen Chapman on Artemis Records; "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap" by Eazy-E on Ruthless Records; "Mended" by Marc Anthony, "Spirit Dancer" by BlackHawk, and "Rock In Rio" (double CD) by Iron Maiden on Columbia Records; "A41" by All 4 One on AMC Records; "The Best of Both Worlds" by Jay-Z & R. Kelly on Def Jam Records; and "Belly of the Sun" by Cassandra Wilson on Blue Note Records.

MUSICAL EVENTS/FESTIVALS/BENEFITS:

The Charlie Daniels Band will be in Cuba this week (March 25th-30th) on a USO tour to entertain U.S. military troops stationed at Guantanamo Bay. The group, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in music this year, has participated in several previous USO tours, making appearances in Cuba, the Adriatic Sea, Bermuda and Bosnia. While at Guantanamo Bay, Charlie Daniels and his band will give free performances, sign autographs and tour the facilities.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK AND SUGGESTED MUSIC:

On March 25th, Elton John will celebrate his 55th birthday. During the 1970's, Elton recorded a string of Number One songs, including "Crocodile Rock," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Island Girl," and his 1976 duet with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." His success continued throughout the '80's with such Top 5 hits as "Little Jeannie," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," "Nikita" and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That." In 1994, Elton contributed songs to the multi-million-selling soundtrack "The Lion King," which earned him two Grammy Awards. In addition, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," one of three Oscar-nominated songs from the soundtrack, won the 1995 Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 1996, Elton's record label, Rocket Records, released many of his early recordings on CD for the first time. That same year, MCA Records released "Love Songs," a greatest hits compilation of his ballads. In celebration of his 50th birthday in 1997, Elton's international fan club issued two commemorative stamps. Only 5,000 stamps were postmarked and proceeds went to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Elton paid tribute to the late Princess Diana with the Number One single "Candle In The Wind 1997," which he performed at her funeral. In 1999, he collaborated with lyricist Tim Rice on songs for the Disney stage musical "Aida." One year later, DreamWorks Records released "Elton John's The Road To El Dorado," which served as a companion CD to the animated Disney film "The Road To El Dorado." Elton received the 2000 Grammy Legend Award for his ongoing contributions and influence in the recording field. Elton's latest album, "Songs From The West Coast," features the hit singles "I Want Love" and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore." ("I Want Love" CDP-24201)

The "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin will turn 60 on March 25th. In 1967, she recorded the Otis Redding composition "Respect" and took the song to Number One on the pop charts. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin has won numerous Grammys, including the 1990 Living Legends Award. Two anthology sets spanning her career were released in 1994. The first, entitled "Greatest Hits (1980-1994)," was issued on Arista Records and was followed by the four-volume Rhino Records collection, "Queen Of Soul - The Atlantic Recordings." In 1998, Arista released her latest CD, "A Rose Is Still A Rose," which marked her first album of new material in seven years. ("Respect" CDP-371)

On March 26th, rhythm-and-blues singer Teddy Pendergrass will celebrate his 52nd birthday. Pendergrass got his start in the music business in 1970 as lead singer for Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes. Six~years later, he left the group to pursue a solo career, and recorded such hits as "Close The Door" and~"Two Hearts." A 1982 auto accident left him partially paralyzed. Following extensive therapy, Pendergrass resumed touring in 1986. A decade later, he co-starred in the touring production of "Your Arm's Too Short To Box With God." A "Greatest Hits" anthology was released in 1998. ("Love T.K.O." CDP-17316)

Singer Diana Ross turns 58 on March 26th. She launched her professional singing career at age 15 with The Primettes, a trio that later became The~Supremes. Ross left The Supremes in 1969, and~recorded the Number One song, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," a~year later. Her many chart successes include "Touch Me In The Morning," "Upside Down," and~the 1981 Number One Duet with Lionel Richie, "Endless Love." An anthology, "Greatest Hits The RCA Years" was released in 1997. Plans for a Supremes reunion in 2000 were shelved following a dispute over money between Ross and another former Supreme, Mary Wilson. ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough" CDP-7167)

On March 27th, pop diva Mariah Carey will celebrate her 32nd birthday. Since her 1990 breakthrough, Mariah has sold more than 115 million records, making her the best-selling female artist of the 1990s. Her 14 Number One singles during that decade are the most by any female artist, surpassing The Supremes (12) and Madonna (11). Last year, Mariah checked herself into a hospital to be treated for a physical and emotional breakdown. She says the extreme exhaustion was brought on by her grueling work schedule. Mariah returned to the spotlight in September to perform "Hero" on the telethon "America: A Tribute To Heroes," which raised money for victims of the September 11th attacks. Her personal problems delayed the opening of her film "Glitter," which flopped at the box office. In January of this year, Virgin Records dropped Mariah from its roster. Recent reports indicate that two major labels have offered her a recording deal. Her acting career is also going better. Mariah's latest film, "Wisegirls," received favorable reviews at this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. ("Hero" CDP-8070)

On March 28th, country singer Reba McEntire will celebrate her 47th birthday. Reba entered the music business at age 20 after Red Steagall heard her perform the National Anthem at a rodeo. He later arranged for Reba to record her first demo tape, which led to a~contract with Mercury Records. Since then, she has become one of the most popular vocalists in Country music, with Number One hits such as "Whoever's In New England," "Cathy's Clown," "You Lie," and "Is There Life Out There." Reba has also won numerous industry honors, including the Country Music Association's coveted Entertainer of the Year Award in 1986. Her latest album, "So Good Together," was released in November 1999. Last year, Reba starred on Broadway as Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun." She's currently starring in a WB network situation comedy called "Reba." In October of last year, MCA Records released Reba's third anthology, "Greatest Hits, Volume III: I'm A Survivor." The collection includes twelve of her hits from the 1990s, plus three new songs. ("I'm A Survivor" CDP-24320)

Canadian pop singer Celine Dion will celebrate birthday number 34 on March 30th. The international superstar grew up in Quebec, where began singing at age 5. Seven years later, she recorded her first song. Manager Rene Angelil heard the tape and immediately~recognized Celine's superstar potential. The two were later married in 1994. Throughout the 1980s, Celine's~popularity grew in Europe, Japan, Australia, the Middle East and Russia. She made a breakthrough in the United States in 1990, with her first English-language album, "Unison." Since then, she has sold 140 million albums worldwide. At the start of 2000, Celine began a sabbatical from recording and performing to spend more time with husband Rene, who was recovering from skin cancer. In January of 2001, Celine gave birth to the couple's first child, Rene Charles. She's now back with a new album titled "A New Day Has Come," which hits record stores on March 26th. CBS-TV will air her hour-long television special, "Celine Dion: A New Day Will Come" on April 7th. Celine will return to live performing in March of 2003. She signed an exclusive three-year contract to star in a theatrical production at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. ("A New Day Has Come" CDP-24898)

Singer-guitarist Eric Clapton will turn 57 on March 30th. During the '60s, he performed with the British groups The Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith. In 1970, he formed Derek & The Dominos. Four years later, Clapton recorded "461 Ocean Boulevard," his~first Number One solo album. The collection contained the chart-topping single, "I Shot The Sheriff." His other chart hits include "After Midnight," "Lay Down Sally," "Cocaine," and "Tears In Heaven," a tribute to his son Conor, who died in 1991 after falling from the window of a~49th-story apartment. In~1992, Clapton performed on MTV's "Unplugged" series, a concert that became a~multi-million-selling album, and earned him seven~Grammy awards. In 2000, Eric Clapton became the first artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a third time. Previously, he had been inducted as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. His 2000 induction was for his solo work. Clapton's latest album, "Reptile," was released in March of 2001. On New Year's Day, Clapton married 25-year-old Melia McEnery. The couple has an 8-month old daughter named Julie Rose. ("I Shot The Sheriff" CDP-1227)

AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:

Alicia Keys took home three trophies at the 16th annual Soul Train Music Awards, held on March 20th in Los Angeles. She was named Best Female Entertainer of the Year and also received the Best R&B/Soul Album award for "Songs In A Minor" and the Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist honor for her single, "Fallin'." Other winners included the late Aaliyah, whose hit "Rock The Boat" earned her Best Female R&B/Soul Single; Musiq Soulchild, Best Male R&B/Soul Single for "Love;" Usher, Best Male R&B/Soul Album for "8701;" Jay-Z, The Isley Brothers, Best Soul Single by a Group, Band or Duo for "Eternal" and Best Soul Single by a Group, Band or Duo for "Contagious;" and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video for "Get Ur Freak On;" and Donnie McClurkin, Best Gospel Album for "Live In London;" and Dr. Dre, named Male Entertainer of the Year.

TOUR DATES/INFORMATION:

Bonnie Raitt will kick off a series of U.S. concerts on March 30th in Madison, Wisconsin. The outing is in support of her upcoming album "Silver Lining," which will be released April 9th. Raitt is scheduled to perform twelve shows through May 30th.

FACTS FROM THE PAST AND SUGGESTED MUSIC:

3/24/58 - Elvis Presley began his two years of military service in the U.S. Army. During his time away, several of Presley's songs appeared on the pop charts, including the Number One singles, "Hard Headed Woman" and "A Big Hunk O' Love." ("A Big Hunk O' Love" CDP-904)

3/26/64 "Funny Girl," starring Barbara Streisand, opened on Broadway. She also appeared in the film version of the show, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. ("Funny Girl" CDP-259)

3/26/77 The British-American rock group Foreigner made its debut with the Top 5 single "Feels Like The First Time." The song was included on the band's self~titled debut album, which produced two other major hits, "Cold As Ice," and "Long Long Way From Home." ("Feels Like The First Time" CDP-999)

3/27/87 Club Nouveau topped the pop chart with its funky version of "Lean On Me," a previous Number One hit for Bill Withers in 1972. ("Lean On Me" CDP-12654)

3/29/51 "The King And I," starring Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence, opened on Broadway. The popular musical ran for more than 1,200 performances, and was made into a motion picture in 1956. ("Shall We Dance" from "The King And I" CDP-2985)

3/29/73 Dr. Hook, the group that recorded the 1972~Top 10 song "The Cover Of The Rolling Stone," finally~made the magazine's cover, and true to the song's lyrics, the group's members reportedly did buy five~copies for their mothers. ("The Cover Of The~Rolling Stone" CDP-6228)