Ticking News

Notes: They Might Be Giants: John Linnell, John Flansburgh. [...] Catchy songs abound, and the disc becomes a catalog of the most consistently peculiar hooks to spring out of contemporary music. [1]

The Lincoln ads on GRAMMY night will encourage people to visit www.lincoln.com/music, where they will be able to see the full concert performance of Shiny Toy Guns as well as behind-the-scenes footage from that band and Sia, an Australian pop singer who performs the track for the current Lincoln MKT commercial. [2]

Recording information: Dubway Studio, New York, NY. [1]

“The GRAMMY Awards bring out music lovers who are not only looking for cool music but also up-and-coming bands,” explained Connie Fontaine, Brand Content and Alliances manager, Ford Motor Company. [2]

The Christian music community is in for a real treat. [3]

In addition to the innovative Lincoln commercials airing during the GRAMMY telecast, Lincoln also is the official sponsor of the first-ever ESSENCE Black Women in Music event, which will be held today at the Sunset Towers Hotel in Hollywood, Calif., as part of GRAMMY Week. [...] They also will be able to listen to music from four up-and-coming artists, vote for the band they think should perform the music for the next Lincoln ad, and check out the latest Lincoln products. [2]

The CD opens with several fun, jump-around-type songs which slowly segues into a more introspective look at ourselves and what we are searching for. [3]

Recording as a duo, John Linnel and John Flansburgh pull at everything from kitsch-fueled western moviescapes to plain punkish garage songs to finely honed gems that can evoke Burt Bacharach (as inhabited by the spirit of Monty Python). [1]

… it was the electric guitar that truly caught his heart when he was only nine years old. [3]

Lincoln has been using music to draw new, younger customers to the brand since the launch of the Lincoln MKS in 2008. [2]

Additional personnel: Dr. Kenneth Nolan (drums). [...] John Flansburgh and John Linnell, the two singer/songwriters behind Brooklyn avant-pop cult band They Might Be Giants, were childhood friends who have been working under the TMBG banner since the ’80s. [...] The Ordinaires include: Benjamin Bossi, Robin Casey, Fritz Van Order, Barbara Schloss, Garo Yellin. [1]

Sources:
[1] They Might Be Giants - Lincoln in Music: Alternative at JR.com
[2] LINCOLN STARS SHINE DURING MUSIC’S BIGGEST NIGHT
[3] Amazon.com: Lincoln Brewster: Lincoln Brewster: Music

“She is on the record,” he told MTV News, adding that the collaboration, which appeared online Thursday, originally came together after he tweeted that he wanted to work with the singer. [1]

Welcome back to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles’across the street from the L.A. Live complex, which, as one tourist helpfully exclaimed while I was getting my coffee, is ‘totally like the Times Square of L.A.!”for day two of Grammy rehearsals. [...] And finally, Friday brought the chance to see Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks collaborate in one of those moments the Grammys are known for. [2]

“I woke up with the song in my head called ‘Half of My Heart,’ ” he recalled. [...] And while fans will enjoy trying to figure out which songs could possibly be about Jennifer Aniston, they will also get to hear his sweet duet with Taylor Swift. [1]

The six-time nominee materialized with his dark sunglasses and light falsetto to run through a combo of ‘Pretty Wings’ (up for Song of the Year) and ‘Where is the Love’ (not the Black Eyed Peas song), the latter alongside special guest star Ms. Roberta Flack. [2]

Swift also openly expressed a desire to work with Mayer in interviews, but the details of how it actually came to be are a bit fuzzy to Mayer. [...] John Mayer is poised to release his latest album, Battle Studies, later this month. [1]

I have not purchased a Dave Matthews Band album since Crash, but the driving rendition of ‘You and Me’ he’s doing on the telecast has persuaded me to go out and get Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. [2]

It’s like the tweet version of ‘The Secret’ — no better way to put it out into the universe than to tweet it.” [1]

) No press releases about new performers came out, but if Friday’s roster of stars doesn’t make you want to watch the show, you are never going to watch the show. [2]

“And the idea is that it’s this real sort of updated — not that it needs to be updated — sort of Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks thing.” [1]

This man’s voice is so seductive, his groove so smooth, it could strip the turtleneck off Diane Keaton. [...] They got to play with Neil Young at last night’s MusiCares benefit, too. [...] Since this year’s album race features a rather motley crew of competitors, I thought I’d ask him which of his fellow nominees he liked best. [2]

Sources:
[1] John Mayer Talks Taylor Swift Collaboration ‘Half Of My Heart …
[2] Grammy rehearsals, day two: Taylor Swift, Dave Matthews …

Jamie Foxx is an American comedian and actor. [1]

Once famous for wacky TV comedy, Jamie Foxx gained greater fame as a dramatic actor in high-profile movies such as Any Given Sunday (1999, directed by Oliver Stone) and Ray (the 2004 biopic of singer Ray Charles). [2]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) — Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx and his sister were arrested early Saturday in a scuffle with police officers at a New Orleans casino, police said. [3]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ‘ A judge says arrest warrants will be issued for comedian Jamie Foxx and his younger sister if they don’t show up in court Friday to answer charges from a scuffle with police at a casino. [4]

Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and rhythm & blues singer. [5]

Police said Foxx and Dixon walked past security guards and refused to show identification when they entered Harrah’s Casino on Canal Street with an entourage of seven. [3]

Foxx, booked with trespassing, battery on officers and resisting arrest, was released on $1,900 bond. [...] NEW ORLEANS - Comedian Jamie Foxx and his sister were arrested early Saturday after allegedly refusing to leave a casino and then fighting with police officers called to escort them out, authorities said. [6]

As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a musical/comedy. [5]

Even as he pursued a music career, Foxx was also doing stand-up at comedy clubs, mostly on open-mike nights: “I wrote down all these unisex names at this comedy place because they would always choose the girls to go up… So I wrote down Stacy King, Tracy Brown, Jamie Foxx… And they picked Jamie Foxx. [1]

Criminal District Judge Frank Marullo told attorneys for Foxx and Deidra Dixon on Wednesday that there’s no provision in Louisiana law for them to be arraigned outside New Orleans or for arraignment by video. [4]

In Living Color was a gateway of opportunity for Foxx, catapulting him into many television and film engagements. [2]

As an actor, his films have ranged from raunchy low-budget black-themed comedies like Booty Call to dramatic turns in Collateral opposite Tom Cruise and Ray, as Ray Charles. [1]

Foxx, 35, of Hollywood, California, was arrested for trespassing, battery on officers and resisting arrest, according to New Orleans police. [3]

Dixon struck one officer in the face, Defillo said. [6]

Sources:
[1] Jamie Foxx
[2] Jamie Foxx: Biography from Answers.com
[3] CNN.com - Police: Actor Jamie Foxx in casino brawl - Apr. 26 …
[4] USATODAY.com - Jamie Foxx may face arrest for scuffle
[5] Jamie Foxx - Wikipedia
[6] ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Jamie Foxx, sister arrested at casino

The first human beatbox in the rap world, and still the best of all time, Doug E. Fresh amazed audiences with his note-perfect imitations of drum machines, effects, and often large samples of hip-hop classics. [1]

Doug E. Fresh (born Douglas E. Davis, 17 September 1966, in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) is an American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer. [2]

Unquestionably one of the greatest beat-boxers of all time, Doug E. Fresh capably created an extraordinary palette of rhythmic and musical noises with his mouth, often in a nimble, giddy mode instantly distinguishable from the booming, raspy tones of the Fat Boys’ Human Beat Box (may he rest in peace). [3]

Fresh at the 5th Annual Hip-Hop Summit Action Network’s Action Awards in New York City in February 2008. [4]

It was recorded with his Get Fresh Crew, including MC Ricky D (only later to gain fame as Slick Rick), along with Barry Bee and Chill Will. [5]

Called Oh, My God!, this included a few more notable tracks such as (”Play This Only at Night” and “All the Way to Heaven”) and was critically hailed for incorporating elements of reggae and gospel music. [2]

The originator of the human beat box (vocally simulating the sound of drums and other musical instruments), he spawned an international hip-hop trend. [6]

His single “The Show/La Di Da Di,” is considered an early hip hop classic. [2]

In 1986, Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew released their debut full-length album, Oh, My God! [1]

In 1988, another album, The World’s Greatest Entertainer was released, which appeared on Billboard magazine’s charts, due in part to the popular single “Keep Risin’ to the Top.” [4]

Fresh became a major rap star in 1985. [2]

The single featured the Get Fresh Crew: DJs Barry B. and Chill Will, and MC Ricky D (who would later achieve fame as Slick Rick). [...] Douglas E. Davis (born September 17, 1966), better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box. [4]

His first LP, 1987’s Oh, My God!, featured most of his showpieces, like “Play This Only at Night” and “All the Way to Heaven,” along with nods to reggae and even gospel. [1]

His second album, 1988’s The World’s Greatest Entertainer, broke into the Billboard charts thanks to another hot single, “Keep Risin’ to the Top,” but Slick Rick had already broken from the pack and his LP of the same year, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, did much better than Doug E. Fresh. [5]

Sources:
[1] Doug E. Fresh: Information from Answers.com
[2] Doug E. Fresh ‘ Discover music, videos, concerts, & pictures …
[3] Doug E. Fresh : Rolling Stone
[4] Doug E. Fresh - Wikipedia
[5] Doug E. Fresh | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com
[6] Doug E. Fresh on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s …

Leon founded Shelter Records with partner Denny Cordell and released Leon’s first solo album, “Leon Russell” in May, 1970. [1]

Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942 in Lawton, Oklahoma) is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. [2]

The ultimate rock & roll session man, Leon Russell’s long and storied career includes collaborations with a virtual who’s who of music icons spanning from Jerry Lee Lewis to Phil Spector to the Rolling Stones. [3]

Leon Russell is a music legend and perhaps the most accomplished and versatile musician in the history of rock ‘n roll. [1]

Born Claude Russell Bridges on April 2, 1942, in Lawton, OK, he began studying classical piano at age three, a decade later adopting the trumpet and forming his first band. [4]

Russell released an eponymous solo album shortly after the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour, Leon Russell, which included the original version of the popular “A Song for You “, which has become one of the most widely covered songs of all time, with versions released by artists as varied as Donny Hathaway, Christina Aguilera and Tulsa natives Joe and Ellen. [5]

In June of 1975, Russell married singer Mary McCreary; the following year the couple collaborated on The Wedding Album, issued through his newly formed Paradise Records label. [4]

After graduating from high school, Leon’s band, The Starlighters, went on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis for almost two months. [...] Leon built a recording studio in his home in 1967 where he and Marc Benno recorded songs which were released on two critically acclaimed records as the ‘Asylum Choir’. [1]

Moving into the new century, Russell issued Moonlight & Love Songs, an album of cover songs, in 2002, followed by Angel in Disguise five years later in 2007. [4]

Russell built his own recording studio in 1967 and, in a collaboration with Marc Benno, recorded his first LP (Look Inside the Asylum Choir). [5]

At the height of his popularity as a rock star, Leon released a country music album, “Hank Wilson’s Back” under the name Hank Wilson on August 31st,1973. [1]

With a solo career spanning the genres of rock, blues, and gospel, Russell began his musical career at 14, lying about his age to land a gig playing backup at a Tulsa nightclub to play with Ronnie Hawkins behind Jerry Lee Lewis. [2]

In 1967, Russell built his own recording studio, teaming with guitarist Marc Benno to record the acclaimed Look Inside the Asylum Choir LP. [4]

Ray Charles recorded ‘A Song For You’, B.B. King had a hit with ‘Hummingbird’, The Carpenters with ‘Superstar’ and Joe Cocker with ‘Delta Lady’. [1]

Sources:
[1] Leon Russell
[2] Leon Russell ‘ Discover music, videos, concerts, & pictures …
[3] Leon Russell music - Listen Free on Jango || Pictures, Videos …
[4] Leon Russell: Information from Answers.com
[5] Leon Russell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia