Louis Cato, TV late night bandleader, offers 'Reflections,' a new album of 'laid bare, honest' songs
Louis Cato’s remarkable musical gifts are on show this summer with his second album, “Reflections,” a way to express himself while his regular day gig as bandleader of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” is quiet because of the Hollywood strike.
Biden taps Gaga, Clooney, Garner, others for arts committee
The White House has announced a star-studded slate of members for the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a panel of artists, museum professionals, academics and philanthropists that serves as an advisory board to President Joe Biden on culture issues.
Jon Batiste tops Grammys; Silk Sonic soars, Rodrigo crowned
Jon Batiste won album of the year honors for “We Are” at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, giving him five trophies on a night that saw the ’70s funk of Silk Sonic take record of the year and song of the year and newcomer Olivia Rodrigo take three awards.
Piano phenom shares his story
Matthew Whitaker is a pianist that has been mentored by the likes of Stevie Wonder; Jon Batiste has called him one of “the greatest” at this moment, and he’s already played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Apollo. Whitaker also happens to be just shy of 21 years old and blind.
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After top Grammy win, singer H.E.R. is heading to the Oscars
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)NEW YORK – A night after winning the top Grammy Award for songwriting, R&B singer H.E.R. Leslie Odom Jr. will also compete for best original song with “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami...," which he wrote with Sam Ashworth. AdSongs by John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Janelle Monae and Robert Glasper were shortlisted for best original song but didn't make the final cut. The duo of Reznor and Ross have won a number of awards for their scoring work, including an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe. Terence Blanchard (“Da 5 Bloods"), Emile Mosseri (“Minari") and James Newton Howard (“News of the World") round out the best original score nominees.
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Louisiana high school boasts 4 best-album Grammy nominees
A New Orleans high school is celebrating Grammy nominations for four of its graduates. St. Augustine High School alumni PJ Morton, Timothy Thedford, Jonathan Batiste and Luke James are each up for best album in different categories at the awards show Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)NEW ORLEANS – A New Orleans high school is celebrating Grammy nominations for four of its graduates. St. Augustine High School alumni PJ Morton, Timothy Thedford, Jonathan Batiste and Luke James are each up for best album in different categories at the awards show Sunday, The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports. The school congratulated the four nominees on a billboard along the Pontchartrain Expressway in New Orleans.
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Odom Jr., H.E.R., Andra Day score Golden Globe music nods
This combination photo shows Leslie Odom Jr. posing for a portrait on Nov. 8, 2019 in New York, from left, H.E.R. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, Leslie Odom Jr., H.E.R. and Andra Day were announced along with Celeste and Diane Warren as the Golden Globe nominees for best original song. Day and Odom Jr. follow the footsteps of Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga and Cynthia Erivo, who all recently scored acting and music nods in a single year. However, the tracks can compete for best original song at the Oscars.
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Kevin Bacon brings music back to venues for charity concert
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Musician and actor Kevin Bacon is bringing live music back to venues that have been shuttered this year with an all-star concert TV special. The charity concert airing on CBS on Dec. 15 will raise money for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and WhyHunger. All these independently owned venues were closed to the public because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The joy that you see among the people that are playing, I think, is very infectious in our show,” said Bacon. Although he also hasn't been able to perform in front of fans this year, Bacon has been singing and playing to a smaller audience of sorts.
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New York City curfew lifts early following peaceful protests
(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)NEW YORK New York City is lifting its curfew spurred by protests against police brutality ahead of schedule, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday morning. At protests in Manhattan earlier Saturday, volunteers handed out snacks, first aid kits and plenty of water bottles on a muggy afternoon. But Mayor Bill de Blasio has insisted the curfew will remain in place throughout the weekend. She added she thinks protests could continue next week, even as some will go back to work when New York City begins its reopening. I think as long as we stay organized, thats exactly what can and will and should happen, Henry said.
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Winfrey, Pitt part of Grammys special for essential workers
FILE - This May 28, 2019 file photo shows Singer Harry Connick Jr. with his daughter Georgia at a special screening of "Pavarotti" in New York. The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. It will follow host Connick Jr. and his filmmaker-daughter Georgia on road trip celebrating and thanking essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. Winfrey, Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Queen Latifah, Rene Zellweger and Drew Brees will also deliver special messages to workers.