Classic rock images to show at Annenberg Space for Photography

Photographer Alfred Wertheimer’s image resonates like a classic Elvis song — a burst of emotion that leaves a dent long after the first impression has faded. The intimate 1956 photo captures a strikingly beautiful Presley snuggling with a woman backstage, lost within her face, his hair perfectly coiffed. In it, an entire emotional landscape reveals itself.

This image of Presley is one of more than 175 that will arrive at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City in June, when “Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present” arrives in its West Coast premiere. The show, which originated at the Brooklyn Museum in 2009, features 100 photographers and some of the most vital and important images of the rock ’n’ roll era — including classic work by Diane Arbus, Jim Marshall, Annie Leibovitz, Pennie Smith and Ryan McGinley.

“Who Shot Rock” was curated by author Gail Buckland and arrives in L.A. for a four-month run after showing in a number of art museums the last two years. It’s the most comprehensive traveling show of rock photography ever assembled, and it reinforces the notion that image is as important as music when conveying the message of rock ’n’ roll.

PHOTOS: 'Who Shot Rock & Roll' at the Annenberg Space for Photography

Album review: Amy Winehouse's 'Lioness'

“Why did God take the homie? I can’t stand it,” raps Nas on “Like Smoke,” a fine soul-noir track from Amy Winehouse’s new posthumous compilation “Lioness: Hidden Treasures.” “I’m a firm believer that we all meet up in eternity,” he raps in his ode to a friendship cut short.

“Lioness” only begins to hint at the kind of affection Winehouse inspired — she duets with rap icons and Tony Bennett here. That’s because for all Winehouse’s deep, fatal flaws, her immense talent was fueled by a compelling openness and vulnerability.

Amy Winehouse outtakes album coming Dec. 5

Amy Winehouse’s record company will release a collection of previously unreleased tracks, including several new songs and alternate takes of earlier releases the singer made before her death from an alcohol overdose in July.

“Lioness: Hidden Treasures” consists of a dozen tracks spanning some of the five-time Grammy-winning singer’s earliest recording sessions in 2002 through her final studio session earlier this year with Tony Bennett, when the singers dueted on the pop classic “Body and Soul.”

Among the other songs scheduled for release Dec. 5 are the bossa nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema," which she recorded in Miami when she was 18 and started working with producer Salaam Remi, a demo version of the “Back to Black” song “Wake Up Alone,” a slower alternative take on “Valerie” and her rendition of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You.”

It will also feature “Between the Cheats,” a new song she recorded in 2008 with Remi for possible inclusion on what would have been her third album. During the same sessions she recorded a duet with rapper Nas, “Like Smoke,” that will be on the new collection. The tracks on “Hidden Treasures” are produced by Remi and the producer of her “Back to Black” breakthrough album and hit single "Rehab," Mark Ronson.

She died on July 23 at age 27 in what a British coroner ruled as “death by misadventure” from an accidental alcohol overdose.

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Photo of cover from Amy Winehouse's posthumous "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" album. Credit: AmyWinehouse.com.

MTV VMAs: Russell Brand pays tribute to Amy Winehouse

MTV had Russell Brand introduce the Bruno Mars-anchored tribute to Amy Winehouse, and with little time Brand gave a rather passionate, honest speech. It echoed his "For Amy" eulogy that he posted online, and he recognized Winehouse as "not just another person milling about waiting to be famous."

Brand noted Winehouse's unique voice as one that could stop a person in his tracks, and retold the tale of being taken by surprise by Winehouse as he was on his way to see Paul Weller. He name-checked Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and took the time to stress that Winehouse wasn't addled by addiction but infected with a disease. "A lot of people just get the disease," Brand said, "not the talent." 

Brand then introduced Tony Bennett, who gave a short preview of his upcoming "Duets II," which features Winehouse and Bennett tackling jazz/soul classic "Body and Soul." It felt a little promotional, but the teaser showed Winehouse looking as healthy as she ever had, so it ultimately struck a bittersweet tone.

If there was a major flaw in MTV's tribute to Winehouse, it was booking Mars to sing "Valerie," a Zutons song that Winehouse covered with Mark Ronson. Mars is a suitable pop chameleon, and Winehouse was anything but. He's a featherweight star, and though Mars isn't going to embarrass anyone's legacy, the performance never hinted at the outsize personality of the late star.

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Bruno Mars

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 Photo: Russell Brand. Credit: Matt Sayles/Associated Press

Tony Bennett to honor Amy Winehouse at MTV Video Music Awards

Tony Bennett will lead a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced Tuesday.

Winehouse teamed up with the iconic singer to record the duet “Body and Soul” for his upcoming "Duets II" album, and Bennett will make his first appearance on the VMA stage since 1993 to pay homage to the singer. Bennett will introduce the segment, which is set to include footage from their recording session together.

“Body and Soul” was reportedly Winehouse’s final studio session and took place in March at Abbey Road Studios in London. The single and video will be released by Columbia Records on Sept. 14, which would have been Winehouse's 28th birthday. Proceeds of the single will support the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which the singer's family recently established to help a number of charities connected with children and young people.  
 
“Our family is honored that the VMA’s are giving Amy this wonderful tribute," her father, Mitch Winehouse, said in a statement. "We know that Amy’s performance of 'Rehab' at the MTV Movie Awards played an important part in Amy’s worldwide success.”

Bennett revealed to Pop & Hiss that he attempted to give the British songstress some advice during the studio session.

"I was trying to tell her, 'You have so much talent. Slow down on the drugs or it's going to kill you,' " he said. "And then when I heard she died, I couldn't stop crying. She was such a talent, so sweet."

The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday at 9 p.m. and feature performances from Lady Gaga, Adele, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Pitbull, Young the Giant and Jessie J.

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Photo: Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett at a recording session, singing "Body and Soul" for Tony's upcoming album. Credit: Mark Allen /Columbia Records

Amy Winehouse toxicology results show 'no illegal substances'

Amy Winehouse had only alcohol and no illegal drugs in her system at the time of her death last month, her family said Tuesday.

"Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy's system at the time of her death," a representative for the family said in a statement. "Results indicate that alcohol was present, but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death."

An autopsy for the 27-year-old also failed to yield an immediate answer as to a cause of death, according to police officials in London.

The five-time Grammy winner was found dead in her London home on July 23.

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Photo: Amy Winehouse in 2007. Credit: Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times

Tony Bennett talks Amy Winehouse, Lenny Bruce, new box set

 
You wouldn't think there would be much left for Tony Bennett to accomplish. The iconic singer, who turned 85 on Wednesday, has over a six-decade career won 15 Grammys, sold more than 50 million records and been a Kennedy Center honoree. But speaking to Pop & Hiss this week, Bennett said he still felt the itch to learn new tricks.

"I want to keep improving, and I want to keep learning, as a singer and in other ways. It's not that I want to -- I need to," Bennett said. "I've been thinking about that with my birthday. You know, I just started sculpting recently. It's a whole new thing."

As he spoke, Bennett was proving his own point. Immaculately dressed in a suit and matching tie-and-pocket handkerchief, he was between takes on the New York set of the CBS show "Blue Bloods," in which he has a cameo appearance this upcoming season. (Bennett plays himself, performing a duet of "It Had to Be You" with Carrie Underwood at a fundraiser attended by some of the series' characters. The episode, the show's season premiere, will air Sept.  23.)

The music you bought this week: Amy Winehouse, LMFAO, more

Music sales may no longer be the surefire barometer of success they once were, yet the Nielsen SoundScan charts Wednesday represent perhaps an even broader snapshot of artists resonating with fans. Though the charts are no longer the providence of the mainstream, below is a snapshot of some of the music that has inspired the populace to part with cash.

 
Remembering Winehouse: Fans expectedly swarmed to the music of Amy Winehouse in the days following the sudden passing of the troubled young pop star. With Winehouse's death reported early Saturday and the SoundScan tracking period ending Sunday night, the bevy of Winehouse sales were from the digital sector. Her "Back to Black" sold a total of 37,000 copies in the weekend span, but only 3,000 of those were of the non-download kind. Likewise, her debut effort "Frank" sold 7,600 copies, 7,000 of which were digital.

Though it's no surprise for album sales to surge after a star's death, things seem especially bittersweet with Winehouse because this was one of the bestselling weeks of her career. "Back to Black'" sold 38,000 copies in the first full sales week following the 2008 Grammy Awards, when the artist performed live from London and won five trophies. Her "Back to Black" total pushed the album back onto the chart at No. 9, and to date has sold more than 2.3 million copies. 

Winehouse paved the way . . . The top-selling artist of 2011 thus far, Adele, is one that no doubt owes a bit of a debt to Winehouse. Though Adele is more restrained as a singer, it was the success of Winehouse that opened the doors for other retro-minded artists. Adele's "21" has once again returned to the top of the U.S. pop charts after having sold another 77,000 copies. Thus far, "21" has managed to sell more than 2.7 million copies. This is Adele's 11th, non-consecutive week at the top.

Rome Ramirez pays tribute to Amy Winehouse with his cover of 'Rehab'

Since the death of Amy Winehouse on Saturday, outpourings of grief and tribute for the late British soul singer have taken on many forms. But few may have expected a fitting final salute from Sublime’s Rome Ramirez, who slapped on the shades and stepped to the mike to record his cover of “Rehab,” from Winehouse’s breakout album, “Back to Black.” It was uploaded to the Web on Sunday, and Ramirez posted a message under his YouTube video to accompany his stirring rendition.

“I recorded this tribute for Amy Winehouse after I heard the news of her passing,” Ramirez said. “She is a huge inspiration to my music. We miss you, Amy.”

Amy Winehouse autopsy inconclusive; music rises to top of charts

 

An autopsy on the late Amy Winehouse on Monday yielded no immediate answer as to how the singer died, according to police officials in London who said the results of toxicology tests are due in two to four weeks.

Police determined that foul play was not involved in the death of the 27-year-old British soul singer at her London home Saturday.  Winehouse's body was released to her family, which is  planning a private funeral that could take place as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, as it is customary for Jewish memorials to be held as quickly as possible.

Numerous news reports have stated that Winehouse might have been dead for up to six hours before being discovered by security guard Andrew Morris that afternoon -- she last spoke to members of her team at 10 a.m.  Saturday, and was found at 4 p.m.

"She was in her bedroom after saying she wanted to sleep and when [Morris] went to wake her he found she wasn't breathing," Chris Goodman, her United Kingdom representative, told the Sun. "He called the emergency services straightaway. He was very shocked. At this stage no one knows how she died. She died alone in bed."