Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin to perform at Whitney Houston funeral

Whitney Houton’s funeral service Saturday will be graced by some major star power as friends and family pay tribute to the late singer. Iconic voices Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder are slated to perform at Houston's memorial service in Newark, N.J., a representative for the singer's family told Reuters on Thursday.

Invitations also went out to the singer’s ex-husband Bobby Brown, her “The Bodyguard” costar Kevin Costner and Oprah Winfrey, among others. Houston’s longtime producer, Clive Davis, who held an annual pre-Grammy party at which Whitney was supposed to perform last Saturday before she died, will speak at the funeral.

Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, confirmed that Donnie McClurkin, Tyler Perry, Kim Burrell, Rickey Minor, Alicia Keys, Cece Winans -- who is godmother to Houston's child Bobbi Kristina -- and Houston’s cousin, Dionne Warwick, will be part of the funeral program.

FULL COVERAGE: Whitney Houston dies at 48

The noon service will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, which Houston attended and sang in while growing up. Newark police said streets would be shut down for six square blocks around the church. In an attempt to avoid a dangerous influx of people flocking to the area, the private service will streamed online and broadcast on network television.

Police have issued subpoenas for Houston’s medical records after the discovery of prescription drugs in the Beverly Hilton Hotel suite where Houston was found dead Saturday at age 48. An autopsy has been conducted, but the Los Angeles County coroner's office has not released details.

RELATED:

OBITUARY: Whitney Houston found dead

Funeral is invitation-only; no public memorial

Appreciation: A voice for the ages tarnished by addictions

-- Nate Jackson

Photo: Stevie Wonder with Aretha Franklin last month at a BET Honors 2012 dinner in Washington. Credit: Kris Connor / Getty Images

'Soul Train's' Don Cornelius remembered by friends, colleagues, fans

Many in the entertainment world were shocked Wednesday at the news that “Soul Train” creator and host Don Cornelius had died this week in Los Angeles at age 75. The following are statements issued by numerous friends, colleagues and fans of the man and his widely influential show.

• “Don Cornelius! It’s so shocking and stunning. God bless him. He created a solid and broad foundation for young people and adults alike to socialize, dance and have good clean fun. He united the young adult community single-handedly and globally. With the inception of ‘Soul Train,’ a young, progressive brother set the pace and worldwide standard for young aspiring African American men and entrepreneurs in TV — out of Chicago. He transcended cultural barriers among young adults. They became one. Everybody loved ‘Soul Train’ and appreciated Don!”

-- Aretha Franklin

PHOTOS: Don Cornelius | 1936 - 2012

• "It's a heartbreak to the music world, to the television world and it is a heartbreak to me personally.  That's why we have to always reach out to friends and put our best love forward. God bless his family and God bless his soul."

-- Stevie Wonder

• “Don Cornelius was a pioneer, an innovator, and a trailblazer. He was the first African-American to create, produce, host and more importantly OWN his own television show. ‘Soul Train’ was a nationally syndicated show that paved the way for singers, musicians and dancers, giving them the ultimate platform to showcase their talents when no one else would. Every Saturday morning I looked forward to watching ‘Soul Train,’ as did millions of other people. ‘Soul Train’ taught the world how to dance! Don’s contribution to us all is immeasurable. He will truly be missed. I thank him for trusting me with his ‘Soul Train’ brand and I will carry on his legacy through it. My condolences to his son and my good friend Tony Cornelius and the entire Cornelius family.”

-- Earvin “Magic” Johnson, chairman, Soul Train Holdings

• "I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden passing of my friend, colleague and business partner Don Cornelius. Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business. Before MTV there was ‘Soul Train,’ that will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius. His contributions to television, music and our culture as a whole will never be matched. My heart goes out to Don's family and loved ones."

-- Quincy Jones

Aretha Franklin to headline Essence Music Festival

Festival favorites Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson and Fantasia also return for three-day concert.


Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin will headline the 2012 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

Perennial Essence favorites Mary J. Blige (who closed out the festival last year), Charlie Wilson and Fantasia have also been tapped to headline the annual three-day festival, which is billed as one of the largest gatherings of black artists in the country. The festival is set for July 6 to 8 at the Louisiana Superdome.

Album review: Aretha Franklin's 'A Woman Falling Out of Love'

It’s a relief just to hear Aretha Franklin’s divine voice again, considering that several months ago, rumors swirled as she lay in a Detroit hospital, recovering from surgery (its nature still unconfirmed). On her 38th studio album, available only at WalMart, the queen of soul sounds voluminous with life and optimism -- soaring, scatting, growling and belting through a gospel number, a blues song about adolescent desire and a movie theme about summer places.

Aretha (really, no last name needed) executive-produced “A Woman Falling Out of Love” and produced most of the tracks herself. Never one for restraint, she piles on the strings and keyboards, matching her multi-octave melismas with lavish instrumentation. “A Woman Falling Out of Love” is like a gourmet Sunday brunch buffet, overflowing with opulent deliciousness -- indulgent, fattening, sugary, and just in time for Mother’s Day.

Franklin pours it all on the opening track “How Long I’ve Waited”: strings over synths over operatic overstatement. But she gets gritty by the next track’s ode to B.B. King, her Big Mama Thornton howl echoed by swinging horns. She scats like Ella on “U Can’t See Me” and praises the Lord with all the magnificence of Mahalia on “Faithful” (a duet with Karen Clark-Sheard). Aretha is truly, as Rolling Stone recently named her, the greatest singer of all time.

Her taste, well, as we all know from that inauguration hat, that’s another matter. (“A Woman Falling” includes her presidential rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”) Aretha has long added a second title to her name: the queen of smooth. Tracks like the über-schmaltzy cover of “The Way We Were,” with Ron Isley, will play well on soft jazz stations. Her chatty, inspirational, girl-talk liner notes -- signed “Ree Ree” -- cater to Oprah’s crowd. Forgive her her bourgeois affectations; I’ll welcome a “New Day” with Aretha any time.

RELATED:

Aretha at the inauguration: the future had been written

Aretha gets some respect

Aretha criticizes Beyonce's Grammy performance

-- Evelyn McDonnell

Aretha Franklin
"Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love"
Aretha’s Records
Two and a half stars

Singing Aretha's praises: Jennifer Hudson

 

Singer Jennifer Hudson said she and Florence Welch bonded big time during their part in the Grammy Awards show’s salute to a common influence, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

“I just love her energy,” Hudson said of Welch after they’d rehearsed the career-spanning medley of Franklin signature songs on Thursday. “I love how much she loves music, and we just feed off each other—it’s like a magnet."

As intimidating as it might seem for any singer to interpret the songs of one of pop music’s great vocalists, Hudson said: “At the same time, it’s an honor, and that outweighs the nerves. The fact that we get to do this—I just hope we reflect her in the best way.  I got a call to do this and I said, ‘Yay! I’ll be there with bells on.'

“They asked us to submit a list of whatever song we’d like to sing, then they called back and said, ‘OK, you’re going to sing this,’” Hudson said. “I was like, ‘Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Anything, I would love to do it.’”

Franklin appeared Sunday night in a videotaped greeting to the audience at Staples and those watching the telecast, thanking fans for their get-well wishes during her recent hospital stay for surgery stemming from a still-undisclosed condition. But she said she hoped to attend next year’s ceremony.

“There was absolutely no competition” among the tribute participants, who also included Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams and Martina McBride, Hudson said. “It was all celebration and honoring of Aretha Franklin. I’m just honored to be on stage with such amazing talent. I’m standing up there in awe. Wow.”

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: From left, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch during Sunday night's Grammy Awards salute to Aretha Franklin. Credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters.

Clive Davis talks of projects with Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson

In the midst of my conversation a few days ago with Clive Davis, the veteran label chief, talent scout and record producer offered up a particularly welcome bit of news about Aretha Franklin, who went through some serious surgery last fall reportedly related to a diagnosis of  cancer. She has subsequently discredited widely circulated reports that she has pancreatic cancer.

Davis said that if all goes according to plan, he'll be working this year with the Queen of Soul, who he brought over to Arista Records in 1980, overseeing the dawn of a new era of chart success for her over the next decade.

"I just got off the phone with her, and she's sounding very good," Davis said. "We had a wonderful conversation, and we’re looking forward to working together. She's planning to come here when the weather gets a little warmer in New York."

He said he's also just wrapped up work with one of Franklin's myriad R&B disciples, Jennifer Hudson.

"I'm very excited about the new Jennifer Hudson album we've just completed," he said. "I love the idea of showcasing big voices of someone unique like her, who can not only break through with hits but also have a big career."

Davis will host his annual pre-Grammy Awards bash on Saturday night, and he'll also be on hand Wednesday night at the Grammy Museum to be the first honoree in the facility's new "Icons of the Music Industry" question-answer series.

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: Jennifer Hudson and Clive Davis at the 2010 Grammy Awards "Salute to Icons honoring Doug Morris" in Beverly Hills. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Aretha Franklin released from hospital, at home for the holidays

Aretha Franklin has been released from a Detroit hospital following recent surgery for an undisclosed condition, according to a statement issued Thursday by the singer’s spokeswoman, Tracey Jordan.

Since she entered the hospital, Detroit news outlets have widely reported that she has been battling pancreatic cancer. The statement said that her doctors deemed her surgery “highly successful,” and that she is expecting to spend the holidays at home with her family.

“I’ve been at home for almost three days now,” Franklin said in the statement. “My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me. I also have a private nurse who visits on a daily basis.  I’m hoping to be strong enough to go out and see the upcoming Sam Cooke play at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit before January 2, as well as a performance of ‘Dreamgirls’ at the FOX before it closes.”

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: Aretha Franklin performs in 2008. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

The 'Glee' cast surpasses Beatles on Billboard Hot 100 chart, inches closer to James Brown and Elvis Presley

Move over Beatles, and make way for the cast of “Glee.” The hit TV show has now produced more songs that have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 than the Fab Four throughout its career.

The Beatles placed 71 titles in the Hot 100 from their first appearance in 1964 with “I Want to Hold Your Hand” through “Real Love” in 1996. But it’s only taken the karaoke-minded cast members of “Glee” a bit more than 16 months to put 75 songs onto the same chart.

Because of the sheer quantity of “Glee” releases -- five or six songs are typically made available for downloading after each week’s episode -- the number of potential charting songs from the show has rapidly outstripped releases by conventional bands or solo acts.

That doesn’t, however, mean the “Glee” singers have surpassed the Beatles’ sales. In the era of eroding record sales, it often takes far lower sales figures to make the Hot 100 today than it did in decades past.  Total download sales of the “Glee” titles are at 11.5 million, according to Billboard.

Producer Arif Mardin celebrated in documentary 'The Greatest Ears in Town'

 
It’s a remarkable on one level that a man who played a critical role in shaping a boatload of hit records by Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Bette Midler, Carly Simon, Phil Collins, Dusty Springfield, Chaka Khan, Norah Jones and countless others isn’t a household name. On the other hand, it’s not surprising that longtime Atlantic Records staff producer-arranger Arif Mardin is overshadowed in the pop music history books by the larger-than-life executives he worked for at the label: Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

Mardin “was more responsible than he has ever been given credit for many of the successes that we’ve had,” Ertegun himself says in “The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story,” an illuminating documentary filled with as much humor as pathos that received its first L.A. screening Monday night at the Grammy Museum as part of the facility's "Reel to Reel" film series.

The two-hour film is built around footage shot in 2006 while Mardin was at work on what would become his final recording, “All My Friends Are Here,” a star-studded collection featuring artists he guided to some of their finest performances, singing songs he’d written over the years. He died of pancreatic cancer that year at age 74, shortly before finishing the album, which was released June 15 after being completed by his son, Joe Mardin, who also co-directed “The Greatest Ears in Town.”

The documentary traces his life from his birth in Turkey to an aristocratic family and his early fascination with American jazz through his move to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music to landing a job as a studio assistant at Atlantic in the early 1960s. It was there that he eventually brought the full scope of his skills as a composer, arranger and producer to bear after charting his first hit in 1966: the Young Rascals’ “Good Lovin’.”

Thoughts on Ellie Greenwich from Brian Wilson, Diane Warren

In writing the article about the death of Brill Building songwriter Ellie Greenwich this week, I immediately flashed back to an interview I’d done last year with Brian Wilson.

The first thing he did after slipping behind the wheel of his Mercedes coupe was to punch up KRTH-FM (101.1) on the radio as we headed out for a cruise through the winding hills of Benedict Canyon.

“I always check to see if they might play ‘Be My Baby,’” he told me, “but they don’t play it very much.”

“Be My Baby” was one of the dozens of sterling songs Greenwich wrote in the early ‘60s, most of them with her husband Jeff Barry and many in collaboration with Wall of Sound producer Phil Spector, whose recordings were a powerful influence on what Wilson created in the studio with the Beach Boys.

Jeffrey Foskett, the leader of the band that has backed Wilson on tour and in the recording studio for the last decade, said that when they played a show in New York a few years ago, Greenwich was in the audience, so Wilson dedicated their version of “Be My Baby” to her. “She invited us back to her house for chicken soup,” Foskett said. “I’m sorry that we didn’t go.”

Wilson took another of Greenwich and Barry’s songs, “I Can Hear Music,” which had made it only as high as No. 100 when the Ronettes put it out in 1966 but became a Top 30 hit three years later with the Beach Boys.  He said he rarely puts on music in his house because there’s always music playing in his head, which made me realize, beyond just its melodic beauty, what appealed to him about “I Can Hear Music,” with its lyric in the bridge, “I hear the music all the time.”

Wilson made no bones about naming the Ronettes' hit version of “Be My Baby” as his favorite record of all time, and when I reached out to him this week for a comment about his thoughts on Greenwich’s contributions to music, he also confirmed a story that had assumed the level of urban myth.