Bow Wow and Omarion
Photo: Walik Goshorn

TRENTON, New Jersey — For once, Omarion is talking to a girl and she's not falling at his feet.

"What's your favorite song?" O, wearing a white tee and jeans, asks her. "Bmm bmm bmm touch! Bmm bmm bmm touch!"

The girl looks at him with a near-blank stare, unaffected by his charm. This girl is too young. She's little Lauren, the 3-year-old niece of one his dancers, Danielle (who plays the sexy lead in the "Touch" video), and she's isn't going to croon one note for O.

(See photos from Scream IV.)

"I'm not going to sing for you," she informs him. "I only sing for Mommy."

"Why?" O continues, playing along. "See, I had some candy for you."

"No," she retorts. "I only sing for Mommy."

Sure enough, when O walks away smiling, Lauren puts her hands on her hips, begins swaying from side to side and sings for her mother: "Bmm bmm bmm touch! Bmm bmm bmm touch!"

Pretty soon, O himself would be singing the song — onstage. On Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning (July 20), O, Bow Wow and Marques Houston were at the Sovereign Bank Arena practicing for the opening of their Scream Tour IV: The HeartThrobs (see "Bow Wow, Omarion Roll Out Scream IV Summer Dates"), which also features Bobby Valentino and guests B5 and Pretty Ricky (see "Bow Wow Brings Pretty Ricky On Tour To Keep Girls Screaming"). On Tuesday, though, the stage belonged to O, Bow and MH, who did extensive rehearsals replete with pyrotechnics.

"Tonight will definitely be the test of stamina," says Bow, sitting on his tour bus, where he's spread out a customized rug embroidered with his name and dog prints.

"We been rehearsing for the past four days on the stage, just getting everything together, the staging, the choreography," MH — who promises a very big surprise when he performs "Naked" — describes outside his dressing room. "Chris [Stokes] is directing both shows, making sure we in place."

Later, MH is rolling around the main area of the arena on a scooter, the preferred mode of transport for the Bow, O and MH camps. Ciara — who came to show support for her boyfriend and wore a Bow tee, dark fitted cap, boots and jeans — stands several rows back from the stage, talking and looking on with Stokes. Bow, in the meantime, is onstage next to one of his spinners, listening through headphones to Jay-Z's verses from the song "Best of Both Worlds." O sits closer to the stage with Young Rome and his security personnel till his partner calls him.

"O, we 'bout to do back-to-back right now," Bow says. "The whole show right now."

"Oh sh--," O answers.

While the singer makes his way to the stage, Bow takes the opportunity to rib him some. "Yo, O, is this how you do it?" he asks, slightly bent over, with his hands somewhat in front of him. When Bow holds his position but starts kicking his leg as if he was on a scooter, O finally breaks out laughing.

The stage is pretty simple, with a huge staircase leading up to a platform, two walls of lights behind the steps and a runway that goes into the crowd for an up-close-and-personal effect. There's more to be added to the set in the coming days, but for the first show, they'll rock with what they have.

"It's crazy," Bow later says of the set. "It's a big stage, and when you get on it, there is so much room. We have more parts of the set, [but] ... now that the stage is up, they won't fit in. We have these wings we get on and go over the crowd. We couldn't use them on the first show."

	Photos: Check out pictures of Bow Wow, Omarion and Marques Houston during rehearsal

Judging from the rehearsal, the headliners' set is loaded with the type of regalia you would expect from heartthrobs. O and Bow come out together on top of the two risers. (Insert screams here; there'll be plenty on Wednesday night when the show kicks off here.) The duo walk down the staircase carrying two duffle bags and finally get to the main stage, where two curtains, placed several feet away from each other, await the performers. They do a quick change, their silhouettes visible, and in a matter of seconds, they reveal themselves in new outfits, posing back-to-back in the center of the stage.

R. Kelly's recorded voice floods the arena: "Welcome to the best of both worlds."

"I pull up with the big boy truck, n---a big boy drop/ We be the only big boys that the big boys watch," Bow raps, getting his Jigga impression down to a T. "Sing to 'em, O."

"Bessssst of boooooth worlds ohhhhh!" O sings on the chorus.

"I got a million on that boy singin' whatever on the flow/ Y'all got cheddar to blow, whatever, let a n---a know, O!" Bow continues.

"Bessssst of boooooth worlds ohhhhh!" O roars.

While O has no problem with R.'s chorus, he'll have to study the verses.

"This is for the somethin' somethin' somethin' somethin' somethin'," O sings, laughing with Bow. "Uh huh, yeah."

"I'm the best of my world in what I do, the genre of music," Bow later explains. "O is the best as far as his genre. I feel like that, the fans feel the same way. It is the best of both worlds. That's why we decided to pay tribute to Hov and Kells. It makes sense. I did not change one line of Hov's lyrics. You'll get a kick out of it once you see it with the pyro and everything."

Exactly like Jay and R. did for their doomed Best of Both Worlds tour (see "Jay-Z, R. Kelly Part Ways As Best Of Both Worlds Tour Collapses"), Bow and O have one long, nonstop program consisting of several short sets. O is always accompanied by his dancers, which can number as high as four guys and two girls. He's showing no signs of missing his group B2K during his first major outing as a solo artist.

There are moments during the rehearsal where he gets as salacious as a young Bobby Brown, humping one of his dancers during "Slow Dancin'," but O's greatest strength is his fluid dancing skills. He draws comparisons to masters like Usher and Michael Jackson, but during numbers such as "Drop That Heater" and "I'm Tryna," he puts his own stank on it, coming up with a few original moves. Plus, to satisfy the B2K fans, he's performing a few songs by his former group.

His small stature aside, you'd never know Bow is just 18. Even without the girls in the audience, Bow showed his confidence and control of the stage, rapping about being able to pull in women 35 years old. There's a lot of records from his new Wanted album on the playlist (see "Most Wanted: Teary-Eyed Fans Mob Bow Wow In NY"), but he has all the favorite familiars up his sleeve as well. For the most part, his only backing is his new hypeman, Khleo Thomas, and two DJs, Shakim and Jus. You definitely have to pay attention, because Bow runs across the stage and doesn't stand still for too long.

The real dynamic in Scream IV, however, is shaping up to be when Bow and O are onstage together. The finale is no surprise: a performance of their joint-venture record, "Let Me Hold You." Eventually there's a tribute to Luther Vandross, after which Bow and O take the stage for one last time, playing to the ladies.

"I'mma tell you, this is definitely going to be something that's unforgettable," O, who is expecting older women as well as young ladies to come out to the shows, promises. "This is Scream IV. I started on the first Scream tour, and we're really trying to build this name up and make sure we have killer performances. You got all the young fellas on the charts and they doing they thing onstage, too."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Bow Wow
• Omarion
• Jay-Z
• Luther Vandross
• R. Kelly

50 Cent celebrates his birthday on the set of "Get Rich or Die Tryin' "
Photo: Paramount Pictures

50 Cent had a working birthday last week. The rapper turned 30 on Wednesday and was serenaded by cast and crewmembers on the Bronx, New York, set of his debut film, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'." (They opted for the traditional "Happy Birthday" instead of the "it's your birthday" line from "In Da Club.") Director Jim Sheridan presented 50 with his birthday cake (complete with candles in the shape of the numerals "5" and "0"). ...

Luther Vandross' peers continue to pay homage to him. On Monday night in New York's Harlem neighborhood, radio station Kiss-FM hosted an all-star musical tribute to the late R&B singer at the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, Jaheim, Erykah Badu, Freddie Jackson and Jill Scott were among those who performed. ... Random House and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs have "amicably" settled a lawsuit filed by the publisher back in February. The suit alleged that Combs failed to return a $300,000 advance Random House paid him to write his memoirs, which he never completed. Due to a confidentiality agreement, details of the settlement — including whether or not Combs was forced to return the cash — were not revealed by Random House, though a spokesperson did make it clear that the company wouldn't be publishing any books by Diddy in the near future. Calls to Diddy's publicist were not returned by press time. ...

Jermaine Dupri, Yellowcard, Fat Joe, the Roots and Pete Yorn have signed on for the upcoming Fusion Flash Concerts (fusionflashconcerts.com), a series of free, spontaneous flashmob shows. The performances will take place in secret locations announced at the last minute via text message, and will kick off in New York with the Roots, followed by Dupri in Atlanta in a few weeks. ... According to Tool's Web site, a special double vinyl edition of the band's 2001 album, Lateralus, should hit stores on August 23 — but then again, there could be a "slight delay," which "hopefully [will be] no more than a week." The band is in Los Angeles at the moment, working on its next album; no release date has yet been announced. ...

This Halloween, make sure that no matter which soiree you attend, you're assured a win for best costume. How, you wonder? By scoring yourself one of those sweet uniforms worn by the festering zombie army featured in System of a Down's "B.Y.O.B." video. The uniform is comprised of a black jumpsuit, black leather gloves, black military-style leather boots, a head rag, and special headgear, with visor, festooned with the word "BUY" across the front. Right now, System fans can log onto eBay to bid on the rock and roll fatigues; the highest bidder will also get an autographed band photo. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Veterans Hospital in West Los Angeles. The auction runs for seven days only. ... The members of Chevelle cannot tell a lie: bassist Joe Loeffler didn't leave the band — he was shown the door. On Monday, in a joint statement, the Loefflers — brothers Joe, frontman and guitarist Pete and drummer Sam — came clean about the band's situation. "We've spent 10 great years building Chevelle, but irreconcilable differences have led to an unfortunate parting of ways between Joe and the band," the statement reads. "Chevelle will return to the road for a string of summer shows, to be followed by writing sessions for a new album. Thanks to all of our fans, friends and family for their continued love and support." ...

Ludacris was on hand for a screening of his movie "Crash" — which examines the complexities of racial tolerance — at the NAACP national convention in Milwaukee on Sunday. He and his co-star Michael Pena as well as the film's director, Paul Haggis, participated in a panel discussion following the screening. " 'Crash' has ignited a public debate that our nation needs to have," Haggis said, calling the film a "relevant starting point to discuss race relations in this country." ... Going to Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend? You might run into Charlize Theron, who'll be there on Saturday to lead a panel following a first look at her upcoming flick "Aeon Flux." The panel will also include co-star Marton Csokas, director Karyn Kusama, producers Gale Anne Hurd and David Gale, "Aeon Flux" creator Peter Chung and "War of the Worlds" visual-effects supervisor Pable Helman. ...

It took 10 years for Willie Nelson to complete his new reggae album, Countryman, which might be why his label is not taking any chances when it eventually hits store shelves. The cover depicts a pot leaf on a red-and-yellow background, making it look like a pack of rolling papers; but fans buying the CD at Wal-Mart will find the weed substituted by a palm tree, a pre-emptive measure to avoid a ban from the huge retailer. "They're covering all the bases," Nelson, 72, told The Associated Press. ... Patti Smith is back in the studio, but she's not working on any new material. The punk poetess is actually recording her first full album of cover songs, according to her label rep. One possible song that she's been performing live that might make the cut: George Michael's "Father Figure." ...

07.11.2005

Kelly Clarkson postponed her Sunday show in New Orleans and will be doing the same for her show Tuesday in Pensacola, Florida, due to the severe weather hitting the area. New dates will be announced "as soon as possible," her label rep said, and all tickets sold for these shows will be honored for the new rescheduled dates. ...

Battery charges against Corey Clark stemming from a food fight last month have been dropped, according to the Sacramento County district attorney's office. Prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to justify continuing the case. ... "American Idol" finalist Constantine Maroulis has recorded his rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (widely considered one of this past season's highlights) for Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, which has been pushed back a week to August 9. Maroulis worked with the cast of "We Will Rock You," the musical currently playing at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, for his rendition. Josh Kelley ("Crazy Little Thing Called Love") and Shinedown ("Tie Your Mother Down") have also been added to the compilation, joining previously announced artists Flaming Lips, Eleven featuring Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, Gavin DeGraw, Sum 41 and others. ...

On Friday night at New York's Capitale, Usher held a black-tie fund-raising dinner for his New Look Foundation. Tennis star Andre Agassi, who was on hand, described the event as the "start of an amazing journey," and legendary producer Quincy Jones said he came to show support because "he is my dog, my brother from another ..." Usher himself said he was looking forward to helping educate kids on the business side of the sports and entertainment industries. ... Brian McKnight is slated to sing the national anthem before the start of the All-Star Game in Detroit on Tuesday. The R&B singer will also be joined by members of the Winans gospel family to perform "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch, organizers confirmed Saturday, according to The Associated Press. ...

After warming up with a show at Spaceland in Los Angeles on July 28, Head Automatica will hit the road with Finch and Rx Bandits for a few weeks beginning the next night across town at the Henry Fonda Theater. The outing wraps August 11 in Norfolk, Virginia. ... A watch made out of Vince Neil's leather jacket is being auctioned on eBay to benefit the Skylar Neil Foundation (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6542812928). The top bidder will also get to meet Mötley Crüe at their July 26 show in Irvine, California, at a preshow party hosted by KLSX-FM. ...

DMC of Run-DMC fame will release two singles ("Machine Gun" and "WatchTower") this month in advance of his debut solo album, Checks, Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll, due later this year. The album will feature Run, Sarah McLachlan, Doug E. Fresh, Kid Rock, Fieldy from Korn, DJ Lethal and Napoleon from the Outlawz. ... Wrekonize, the winner of MTV's "MC Battle 2: Takeover in Times Square," is releasing his first single, "Problem," later this month. His debut album, Runaround, will follow in early 2006. ... Josh Kelley has set an August 23 release date for his second album, Almost Honest. Katherine Heigl of "Grey's Anatomy" stars in the video for the first single, the Matrix-produced "Only You." ...

• 50 Cent
• Luther Vandross
• Diddy
• Tool
• System of a Down

Luther Vandross lies in state at New York's Frank E. Campbell funeral home on Friday
Photo: Larry Busacca/WireImage.com

NEW YORK — Fans, friends and family came from around the world over the past three days to pay their respects to the late Luther Vandross. The singing legend died one week ago and, following a two-day wake, was laid to rest Friday.

Usher, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle, Ashford & Simpson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick were among the thousands inside Riverside Church in Harlem. The church was filled to capacity shortly after the service began at noon and hundreds were turned away at the door. Still, most of those people stayed outside and waited across the street from the church until the funeral was done.

"I would have loved to get into the funeral, but being here is more than enough," said Sharon Sledge, 49, of Manhattan. She and her mother, Gloria, had waited for an hour in the rain but were unsuccessful in getting in. "He gave so much to his fans, so how could I not come? I don't care if was a snowstorm, I still would have taken off from work and come. He was the greatest singer I've ever heard."

Inside, fellow legends like LaBelle and Franklin shared loving memories of Luther (see "Alicia Keys, Ruben Studdard, Mya Remember Luther Vandross") and, of course, did what they do best. Aretha belted out "Amazing Grace" with enough fire that you would've thought she was at her last concert. LaBelle sang "No Ways Tired," and Wonder crooned "I Can't Complain." Toward the end of the funeral, many of the singers in attendance joined together for one of Vandross' most revered records, "Power of Love/ Love Power," in a joyous celebration of life.

"It's a sad day, but it's also a happy day," 37-year-old Johnny McMillan said outside. "He gave us so many great years that all we can do is be grateful for the time he was here.

"I know at least one or two of my kids might not be here if it weren't for Luther," he added, testifying to the power of Vandross' love songs. "There will never be another Luther. We love you!"

"I remember meeting Luther after one of his concerts," 68-year-old Lynette Washington of Brooklyn said. "He was just so friendly and humble. So many stars have tremendous talent, but when you meet them, they think they're all that. Not only was Luther talented, he was a genuine person."

Washington, like so many others, had also attended the wake viewings on Wednesday and Thursday at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel. Outside of the chapel, people sang their favorite Luther hits. The tears were sparse among the fans, many of whom held homemade posters with messages like "Luther 4 Ever" and "I Love You Luther." Others wore T-shirts with the legend's face on the front and back.

Some of Vandross' famous loved ones, including LaBelle, Roberta Flack and Cicely Tyson, attended earlier in the week. On Friday, before the funeral, a procession drove through Harlem and a car carrying his casket passed by the Apollo Theater for a final hurrah in front of his supporters.

Vandross died at 54 of complications from a stroke (see "R&B Singer Luther Vandross Dead At 54"), and the eight-time Grammy winner will undoubtedly be remembered as one R&B's greatest singers and — judging by the turnout the past three days — one of the most adored.

• Luther Vandross

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (file)
Photo: Bad Boy

First it was fresh fruit on the menu and a track suit for Ronald, but now McDonald's is looking to give its employees a makeover too. According to AdAge.com, the burger chain has been in preliminary talks with P. Diddy, Russell Simmons and Tommy Hilfiger about having their respective fashion houses spearhead an $80 million makeover aimed at turning the chain's bland uniforms into hip street gear young employees would be proud to wear. Other firms McDonald's is reportedly eyeing include Abercrombie & Fitch, FUBU and Rocawear. ...

Anger Management 3 just got a bit angrier. Pitbull has joined the roster of the 39-city tour, headlined by Eminem and 50 Cent and scheduled to kick off Thursday in Indianapolis. The dog's first major U.S. outing will find him performing alongside TVT labelmate Lil Jon as well as Ludacris, D12 and G-Unit. ... Gwen Stefani is making good on her promise to go back and work on a sequel to her solo album. The No Doubt singer was in the studio last week with bandmate Tony Kanal and wrote a new song with him, and she's due to work with Pharrell Williams this week, according to her label rep. ...

Funeral services for Luther Vandross will be held at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York on Wednesday and Thursday, with public viewings on both days from 4 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held Friday. ... Original Four Tops member Obie Benson, 69, died in Detroit on Friday of lung cancer. Best known for writing the Marvin Gaye song "What's Going On," bass singer Benson formed the group in high school in 1954 with pals Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir and Lawrence Payton. They performed together for 43 years, scoring such hits as "Baby, I Need Your Loving," "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)." ...

The Backstreet Boys just want you to know that "Just Want You to Know" is their next single. A snippet of the song can be heard on the boy band's Web site. ... Don't Tread on Me, 311's forthcoming new disc, is now slated to drop on August 16; the album will feature a dozen fresh cuts, including "Frolic Room," "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "Whiskey and Wine" and "There's Always an Excuse." ... Disturbed, who'll be releasing their third disc, Ten Thousand Fists, on September 20, have lined up a 29-date North American tour, which kicks off August 3 in Ventura, California, and wraps up on September 17 in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. ...

Arthur magazine — a publication dedicated to "high quality writing and artwork by some of the nation's finest scribes, cartoonists and photographers" — has confirmed the lineup for "ArthurFest," a two-day festival featuring music by some of the nation's finest indie rockers (but sadly no scribes). Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney and Cat Power are amongst the acts lined up for the event, which will take place on September 4 and 5 at the Barnscale Art Park in Los Angeles. Two-day passes for the event are $70; for more information, visit ArthurMag.com. ...

07.01.2005

Less than 24 hours before Saturday's Live 8 global concerts, Kanye West has been added to the Philadelphia bill. The rapper will be gracing the same stage as such previously announced performers as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Destiny's Child. ...

The second Waxploitation Sudan Charity Auction will launch July 12 on eBay, with rare and signed items donated by a range of stars, including Angelina Jolie, Radiohead, Bam Margera, Outkast, Björk, Kanye West, Serena Williams, Trent Reznor, Beastie Boys, System of a Down, Nelly, Ciara, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Banner, Sum 41, Foo Fighters and John Legend. The items can be bid on at eBay.com/the_wax_trust. The auction will assist victims of the deadly ethnic cleansing in Sudan. ... R. Kelly appeared in a Chicago court Friday (July 1) only to get — you guessed it — another postponement in the pretrial process for his upcoming child-pornography trial, which insiders were suggesting would start "soon." At the next hearing, set for July 20, the judge is expected to rule on a number of issues, including whether or not the prosecution has to limit the scope of time for when it says the alleged sex tape was made, since the defense says the time frame is too broad. Also, expect haggling over the forensic pediatrics methods used to determine if the girl on the tape in question was underage. After those two issues are resolved, a trial date can be set. ...

Back in April, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor called on his fans to remix "The Hand That Feeds." The result? "Hundreds of remixes [that] I've enjoyed and cringed at," Reznor wrote on his Web site; the most impressive was a cross-hatch that involved Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters." Now, Reznor wants fans to "remix, reinterpret and ruin" NIN's new single, "Only." Those interested can download the song's master multi-tracks from nin.com, and use one of four software programs to remix the track as they see fit. "There is no agenda here other than for you to explore, experiment and have fun with it," Reznor wrote. "I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with." ... Chevelle's bassist, Joe Loeffler, will not be taking the stage during the band's upcoming summer tour with Taproot and 30 Seconds to Mars, according to the Chicago rockers' Web site. "After three years of nonstop touring and recording, Joe is taking a break to be home with family," reads the band's statement. "We'll miss having him on the road with us, but as his brothers and bandmates, we respect his decision and are looking forward to getting out there and playing for the fans." Chevelle have recruited former Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo to fill in. ...

Remember Robin Thicke? Also known simply as Thicke? The former You Hear It First artist (alum of 2002 class) is at it again, and this time, he's got some help. Thicke has teamed up with Pharrell Williams for his next single, "Wanna Love You Girl," for which he's just shot a video with director Paul Hunter. You can hear the song at startrakmusic.com/web/. ... On Thursday, Apple reported more than 1 million Podcast subscriptions in just the first two days of its new iTunes Podcast Directory. The latest version of iTunes (4.9) makes it easier to subscribe to podcasts, with bookmarking of 'casts and the ability to display podcast artwork in color. ...

Blues Traveler have set a September 12 release date for their eighth studio album, ¡Bastardos! Ex-Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett produced the record. ... With their fourth album expected in the fall, Sigur Rós are launching a world tour this month that will hit North America in September. The Stateside trek kicks off September 6 in Atlanta and wraps up October 6 in Las Vegas. ...

• Diddy
• Pitbull
• Gwen Stefani
• Luther Vandross
• Backstreet Boys

Luther Vandross (file)
Photo: J Records

When Luther Vandross died Friday afternoon, R&B lost an icon, and the artists he influenced were quick to express their loss and respect.

Vandross had established himself as one of the most soulful and captivating voices in music, up there with the likes of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye. In his heyday, he was the man who had women screaming "Luuvffa!" and had the guys reaching for his album when they were trying to romance their dates. Love songs like "If Only for One Night," "Never Too Much," "Stop to Love" and "A House Is Not a Home" may very well have played a role in the reason some of us are here today.

The man was loved and respected by his peers. Even if you don't count acts like Kanye West, Janet Jackson or the Young Gunz, who have all sampled his music (and occasionally name-checked him; see Kanye's "Slow Jamz"), just ask any R&B singer and they'll tell you Vandross was a major influence on their lives and careers.

"I'm gonna try to give a hand to Luther Vandross one more time," John Legend said onstage Friday night at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, just hours after hearing of Vandross' death (see "R&B Singer Luther Vandross Dead At 54"). "All us people making slow jams now, we was inspired by the slow jams Luther Vandross was making."

Backstage at the festival, the man who has drawn the most comparisons to Vandross over the past few years — Ruben Studdard — echoed Legend's praise.

"Michael Jackson's 9/11 Single Hits Radio One Year Late"). "It was a real pleasure to work with him. It is a very sad loss." Related Artists Luther Vandross ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505147/20050701/vandross_luther.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505147/20050701/vandross_luther.jhtml 2 Jul 2005 12:03:00 EDT Grammy winner dies of complications from 2003 stroke. By Corey Moss Luther Vandross (file) Photo: Getty Images R&B singer Luther Vandross, known for such hits as "Don't Want to Be a Fool" and "Here and Now," died Friday of complications from his 2003 stroke. He was 54. Vandross, whose Dance With My Father won four Grammys in 2004, died at 1:47 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey, according to his spokesperson. Details on the exact cause of death have not been released. "Luther Vandross had a peaceful passing under the watchful eye of friends, family and the medical support team," read a statement released by the hospital. "As you know, Luther Vandross suffered a stroke two years ago, which he never fully recovered from. Throughout his illness, Luther received excellent medical care and attention from his medical team. Luther was deeply touched by all the thoughts and wishes from his fans." Vandross' publicist, Jeff O'Conner, called the death "a huge loss in the R&B industry. He was a close friend of mine and right now it's shocking," O'Conner told The Associated Press, noting that Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle and Quincy Jones had called to offer condolences. "I love Luther and his music," said singer Mya, who worked with Vandross on the Michael Jackson-produced "What More Can I Give" benefit single. "It was a real pleasure to work with him. It is a very sad loss." (See "John Legend, Ruben Studdard, Mya Remember Luther Vandros" for more.) Vandross, who had long struggled with weight problems, diabetes and hypertension, suffered a stroke in April 2003 and was in a coma for nearly two months (see "Luther Vandross Suffers Stroke"), but he was said to be recovering. In October 2003, the singer's assistant said Vandross was singing again (see "Luther Vandross Showing Steady Signs Of Recovery, Begins Singing Again"), although he never made a public appearance after the stroke. Since the start of his solo career in the early '80s, Vandross sold more than 25 million albums behind hits like "Power of Love/ Love Power" and "Dance With My Father." He recorded duets with Janet Jackson ("The Best Things in Life Are Free," from 1992's "Mo' Money" soundtrack), Mariah Carey ("Endless Love," from 1994's covers album Songs) and Beyoncé ("The Closer I Get to You," from 2003's Dance With My Father), who also appeared in the "Dance With My Father" video.   Luther Vandross: A Look Back Carey, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion are among several singers who have contributed to a Vandross tribute album being put together by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Fantasia, Ruben Studdard and Angie Stone will also be on the album, which does net yet have a release date. Vandross was born to two singers in New York on April 20, 1951, and developed his velvety tenor voice at a young age. He began his career in the '70s, singing for commercials and as a backup singer for Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. He also wrote songs for David Bowie and the Broadway musical "The Wiz" before his group, Change, debuted in 1980 with the mild hit "The Glow of Love." His first solo album, Never Too Much, debuted a year later, selling 2 million copies on the strength of the single "A House Is Not a Home," a song Studdard famously performed on "American Idol" years later. The prolific Vandross released six more albums throughout the '80s (1982's Forever, for Always, for Love, 1983's Busy Body, 1985's The Night I Fell in Love, 1986's Give Me the Reason, 1988's Any Love and 1989's The Best of Luther Vandross ... The Best of Love), each of which went at least platinum. In 1991 Vandross started crossing over from R&B to the pop charts with Power of Love, which included the singles "Power of Love/ Love Power" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool." He followed that with a covers album, a couple of Christmas records and several more of his own releases, but each sold progressively fewer copies. When Dance With My Father hit stores the second week of June 2003 — the same week he came out of his coma — it became the first Vandross LP to debut at #1 on the Billboard pop albums chart. The poignant title track, dedicated to the father Vandross lost to complications of diabetes when he was 5 years old, won Song of the Year at the 2004 Grammys. Vandross, in a wheelchair, accepted the award with a videotaped speech. "Remember," he said at the end of his speech, "when I say goodbye it's never for long, because ... I believe in the power of love." Vandross was never married and never had children, and his two sisters and a brother died before him. Related Artists Luther Vandross ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505126/20050701/vandross_luther.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1505126/20050701/vandross_luther.jhtml 1 Jul 2005 06:31:00 EDT Justin Timberlake, White Stripes, Luther Vandross, Evanescence, Eminem also take home multiple awards. By Joseph Patel Beyoncé at the 46th annual Grammy Awards Photo: UPI Photo/Michael Germana The story line going into the 2004 Grammy Awards was hip-hop's overwhelming presence among the nominations, and even though the Recording Academy was seduced by an elegant R&B diva Sunday night, in the end it was won over by a charismatic pair of Dirty South rap prodigies. Beyoncé had a spectacular night, winning five of six awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album. But the cosmic-funk hip-hop of Outkast would not be denied. What's cooler than bein' cool? Ice Cold. And Andre 3000 and Big Boi chilled the crowd by picking up the big award for the night, Album of the Year, for their multiplatinum, chart-topping double album, Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below. (Click here for a list of Grammy winners.) One of the surprises of the evening, given the early momentum of the show, was that Beyoncé did not win for Record of the Year, an award that instead went to Coldplay for their song "Clocks." Still, Beyoncé was one of the brightest stars of the night. She jump-started the awards show with an energetic performance — and a special guest, Prince. She and the Purple One performed a medley of hits, including three tracks from Prince's 20-year-old classic Purple Rain and, appropriately, Beyoncé's horn-punctuated "Crazy in Love." That song netted Beyoncé two gold gramophones, for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Pal Jay-Z won two awards for his guest verse on the single. Beyoncé's last two Grammys came for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, for her collaboration with veteran R&B singer Luther Vandross, "The Closer I Get to You," and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song "Dangerously in Love 2." Both are tracks from the Destiny's Child singer's debut solo album, Dangerously in Love. 46th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List Outkast joined Beyoncé and Jay-Z to lead all artists with six nominations each. It was Andre 3000 and Big Boi, though, that stole their thunder at the ceremony with two separate, eye-popping performances and three total Grammys. Their brand of Southern-soaked hip-hop also won awards for Best Urban/Alternative Performance ("Hey Ya!") and for Best Rap Album (Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below). Despite having taken home a pair of Grammys in 2002 and earning nominations in the top categories that year, stemming from their breakthrough album, Stankonia, the duo still seemed stunned at their victory for Album of the Year. They beat out albums by Missy Elliott, Evanescence, Justin Timberlake and the White Stripes. "Music is rockin' like never before," Big Boi said as he accepted the award. He then brought out L.A. Reid, the erstwhile executive of their record label, Arista, and the man who discovered the group in Atlanta over 10 years ago.   "Beyonce Sings Twice, Christina Plays Nice, Outkast Cool As Ice On Grammy Stage" Related Artists Beyoncé OutKast 50 Cent Justin Timberlake The White Stripes ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484884/20040208/knowles_beyonce.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484884/20040208/knowles_beyonce.jhtml 9 Feb 2004 12:35:00 EST Luther Vandross, Ruben Studdard, Alicia Keys also among nominees. By Jon Wiederhorn Outkast (file) Photo: WireImage Although Outkast are up for six NAACP Image Awards this year, they can't win them all. It's not an issue of probability, it's a matter of possibility. The group has received multiple nods in two different categories; "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move" are both up for Outstanding Song and Outstanding Music Video. The Atlanta duo have also been nominated for Outstanding Album for Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below and Outstanding Duo or Group. Beyoncé is up for four Image Awards: Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Song and Outstanding Video for "Crazy in Love." Soul icon Luther Vandross also nabbed four noms: Best Male Artist, Outstanding Album for Dance With My Father and Outstanding Song and Outstanding Video for the album's title track. Vandross is currently recovering from a stroke he suffered last year (see "Luther Vandross Showing Steady Signs Of Recovery, Begins Singing Again"). Other artists up for awards include Ruben Studdard and Anthony Hamilton (Outstanding New Artist), Musiq and Mos Def (Outstanding Male), Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige (Outstanding Female, Outstanding Album), and Black Eyed Peas, the Roots and the Neptunes (Outstanding Duo or Group). R. Kelly received one nomination: Outstanding Album for Chocolate Factory. In the film category, "Bad Boys II," (Click for photos from "Bad Boys II") "Bend It Like Beckham," "Deliver Us From Eva," "The Fighting Temptations" (Click for photos from "The Fighting Temptations") and "Whale Rider" were all nominated for Outstanding Motion Picture. The Image Awards, now in their 35th year, were founded to honor projects and individuals of all races who have helped promote people of color in the media. Nominees in the categories of music, movies, television and literature are chosen by entertainment-industry professionals and NAACP officials nationwide. This year's awards show will take place March 6 and will be televised March 11. Last year's big winners were Kirk Franklin and India.Arie, who each took home three awards. Others winners included LL Cool J, Ashanti and Natalie Cole. Related Artists OutKast Beyoncé R. Kelly Luther Vandross Ruben Studdard ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484218/20040108/outkast.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1484218/20040108/outkast.jhtml 8 Jan 2004 01:54:00 EST Missy Elliott, Lil Jon, Justin Timberlake also win awards. By Gil Kaufman Britney Spears performs at the 2003 American Music Awards Photo: Wire Image The American Music Awards paid tribute to ailing R&B legend Luther Vandross Sunday night, bestowing two R&B awards on the singer, who was not present because he is still recovering from a major stroke he suffered in April. The show from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles also featured a number of over-the-top performances from the likes of Ashanti, Britney Spears and Sean Paul, but was hampered by the absence of more than half the winners. The three-hour telecast, hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who kept the program moving with his frequent, playful put-downs of the stars, was opened by Spears. She floated down on a wire from the rafters in a gold overcoat, which she quickly shed to reveal a pink bustier, black vinyl thigh-high boots, black hot pants and little else. The singer's performance of her current single, "Me Against the Music," was accompanied by a troupe of brightly dressed faux punk rock dancers and a dizzying set that featured shooting flames, Vegas-style neon signs and a massive video screen. (Click for exclusive photos from the red carpet.) Immediately following Spears' extravaganza, Kid Rock appeared to be going for a more mellow vibe, walking onstage with an acoustic guitar to perform his cover of Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love." Dressed in a black cowboy hat, leather jacket and black pants, Rock performed the first verse of the song, jumped up and joined his band for the throat-shredding chorus, during which a massive neon sign flashed the word "Love." One of the night's first awards, for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Singer, went to Vandross. His mother, Mary, who was assisted to the stage by two men, was overcome with emotion as she thanked the audience and apologized that her son could not attend (see "Luther Vandross Showing Steady Signs Of Recovery, Begins Singing Again"). "I'm here to represent him and say thanks to all of you who made this possible," she said. When Vandross won a second award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album later in the night, "The Shield" star Michael Chiklis gallantly walked to Mary Vandross' seat and presented her with the trophy. From 50 Cent, who won for Favorite Male Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Album for Get Rich or Die Tryin', to Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, many of the night's biggest winners did not make it to the program, or, like Fleetwood Mac (Favorite Pop/Rock Duo Band or Group) and Justin Timberlake (Favorite Pop/Rock Album), had to check in via satellite from their European tours. But, in an awards show rarity, host Kimmel had to apologize to Missy Elliott following a commercial break after it was announced that she was not present to accept her Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Female Artist trophy. According to Missy, she was late to the show because someone stole her limo from her hotel, but she wasn't about to miss out on her first AMA win. During her acceptance speech, the rapper broke a rule Kimmel made in his opening monologue forbidding artists from thanking God, as he suspected that "God doesn't watch television, and if he does, he wouldn't be watching this." Unlike the Grammys, which are voted on by industry professionals, the American Music Awards nominations are based on sales data compiled by SoundScan and industry trade magazine Radio and Records, while winners are based on ballots sent to more 20,000 record buyers. If you attended the "American Idol" tour this summer, it was no surprise that fans had something to do with picking the winners, as "Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken took the Internet-voted Fans' Choice award. The eternally humble Aiken joined "Idol" winner Ruben Studdard for a dual performance earlier in the show, with each man singing their own singles, then joining in with a gospel choir on the Lionel Richie-penned "Jesus Is Love." Other performances included Pink's moving acoustic soul rendition of her hyped-up dance single "Trouble," Rod Stewart's soft-shoe cover of the standard "My Heart Stood Still," and Outkast's electric, but separate sets. Andre 3000, dressed in a gold-and-black pilot's uniform and backed by dancing flight attendants and a jet with the words "Air 3000" on the side, boogied through "Hey Ya!," which gave way to Big Boi's speed rap on "The Way You Move." Ashanti did a drenching take on "Rain on Me," during which she was soaked by falling water. Hilary Duff performed a rock-edged medley of "So Yesterday/ "Girl Can Rock," Metallica roared through the bare-bones blitz of "St. Anger" and Sean Paul sang a medley of dancehall hits. Evanescence gave their first American performance since founding member and guitarist Ben Moody unexpectedly took leave from the group during its recent European tour (see "Evanescence Co-Founder Ben Moody Leaves Band During Tour"). Dressed in a colorful poodle skirt, black tank top and sporting flower-shaped tattoos on her forehead and neck, singer Amy Lee led the band through a powerful rendition of "Going Under." During the pre-show, when asked what super power she'd like to have, Lee joked about wanting Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth because, she said pointedly, she just wants "people to be honest." Country spouses Tim McGraw and Faith Hill took home matching trophies for Favorite Country Male and Female Artists, veteran act Alabama won a record 23rd award and Linkin Park nabbed the Alternative Music Award. Kid Rock, who set tongues wagging again by showing up with on-again, off-again girlfriend Pam Anderson — wearing a typically barely there dress — closed the show with drink in hand as he accepted the Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist award "for the good guys." Winners of the 31st annual American Music Awards: Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist: Kid Rock Favorite Female Artist: Jennifer Lopez Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Fleetwood Mac Favorite Album: Justin Timberlake, Justified Soul/R&B Favorite Male Artist: Luther Vandross Favorite Female Artist: Aaliyah Favorite Band, Duo or Group: The Isley Brothers Favorite Album: Luther Vandross, Dance With My Father Rap/Hip-Hop Favorite Male Artist: 50 Cent Favorite Female Artist: Missy Elliott Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Favorite Album: 50 Cent, Get Rich or Die Tryin' Alternative Music Favorite Artist: Linkin Park Adult Contemporary Favorite Artist: Celine Dion Latin Favorite Artist: Ricky Martin Country Favorite Male Artist: Tim McGraw Favorite Female Artist: Faith Hill Favorite Band, Duo or Group: Alabama Favorite Album: Toby Keith, Unleashed Contemporary Inspirational Favorite Artist: Steven Curtis Chapman Fans' Choice Clay Aiken Michael Jackson International Artist of the Year Madonna Coca-Cola New Music Award The Bomb Squad (New York) Related Artists Britney Spears 50 Cent Luther Vandross Ashanti Sean Paul ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480441/20031117/spears_britney.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480441/20031117/spears_britney.jhtml 17 Nov 2003 01:51:00 EST Soulful heavyweights, up-and-coming metal acts round out week's offerings. By Jon Wiederhorn The Strokes Photo: RCA Only one song on the new Strokes album is over three-and-a-half minutes long, and the whole CD clocks it at just over a half hour. It might leave some asking, Is This It? It is. With Room on Fire, the band says more in 30 minutes than many express in a full 70. Economy is key on songs that are fueled by quirky riffs, head-swimming melodies and clever lyrics that, while sometimes indulgent, are never belabored. Less is less might be a good theme for this week's album chart, which doesn't include many other hugely anticipated releases. There are still a handful of noteworthy records, including R.E.M.'s second greatest hits album, In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988 - 2003. The record includes singles such as "Stand," "Pop Song '89" and "Everybody Hurts" along with soundtrack cuts from "Coneheads," "Until the End of the World" "A Life Less Ordinary" and "Batman and Robin." Several impressive metal albums will be released this week including the second major-label release by Hatebreed, The Rise of Brutality. The band, fronted by "Headbanger's Ball" host Jamey Jasta, plays ripping hardcore metal that fuses styles of bands like Slayer and Agnostic Front. Devildriver, the group from former Coal Chamber singer Dez Fafara, will release its nefarious self-titled debut, which combines black metal, death metal and thrash into a dangerous feast of demolition. Also look for the eponymous release by Element Eighty, a new band inspired by Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool and Led Zeppelin. Here's what's coming out. Out Tuesday, October 28: 40 Below Summer - The Mourning After (Razor & Tie) Akon - Trouble (Universal) Alias - Muted (Anticon) Bedroom Walls - I Saw You Coming Back to Me (Real Cats) Joshua Bell - Romance of the Violin (Sony Classical) Bottle Rockets - Blue Sky (Sanctuary) Billy Bragg - Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg (Rhino) Buy Now: Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg (Rhino) Albert E. Brumley, Jr. - I'll Fly Away (Copper Creek) Circus Devils - Pinball Mars (Fading Captain) Harry Connick, Jr. - Harry for the Holidays (Columbia) Billy Ray Cyrus - The Other Side (Word) The Delinquents - Town Business Part I (Dank or Die) Denali - The Instinct (Jade Tree) Devildriver - Devildriver (Roadrunner) Celine Dion - 1 Fille & 4 Types (Epic) Dipsomaniacs - Freakin' Eureka (Face Down) Element Eighty - Element Eighty (Universal) Erase Errata - At Crystal Palace (Troubleman Unlimited) The Glasspack - Bridgeburner (Small Stone) Marty Goetz - Songs of Israel (Tovah/Crowne) Hatebreed - The Rise of Brutality (Universal) Higher - Star Is Dead EP (Geffen) Him - Razorblade Romance (Universal) Ellis Hooks - Up Your Mind (Evidence) The Hot Club of Cowtown - Continental Stomp (HighTone) Jamison Parker - Notes & Photographs EP (Interscope) Gerald Levert - A Stroke of Genius (Elektra) Levinhurst - Perfect Life (Full Contact) M.V.P. - Hit the Spot (Casablanca) Manta Ray - Estratexa (FILMguerrero) The Moody Blues - December (Polydor/UME) Motivo - Motivo (Crowne) The Persuasions - A Capella Dreams (Chesky) Ana Popovic - Comfort to the Soul (Ruf) Professional Murder Music - Looking Through (Caroline) R.E.M - In Time: The Best of R.E.M 1998 - 2003 (Warner Bros.) The Strokes - Room on Fire (RCA) Read: "Strokes Album Preview: Gideon Yago Tours Their Room On Fire" Buy Now: Room on Fire (RCA) Salem - Love It or Leave Me (EP) (Geffen) Saturnalia Trio - Of Mosaic & Muse (New Weave) Steve Tyrell - This Guy's in Love (Columbia) The Urinals - What Is Real and What Is Not (Warning Label) Luther Vandross - Live at Radio City Music Hall (J Records) Various Artists - Fat Eyes: Dancehall Deelite (Heartbeat) Various Artists - A Global Destinations: Passport to the World (Image Entertainment) Various Artists - Heavyweight Breakz (MDMP) Various Artists - Jazz Sexy (Chesky) Various Artists - Sex & Subversion (Thick) DVD: "Alan Davey's Bedouin - Sonic Rock Solstice 2002" (Music Video Distributors) DVD: "Candye Kane in Concert - Ohne Filter" (Music Video Distributors) DVD: "Culture Club 20th Anniversary Concert - Live at Royal Albert Hall" (E2) DVD: "Hip Hop 101: The Game" (Win Media/King Biscuit) DVD: "Inside Hip Hop" (Image Entertainment) DVD: "Jin - The Making of a Rap Star" (Image Entertainment) DVD: "Rick Vito in Concert - Ohne Filter" (Music Video Distributors) DVD: "Tabla Beat Science - Talamanam Sound Clash: Further Adventures in Hypercussion (Live from San Francisco's Fillmore)" (Palm Pictures) DVD: "Voodoo Village - Funk Soup Live" (40 West) DVD: "The Work of Director Chris Cunningham" (The Directors Label/Palm Pictures) DVD: "The Work of Director Michel Gondry" (The Directors Label/Palm Pictures) DVD: "The Work of Director Spike Jonze" (The Directors Label/Palm Pictures) DVD Audio: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells 2003 (Rhino) DVD Audio: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Greendale (Reprise) November 4: Wyclef Jean - The Preacher's Son (J Records) Read: "Wyclef Jean Nabs 'All-Ghetto Cast' — Including Tom Jones — For Album" Stone Temple Pilots - Thank You (Atlantic) P.O.D. - Payable on Death (Atlantic) Read: "P.O.D. Sound So Alive With New Guitarist, New Single" Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Come Poop With Me (Warner Bros.) November 11: Pink - Try This (Arista) Read: "Pink Didn't Have To Try Too Hard To Make Try This" Buy Now: Try This (Arista) Ruben Studdard - Soulful (J Records) Read: "R. Kelly, Missy Elliott Working On Ruben Studdard's Soulful Debut" November 18: Blink-182 - Blink-182 (Universal) Read: "Blink-182 Tone Down Pranks, Get Down To Real 'Action' On Next LP" November 28: Jay-Z - The Black Album (Roc-a-Fella) Read: Related Artists The Strokes R.E.M. Luther Vandross DevilDriver Gerald LeVert ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479975/20031027/strokes.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479975/20031027/strokes.jhtml 27 Oct 2003 07:54:00 EST Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father Dance With My Father Artist: Luther Vandross Label: J Records Director: Diane Martel Album: Dance with My Father ]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=18425&vid=24038 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=18425&vid=24038 5 Sep 2003 12:00:00 EDT Luther Vandross - Always And Forever Always And Forever Artist: Luther Vandross Label: Epic Records, LV Records Director: Jeb Brien Album: Songs ]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=18425&vid=306142 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=18425&vid=306142 27 Sep 1994 12:00:00 EDT Luther Vandross: A Look Back Related Artists Luther Vandross ]]> Photos http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1505129 http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1505129 1 Jul 2005 12:00:00 EDT