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R&B Beat: Mavis Staples, Mahalia Jackson, Boyz II Men ...

One gospel legend paying tribute to another with concert; R&B vocal group joining pop group in promotional contest.

Gospel-soul legend Mavis Staples will honor Mahalia Jackson in a tribute concert at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Aug. 26. Jackson, perhaps the best-known gospel singer of all time, sang at the 1963 March on Washington at the personal request of Martin Luther King Jr. ...

R&B vocal group Boyz II Men will be featured along with pop group 98° in the August installment of the Box Music Network's "Summer Music Experience 2000" promotion. (Sonicnet.com's parent company, MTV Interactive, also owns The Box.) Viewers will have a chance to win a trip to meet Boyz II Men, who are putting the finishing touches on their next album, Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya. ...

The release date of Erykah Badu's third album, Mama's Gun, has been pushed back, according to MTV News Online. Originally set to come out on Sept. 19, the disc has no scheduled release date at this time. ...

Mariah Carey is filming a movie with co-star Da Brat in Canada, and she will record new songs for the soundtrack with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, a representative for Carey said. In the film, "All That Glitters," Carey plays a member of an up-and-coming girl group. Mariah previously worked with hitmakers Jam and Lewis on her 1999 album, Rainbow, which also featured a guest rap by Da Brat. ...

Godfather of Soul James Brown said he's used part of the $30 million he garnered from last year's Pullman Bond transaction for charity, according to Reuters. "I set up a foundation to help underprivileged people, a lot of churches, and we've sent a lot of people to school," Brown told the news service. ...

Spurred by the success of the single "Open My Heart" on gospel and adult contemporary radio, Yolanda Adams' Mountain High, Valley Low has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Adams is in the studio working on a Christmas album that will feature a duet with Sting and is set for release in time for the holidays. ...

Former Gap Band singer Charlie Wilson's solo debut single, the ballad "Without You," hits radio this week. "It gives people a chance to hear a different side of me," said Wilson, best known for funky Gap Band hits, such as "You Dropped a Bomb on Me." ...

British R&B group Five Star, who scored UK top 20 hits in 1985 with "All Fall Down" and "Let Me Be the One," are set to stage a comeback. According to the group's management, Five Star will release a single, "Eyes Never Lie," in August and an album later this year. ...

The VHS and DVD versions of Prince's New Year's Eve concert, "Rave Un2 the Year 2000," will be released Oct. 31, according to the artist's official Web site. The concert, originally filmed at Prince's Paisley Park for pay-per-view showing Dec. 31, includes appearances by Lenny Kravitz and George Clinton. ...

The soundtrack to the stage play "His Woman, His Wife" will feature tracks by Destiny's Child's Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, R&B/gospel singer Dave Hollister and gospel artists Hezekiah Walker and 1NC featuring Kirk Franklin. The album is set for release Sept. 19, while the play resumes touring in October, according to a label spokesperson. ...

Former Dru Hill member Woody will release his GospoCentric Records debut, Soul Music, on Oct. 31, a label spokesperson said. The album will feature guest appearances by Mary Mary and Woody's old group, which features multiplatinum solo artist Sisqó. ...

D'Angelo will donate part of the proceeds of his Friday (Aug. 4) performance with Lucy Pearl at Los Angeles' Greek Theater to the Magic Johnson Foundation, according to D'Angelo's publicist. The funds will benefit Johnson's "A Midsummer Night's Magic" event, which is raising money to help send inner-city students to college. ...

Monday's birthdays (July 31):

Leaveil Degree (Whispers), 52; John Nevin (Rhythm Syndicate), 47.

— sonicnet.com staff report

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