MUSIC NEWS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017
OBIT STUART McLEAN
The bestselling author, soft-spoken humorist and popular radio host Stuart McLean has died at 68 after a battle with skin cancer.
McLean's gentle celebration of life endeared him to legions of faithful listeners of ``The Vinyl Cafe.''
Tributes immediately poured in from fellow entertainers, broadcasters and fans who were quick to salute McLean's heartfelt efforts to unite Canadians.
Fellow C-B-C veteran Peter Mansbridge calls him a master storyteller who helped shape the public broadcaster and reach the country's farthest corners.
``The Vinyl Cafe'' radio show, which featured a mix of stories, essays and musical performances, was spun into bestselling books and became a touring production in 2008.
The show's stories centred on Dave, the owner of a second-hand record store, as well as his wife Morley, their two children and various friends and neighbours.
---
(The Canadian Press)
GRAMMYS PRODUCER APOLOGIZES TO METALLICA, SHIRLEY CAESAR
The longtime producer of the Grammys believes it was an extra on the stage with Metallica who's responsible for singer James Hetfield's microphone going out. Ken Ehrlich says his crew said the microphone cable was connected and they believe an extra accidentally kicked it out. Ehrlich says he apologized to the band and found it personally upsetting because he's worked with Metallica for years. He also issued an apology to Shirley Caesar, who was given a lifetime achievement award, but a clip showed CeCe Winans instead of Caesar. Ehrlich says they had prepared to use a classic clip of Caesar performing with Winans and Whitney Houston and he did not check it before it aired.
---
CARLOS SANTANA EXPLAINS WHAT HE MEANT ABOUT BEYONCE AND ADELE
Carlos Santana says he simply wanted to congratulate Adele on her Grammy wins, not diss Beyonce. Santana writes on Facebook his comment about Beyonce was ``regretfully taken out of context'' and she ``deserves all the accolades that come her way.'' Santana had told Australian Associated Press -- quote -- ``With all respect to our sister Beyonce, Beyonce is very beautiful to look at and it's more like modelling kind of music - music to model a dress - she's not a singer, singer, with all respect to her.'' He had said Adele won because she -- quote -- ``doesn't bring all the dancers and props, she can just stand there and she just stood there and sang the song and that's it.''
---
MAN TELLS POLICE HE WAS ASSAULTED BY JUSTIN BIEBER
A Las Vegas man says he got into a fight with Justin Bieber eight months ago in a hotel in Cleveland. Rodney Cannon has filed a police report saying Bieber took his sunglasses inside a hotel after a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game on June 8th.
He says Bieber and possibly a bodyguard punched him and he wrestled Bieber to the ground. Bieber's publicist did not return requests for comment. Cannon deferred questions about why he waited so long to file the report to his lawyer, who did not return a message.
Cleveland police are investigating.
---
THOMAS RHETT IS GOING TO BE A FATHER TWICE OVER
Thomas Rhett and his wife are expecting, and they're adopting. The country music star announced his wife, Lauren, is pregnant. They are also in the process of adopting a child from Africa. Rhett and his wife have been big supporters of adoption and of the humanitarian group 147 Million Orphans. Rhett writes on his social media sites -- quote -- ``Safe to say life is about to get crazy!''
---
JAMIE LYNN SPEARS' DAUGHTER CELEBRATES VALENTINE'S DAY
The 8-year-old daughter of Jamie Lynn Spears got the O-K from her doctors to return to school just long enough to take Valentine's Day treats to her friends. Spears writes on Instagram that her daughter, Maddie, is not well enough yet to return to school. She was submerged underwater inside an all-terrain vehicle on February 5th. Family members could not pull her out of the pond, but an ambulance crew managed to free her. She was discharged from hospital on Friday.
---
BOBBY RUSH HAS BIG PLANS FOR 2017
Bobby Rush will team up with Buddy Guy for a tour to raise money for prostate cancer research. Rush says he's always looking for ways to raise money for people who can't help themselves. He says he wants to do more shows to benefit breast cancer charities because two of his sisters died of the disease.
Other concerts will benefit sickle cell anemia causes, because he has two children with that ailment. Rush had a brother and a son die of prostate cancer. He's also working on another record, at the age of 83. He just won his first Grammy, for traditional blues album for ``Porcupine Meat.''
---
ROY ORBISON'S SON PLANS TO MAKE MOVIE ABOUT ``THE BEATLE WHO VANISHED''
The son of Roy Orbison has acquired the film rights to a book about the drummer who filled in for Ringo Starr during a Beatles tour in 1964. Billboard reports Alex Orbison has secured the movie rights to ``The Beatle Who Vanished,'' a book by Jim Berkenstadt about drummer Jimmy Nicol. Nicol was a Beatle for 13 days while Starr was hospitalized with tonsillitis and pharyngitis.
He played with The Beatles in Denmark, The Netherlands, Hong Kong and Australia. At the end, he was given a cheque, a watch and a plane ticket home. He avoided the spotlight afterward. Alex Orbison says he's fascinated with Nicol's story not just for his brief stint as a Beatle, but because his life was a mystery after that.
---
JOHNNY CASH HERITAGE FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER
The field where Johnny Cash once picked cotton as a boy will host a concert in his honour. The Jonesboro Sun reports the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival will take place in Dyess (DICE'), Arkansas, in a field adjacent to Cash's boyhood home.
Cash's daughter, Rosanne Cash, along with Kris Kristofferson will headline the concert. The festival will run October 19th to 21st.
---
BILLY DEAN, DON FELDER, JIM STAFFORD TO BE HONORED IN FLORIDA
Billy Dean, former Eagles guitarist Don Felder and Jim Stafford will be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame next week. The state honours artists who are from Florida or have adopted the state as their home and have made significant contributions to the arts. The hall of fame wall is inside the rotunda of the state capitol building in Tallahassee. The induction ceremony is next Thursday in Gainesville. Poet Lee Bennett Hopkins also will be inducted.
---
(The Associated Press)
