MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, MAY 2, 2016
PRINCE - CHEF - FINAL DAYS
Prince's personal chef cooked simpler meals for him in the last month or two because Prince complained of throat and stomach pain. Ray Roberts cooked for Prince nearly every day for the past three years, including on tour. Roberts says Prince didn't eat meat and loved roasted beets and minestrone, but in the weeks before he died he requested smoothies and juices to soothe his throat and stomach. Roberts had prepared a red pepper bisque and kale salad for Prince the night before Prince died. He says when he returned to Paisley Park after Prince's memorial service, they were still in the refrigerator.
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PRINCE - HEARING
Attorneys are taking on the complicated job of dividing up Prince's estate. The first hearing is scheduled today in probate court in suburban Minneapolis. Prince's full sister, Tyka Nelson, filed papers last week saying Prince had no known will. That means under Minnesota law his estate would be divided among his surviving siblings.
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NEW POWER GENERATION - PRINCE TRIBUTES
Prince's backing band the New Power Generation will play two tribute concerts in Minneapolis next month. The band members say they are all in mourning for Prince but they plan to celebrate his life. The concerts are set for June 3th and 4th and are already sold out. Prince's other backing band, The Revolution, have announced they will do shows too, but they have not announced dates.
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TYLER GLENN - NEON TREES - MORMON CHURCH
Two years ago, Neon Trees singer Tyler Glenn praised the Mormon church for supporting him when he came out as gay. Now Glenn has released a video denouncing the Mormon church.
The video for ``Trash'' shows altered images of Mormon symbols and Glenn drinking alcohol, which is forbidden in the Mormon faith.
Glenn tells Rolling Stone magazine the video is a reaction to the Mormon church announcing same-sex couples could be excommunicated.
He says he believed in the Mormon faith until six months ago but now feels the religion has no place for him.
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CHARTS - BEYONCE
Beyonce has bested Prince on the Billboard album chart, but he still dominates the top 10. Beyonce's new album, ``Lemonade,'' is number one this week, moving 576-thousand units.
It's Beyonce's sixth number-one album. ``The Very Best of Prince''
drops a spot to number two, while the ``Purple Rain'' soundtrack is third. Prince's ``The Hits/The B-Sides'' is number 4, his ``Ultimate'' album is number 6, and his ``1999'' album is number 7.
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NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST
Stevie Wonder did his best after his set was cancelled because of the rain at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Saturday. He went on the empty stage and sang ``Purple Rain'' through a megaphone to the die-hards sitting in the rain. He also showed up later at a New Orleans nightclub for an impromptu set. Snoop Dogg and Beck also were cancelled because of rain on Saturday. Another downpour on Sunday forced several acts to cut their sets short. Performances in big tents were not affected.
Ponchos and umbrellas were a hot seller. Some people either wore rain boots or shrimp boots, while others danced in the mud barefoot.
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WARREN G - ``TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME''
Warren G is getting some heavy-duty ribbing for his rendition of ``Take Me Out To The Ball Game.'' Warren G sang the seventh-inning stretch at the Cubs-Braves game on Friday. His first line was, ``Take me to the ball game'' and he sang off-key for the rest of the song. Warren G tweets he knows his version wasn't so good, but he was the best at throwing out the first pitch. Besides, he says, right after he sang, the Cubs hit a grand slam.
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(The Associated Press)