OBIT - RAY THOMAS - THE MOODY BLUES DIES
UNDATED (AP) _ Singer-bassist John Lodge of The Moody Blues says flute player Ray Thomas will always be at his side. Thomas died suddenly Thursday at the age of 76 at his home in Surrey, England. A cause of death wasn't given, but Thomas revealed in 2014 that he had prostate cancer. Lodge says he and Thomas ``have been on a magical journey through life together'' since they were 14. Thomas was a founding member of The Moody Blues and contributed songwriting and harmonies to the band. He sang lead on ``Legend of a Mind,'' their song about Timothy Leary, and he had flute solos on ``Nights In White Satin'' and ``Tuesday Afternoon.'' Thomas stopped touring with the band in the 2000s because of failing health. The Moody Blues will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.
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GARY LEVOX - BUS FIRE
Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts and his brother took his tour bus on a hunting trip over the weekend and the bus caught fire. LeVox posted an Instagram video of smoke pouring out of the door of the bus on Saturday morning. LeVox says he and his brother, Kevin, got out, but it happened quickly. He says it ``could have been a different story if the ammunition would have caught fire.'' He later posted a photo of all his gear laying by the roadside next to the bus with the caption, ``Not where I was wanting to watch the sunrise.''
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THE DOORS' JOHN DENSMORE - NEW STREETS SIGNS
Drummer John Densmore of The Doors says he was surprised to find out several years ago that there was a Densmore Avenue in Los Angeles. He was more surprised to find out it crosses Morrison Street. He wanted to take a picture in front of the street signs, but they were on different corners. That's now been fixed. On Thursday, Densmore read a few words of Jim Morrison's poem ``An American Prayer'' before pulling a string to unveil the new street signs. Thursday was the 50th anniversary of the release of The Doors' self-titled debut album.
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JUDY COLLINS - STEPHEN STILLS
Judy Collins says working with Stephen Stills is ``sort of like being in marriage counselling.'' Collins and Stills collaborated last year on the album ``Everybody Knows.'' They dated in the late 1960s. Collins says when they started to practice for recording the album, Stills told her, ``We should have just skipped the romance in 1968 and gone straight to singing together.'' Collins replied, ``Yeah, but then you wouldn't have written ''Suite: Judy Blue Eyes`` and there might not be a story at all.''
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NATASHA BEDINGFIELD - BABY
Natasha Bedingfield says her life has become two-hour increments as she cares for her new baby. Bedingfield gave birth to a boy last week. He's the first child for Bedingfield and her husband, businessman Matt Robinson. Bedingfield has not revealed a name but she says her son is ``absolute heaven.''
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(The Canadian Press)
