Lincoln Center to honor Tom Hanks in annual gala
NEW YORK - The Film Society of Lincoln Center will honor Tom Hanks in its annual gala tribute, citing the actor's talent of making "a good man compelling."
The two-time Academy Award winner will be feted April 27 at Alice Tully Hall, which is being renovated but scheduled to reopen Feb. 22. It will be the society's 36th annual gala, following last year's celebration of Meryl Streep.
"There are so few actors who have been able to make the struggle and drama of being a good man compelling," Kent Jones, the society's associate director of programming, said Monday. "With his talent, his presence, his versatility, his sense of humor, he has set a very high standard for his fellow actors."
The 52-year-old Hanks won best-actor Oscars for 1993's "Philadelphia" and 1994's "Forrest Gump."
Pink Floyd member Richard Wright dies age 65
LONDON - Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.
Pink Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. He says the band member's family did not want to give more details about his death.
Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.
The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was a hit.
In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote songs and sang.
The band released a series of commercially and critically successful albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more than 40 million copies. Wright wrote "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them" for that album, and later worked on the group's epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother," "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."
But tensions grew between Waters, Wright and fellow band member David Gilmour. The tensions came to a head during the making of "The Wall" when Waters insisted Wright be fired. As a result, Wright was relegated to the status of session musician on the tour of "The Wall," and did not perform on Pink Floyd's 1983 album "The Final Cut."
Wright formed a new band Zee with Dave Harris, from the band Fashion, and released one album, "Identity," with Atlantic Records.
Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and Wright began recording with Mason and Gilmour again, releasing the albums "The Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" as Pink Floyd. Wright also released the solo albums "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996).
In July 2005, Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour reunited to perform at the "Live 8" charity concert in London — the first time in 25 years they had been onstage together.
Wright also worked on Gilmour's solo projects, most recently playing on the 2006 album "On An Island" and the accompanying world tour.
New CD Releases, September 16th: Ne-Yo, Darius Rucker, Nelly, Lindsey Buckingham, Buckcherry, and more!
Ne-Yo "Year of the Gentleman"
The R&B star returns with his third album, which follows 2007's "Because of You." The first single from "Year of the Gentleman" is the Stargate-produced track "Closer."
The 28-year-old vocalist has a lot to live up to with "Year of the Gentleman." His prior releases, "Because of You" and 2006's "In My Own Words," both debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. In addition, "Because of You" won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
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Darius Rucker "Learn to Live"
The Hootie & the Blowfish frontman is the latest pop star to try his hand in the country game, following in the recent footsteps of such celebs as Jewel and Jessica Simpson. The first single from "Learn to Live" is "Don't Think I Don't Think About It."
As the leader of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has helped sell more than 25 million records, the majority of which came with the band's blockbuster 1994 debut, "Cracked Rear View." That was then, and Rucker's solo country music career is now. The singer reportedly announced during an AOL Sessions interview that Hootie is splitting up so he can focus on his own musical endeavors.
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Nelly "Brass Knuckles"
The hip-hop hero is looking for another hit with "Brass Knuckles," a work that will finally make it to record stores after being delayed several times. His last solo works came in 2004, with the simultaneously released albums "Sweat" and "Suit," although he's made several guest appearances for the other artists in the interim.
Repaying the favor, many musicians make guest spots on "Brass Knuckles." The album's star-studded cast includes T.I., R. Kelly, Usher, Fergie and Chuck D.
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Lindsey Buckingham "Gift of Screws"
The Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter/guitarist returns with a follow-up to 2006's "Under the Skin." "Gift of Screws" was recorded with members of Buckingham's touring band as well as with longtime Fleetwood Mac bandmates Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.
Buckingham is currently supporting "Gift of Screws" on the road. His 29-city headlining trek will stretch through an Oct. 19 date at New York's Nokia Theatre.
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Buckcherry "Black Butterfly"
The hard rockers get back to business with "Black Butterfly," the band's fourth studio effort. The release follows 2006's "15," a work that spent 98 weeks on The Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum.
Buckcherry is joining with fellow rockers Avenged Sevenfold for a co-headlining tour, which kicks off tomorrow (9/16) in Moline, IL. That outing follows the band's participation in this summer's Motley Crue-led Crue Fest.
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More new releases:
All That Remains, "Overcome" (Razor & Tie)
Avenged Sevenfold, "Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough" (Reprise)
Patricia Barber, "The Cole Porter Mix" (Blue Note)
Camp Rock, "Disney Karaoke Series: Camp Rock" (Disney)
Celtic Thunder, "Act Two" (Celtic Thunder)
Kasey Chambers, Shane Nicholson, "Rattlin' Bones" (Sugarhill)
Renee Fleming, "Four Last Songs" (Decca)
James, "Hey Ma" (Decca)
Jem, "Down to Earth" (ATO)
Raphael Saadiq, "The Way I See It" (Sony)
Al Stewart, "Sparks of Ancient Light" (Appleseed)
Ben Taylor, "The Legend of Kung Folk Part 1 (The Killing Bite)" (Iris)
Various Artists, "The Imus Ranch Record" (New West)
Various Artists, "Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins" (Take 6)
Britney Spears due to release album in December
NEW YORK - Britney Spears' second comeback is in full swing: She's due to release a new album in December, on her 27th birthday.
"Circus" is set for release Dec. 2, a little over a year after she released last November's "Blackout," which was perhaps her most critically acclaimed CD, but came during her infamous year of erratic behavior, rehab, custody battles and at least one hospitalization. She barely promoted it, and the album — though it was certified platinum — was one of her least successful.
But these days, Spears has been in the spotlight for all the right reasons. She won three MTV Video Music Awards for her clip "Piece of Me" and appeared on the Sept. 7 awards show looking fit and stunning, a reversal of her disheveled, widely panned appearance in 2007. She also drew praise for her guest appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother."
Spears' life seems to have rebounded after her father, James Spears, went to court and took control of her personal and professional life as her conservator. She also resolved her custody battle with former husband Kevin Federline, with Federline retaining custody of their two young sons and Spears receiving visitation rights.
Among the producers on Spears' new CD are Nate "Danja" Hills and Max Martin, who produced some of her biggest hits, including her first, "Baby One More Time." The first single, "Womanizer," will be released to radio Sept. 22, her record label, Jive/Zomba, announced Monday.