Music News & Notes

Madonna Makes $91.5 Million

Madonna ended up grossing $91.5 million for her 28-date North American tour with a total of 550,000 tickets sold. Adding in the sales from the earlier European portion of the Sticky & Sweet tour gives her a grand total of $207.5 million. She is now off to Mexico and South America; however, she has canceled January shows in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia due to the high cost of production and the world economic downturn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drifters Record New Album

The official version of the Drifters is in the process of releasing a new album, Five Decades and Moore, their first in almost 30 years.

The album is a salute to late former member Johnny Moore who was with the group from 1954 well into the 70's and returned on a number occasions. Moore sang lead on hits such as Ruby Baby, Adorable and Under the Boardwalk.

Release date and titles are unknown at this time as most sites are listing it as being available in late-2008.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Overdue Apology

Rolf Harris insulted the Aboriginal community in Australia in the original version of his song Tie Me Kangaroo Down and had to change the lyrics for the eventual hit recording.

Forty years later, he has apologized for the mistake but turned around and insulted them again. After claiming the original lyrics were just "a mark of the times", he added that they are responsible for their current living conditions. "In their original way of life they would wreck the countryside and go walk-about to the next place. The attitude is still there."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soul Christmas Songs

70's Philadelphia International soul singer Bunny Sigler is back with two songs for the Holidays, Christmas Dream and Oh Holy Night. He is joined on the songs by Piano4, a quartet of four concert pianists.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Birthday Dave

Jazz great Dave Brubeck, who had a top 30 hit with Take Five (top 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart) will celebrate his 88th birthday with a concert at Showcase Live in Foxborough, Massachusetts on December 6.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

R.I.P. Bill Drake

The man who streamlined Top 40 radio has died. Bill Drake used research and demographics to build tight playlists, starting in the mid-60's with the Boss Radio concept which originally premiered on KHJ in Los Angeles. He later created the automated station formats for the FM dial and was behind the 52-hour History of Rock and Roll that aired nationally in 1969 and was updated in 1978. He was 71.

SOURCE: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com