On April 5, Capitol Records will release Lisa Marie Presley's second album, Now What. She co-wrote 10 of its 11 tracks. Six of those were written with Linda Perry, who has composed hits for Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, and others. The first single from Now What is a remake of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry." Presley will kick off a U.S. tour in support of the album on April 26 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
More details have emerged about a new album by the Bee Gee's Barry Gibb and pop diva Barbra Streisand. Barry will produce the project, which comes 25 years after the release of their first collaborative effort Guilty. That album produced the Grammy-winning hit duet "What Kind of Fool." Gibb is writing nine songs for the new CD. They will record at a studio in California and at Barry's studio in Miami, Florida. It's tentatively set for release in September.
As the family of the late reggae legend Bob Marley continues its year-long celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of his birth, his widow Rita Marley has announced that Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas has remixed Marley's "Africa Unite." The song was originally released on his 1979 album Survival. Rita Marley, I-Three and Will.I.Am are featured on background vocals. Proceeds from sales of the remix will go to the Bob Marley Foundation, the Rita Marley Foundation and the Will.I.Am Foundation.
Grammy-winning Nashville producer Dennis Scott is working on a tribute to the late children's television personality Fred Rogers. Amy Grant, Jon Secada, Ricky Skaggs and CeCe Winans are some of the artists who will cover songs written by Rogers for his long-running children's show Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Songs From The Neighborhood: A Musical Tribute to Mister Rogers will also include a collaborative track that Scott describes as "a 'We Are The World' for Mister Rogers." The album will be released later this year.
AWARDS PRESENTATIONS/WINNERS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' 2005 Juno Awards will be handed out on April 3 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This year's leading nominee is rock star Avril Lavigne. Her five mentions include Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year for Under My Skin. Jazz singer Diana Krall is close behind with four nominations, including two for her latest album, The Girl in the Other Room.
TOUR DATES AND INFORMATION:
On April 6, Country duo Brooks & Dunn will kick off its 2005 tour in Portland, Maine. Late last year, they compiled their second career anthology, Greatest Hits II. It includes three new tracks, plus 15 of the duo's hits. U.S. concert dates are currently scheduled to run through early October.