Re-recording of ‘We are the World’ planned to raise money for Haiti

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Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie will re-record We Are the World with some of world's top recording artists next month to raise money for Haiti, Billboard.com reports.

The single will be recorded in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, following the Grammy Awards weekend, and will also mark the 25th anniversary of the original recording.

The song, co-written by Richie and Michael Jackson, and co-produced by Jones, in 1985, raised money for Africa and led to the Live Aid charity concert. The long and diverse list of more than 40 singers included Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Waylon Jennings, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen.

See a video of the original recording session click here.


This time, Usher, Natalie Cole and John Legend have been invited to take part in a "supergroup" recording. Billboard says the 2010 roster may also include Wyclef Jean, Sting, Fergie, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake among others.


Pictured: Grammy award winning musicians Quincy Jones (L) and Lionel Richie (R) pose together in Beverly Hills, CA, 16 June 1998 following the announcement by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences that the 41st Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles next year at the Shrine Auditorium. The Grammys are the music recording industry’s highest honors and are awarded annually. AFP PHOTO Mike NELSON/mn (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP/Getty Images)

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Young Jeezy's Producer Shawty Redd First Court Appearance For His Murder Charge!

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Grammy nominated producer Demetrius Stewart known to the world as Shawty Redd made his first court appearance on the charge of murder in front of Henry County Judge Brown this morning. Judge Brown explained to Mr. Stewart what he was being charged with and discussed the issue of giving him a bond.

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Plies Pays A Young Girl's Way Through College In Atlanta!

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Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom Tops the Charts

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Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys’ latest opus The Element of Freedom (MBK/J Records) debuts at #1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums and Digital Albums charts and #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, according to Nielsen/SoundScan. With a total of 417,277 units sold in a week, this marks the biggest first week sales debut for a female R&B singer this year and Keys’ 5th straight chart-topping debut (Keys’ previous four albums debuted at #1 on the aforementioned charts).

With radio stations playing five songs simultaneously from The Element of Freedom (“Doesn’t Mean Anything,” “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart,” “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down,” “Un-thinkable,” with background vocals provided by Drake, and “Put It In A Love Song” featuring Beyonce) and critics such as Entertainment Weekly citing “Keys latest hits all the right notes” there’s no wonder why fans flocked to purchase Keys’ fifth release.

Keys was nothing shy of visible in the U.S. leading into the December 15 release with a marketing campaign consisting of several major highlights, including TV appearances on Dancing With The Stars, The American Music Awards, Oprah, two visits on both The Today Show and Late Show with David Letterman, Regis & Kelly, Christmas at Rockefeller, The View, BET 106 & Keys Live Special, The Colbert Report and Fuse’s special television broadcast of Keys’ World AIDS Day Concert. The online community was also saturated with an array of Alicia Keys promotions including the first ever album preview on Facebook, Clear Channel’s Stripped/iheartradio performance and YouTube’s worldwide broadcast of her World AIDS Day concert.

Named one of Billboard’s Artists of the Decade, Keys is never one to rest on her laurels as we move into the new year. Keys will launch 2010 in high gear with a performance on Saturday Night Live on January 9 followed by an AOL Music Sessions premiere on January 14. On March 3, Keys embarks on the U.S. portion of “The Freedom Tour” at Chicago’s Allstate Arena. The European leg of the tour will commence late April 2010.

The Alicia Keys Freedom Tour U.S. dates are as follows (subject to change):

DATE CITY VENUE
---- ---- -----
March 03, 2010 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
March 05, 2010 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
March 06, 2010 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
March 13, 2010 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino
March 17, 2010 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
March 19, 2010 Newark, NJ Prudential Centre
March 20, 2010 Atlantic City, NJ Mark Estess Arena
March 22, 2010 Boston, MA Agganis Arena
March 24, 2010 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
March 25, 2010 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
March 27, 2010 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
March 28, 2010 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times-Forum
March 30, 2010 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
April 02, 2010 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
April 03, 2010 Houston, TX Toyota Centre
April 06, 2010 Los Angeles, CA Staples Centre
April 07, 2010 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
April 09, 2010 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay

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Kim Kardashian: Grilled Chicken Salads at Carl's Jr. Commercial!

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Tyler Perry Says Mom, Inspiration for Madea, Has Died

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. actor and director Tyler Perry on Wednesday announced the death of his mother, who he has previously credited as helping inspire the iconic Madea character in a string of hit movies.

In a brief message on his website, Perry wrote: "Willie Maxine Perry. February 12, 1945 to December 8, 2009. Thank you for all your prayers." The cause of death was not known.

Perry, 40, first introduced the character of the God-fearing, gun-toting, loud-mouthed grandmother Madea in his 2000 play "I Can Do Bad All By Myself".

Playing the character himself, Madea appeared in a series of plays and then hit movies including "Madea's Family Reunion", and the 2009 film "Madea Goes to Jail" which opened No 1. at U.S. box offices and went on to gross $90.5 million.

Perry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2006 interview that Madea was a combination of his mother and his aunt. "My mother is the wisdom of Madea, but my aunt Mayola, that's her wig, that's her voice, that's her gun in the purse," he said.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Queen Latifah, Zoe Saldana, Mary J. Blige & Gabourey Sidibe To Be Honored by Essence Magazine

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ESSENCE magazine announces its third annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon to be held during Oscar Week on March 4, 2010 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Honoring four extraordinary women making a significant impact in Hollywood, this star-studded event commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue and will pay tribute to a special milestone in 2010; the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. The esteemed honorees for the 2010 event include: Queen Latifah (Power Award), Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award), Mary J. Blige (Songstress of the Year) and Gabourey Sidibe (Best Breakthrough Performance).

“Our annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is taking on special meaning in 2010 as we are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine by paying homage to phenomenal women throughout the year,” said ESSENCE editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray. “We are proud to carry the ESSENCE legacy into the future by honoring the accomplishments of such brilliant performers as Latifah, Zoe, Mary J., and Gabourey, whose incredible talent and sheer grit are serving to change the face of Hollywood.”

Queen Latifah is not only a celebrated television and film actress, but also a gifted musician, as well as an established author and entrepreneur. As a one-woman entertainment conglomerate, Latifah’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable–landing her a place in history as the first hip-hop artist to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. That same year, her work in the critically-acclaimed musical, Chicago, garnered her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her groundbreaking portrayal of Mama Morton. Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, in which she also acted as executive producer. For her work in the HBO film Life Support, in which she was both the star and executive producer, she won both a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Receiving her breakthrough role in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever followed by a noteworthy starring role in Set it Off, Latifah has gone on to star in box office favorites such as Hairspray, Mad Money, The Secret Life of Bees, Last Holiday and Beauty Shop, just to name a few. No stranger to the small screen, Latifah’s first television series, Living Single, was enormously successful and remains in syndication. Her production company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, is currently co-producing the sports-driven romantic comedy, Just Wright, in which she will also star.

Zoe Saldana has shown she can hold her own in major blockbuster productions and has proven herself to be an amazing Hollywood star on the rise. After landing her first leading role as a ballet dancer in the film Center Stage, her turn as a leading lady in both the college-set drama Drumline and romantic comedy Guess Who followed shortly thereafter. Over the past decade, Saldana has grown into stand-out performances in popular films such as Avatar and Star Trek and continues to demonstrate the versatility necessary for longevity in Hollywood. Saldana has much to look forward to in 2010 having recently wrapped several films including Takers with Matt Dillon and Hayden Christensen; action adventure The Losers opposite Idris Elba; and comedy Death at a Funeral with Chris Rock. In addition, Saldana is set to reprise her role as Uhura in the upcoming untitled Star Trek sequel set for 2011.

As one of the greatest singers of our time, Mary J. Blige’s accomplishments are beyond impressive. A multi-faceted mogul and philanthropist, with a career spanning 15 years–including nine Grammy awards, eight multi-platinum records, and over 40 million albums sold–she has lent her tremendous talent this year to the official soundtracks for two powerful films with original songs: “I Can See in Color” from Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and “Stronger” from the Lebron James documentary, More than a Game. “Stronger” tells a moving story and Blige performs it beautifully and authentically–exploring issues surrounding people standing by one another through the difficult times. And, “I Can See in Color” is a raw, passionate and emotional tale of both pain and promise, which has been attracting considerable attention and speculation as a serious contender for an Academy Award. Blige not only contributed as an artist but also co-executive produced the soundtrack to Precious through her music, TV and film company, Matriarch Entertainment. Additionally this year, she made star turns in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad By Myself, 30 Rock, and Entourage. Co-owner of the successful beauty line, Carol’s Daughter, Mary is an entrepreneur and entertainer, as well as a dedicated philanthropist. Through FFAWN (Foundation For The Advancement Of Women Now) Mary’s mission is to inspire women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their fullest potential. Blige is currently set to release her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear, featuring the single, “I Am.”

Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe has wowed the public and taken the industry by storm with her compelling breakthrough role as the title character in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which is garnering serious awards buzz. With the film winning numerous prestigious awards, including the Sundance Film Festival Audience and Grand Jury Awards, it’s been a whirlwind year for the young actress, who was a student pursuing a degree in psychology when she was cast in Precious. A native New Yorker, Sidibe is the daughter of R&B/gospel singer Alice Tan Ridley. Next up for Gabourey is the Showtime pilot The C-Word opposite Laura Linney for director Bill Condon and the film, Yelling to the Sky.

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon is an annual event to honor African-American women, who through their work in Hollywood–both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes–have helped to change and inspire positive images of Black women in television and film. The red-carpet celebration, which simultaneously exudes old-Hollywood glamour and modern style, also commemorates ESSENCE magazine’s annual Hollywood issue.

The inaugural event, which took place in 2008, honored Jada Pinkett-Smith (Power Award), Ruby Dee (Legend Award), Suzanne de Passe (Visionary Award) and Jurnee Smollett (Star to Watch Award), and hosted A-List stars including Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Kerry Washington, Star Jones and more. In 2009, celebrities such as Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Queen Latifah, to name a few, were on hand to fete honorees including Halle Berry (Power Award), Diahann Carroll (Legend Award), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Visionary Award), and Taraji P. Henson (Star to Watch Award), with a posthumous honor given to Eartha Kitt.

Pictured: Queen Latifah attends The Fourth Annual Black Girls Rock! at The New York Times Center on October 17, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Magic Johnson on his growing foodservice business

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Earvin “Magic” Johnson, ever since launching his partnership with Gaithersburg, Md.-based Sodexo USA in 2006, has made good on his game plan to grow Sodexo-Magic, the contract foodservice business they operate together. The former L.A. Laker was in New York City on Tuesday to debut Sodexo-Magic’s newly renovated MSNBC.com Digital Cafe at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. During the event, he sat down with Nation’s Restaurant News to discuss his plans for the business and how the recession is affecting the foodservice industry. He also addressed the scandal surrounding his friend and golf great Tiger Woods.

How has your food service business evolved in the three years since Sodexo-Magic was formed?

It’s really been amazing. We have 16 accounts now, and when you think about it, they are with some of the biggest companies in America, including John Deere and Blue Cross Blue Shield. We’ve opened our first MarketPlace [a standalone restaurant] in Jersey City, and we operate a Sub Connection shop on the Florida A&M campus. We also do the foodservice at Mount Sinai hospital; it’s the first hospital contract we have [in New York City].

You are doing a number of outreach programs in conjunction with Mount Sinai, right?

We’ve been able to do great work with them up in Harlem. It’s an opportunity to give back to the community. We want to partner with Mount Sinai to do things like health fairs, give free check-ups and also focus on the problems of diabetes and obesity, which affect that community in a big way. I’m so excited about what our partnership with Mount Sinai brings to the table.

How has the recession affected your business?

It really hasn’t; we’ve had steady growth and we’re in a great position [to respond to] a lot of RFPs [requests for proposal] that are out there. We’re feeling really good about winning more contracts in the weeks ahead.

So there are a lot of RFPs circulating out there, despite the tough economy?

Yes. People still need food service; the economy is actually helping our business.

How so?

Many schools that used to be self-op are now letting someone else do it. They’re saving money. A lot of colleges, too, are outsourcing their foodservice rather than lose money by doing it themselves.

How is school food service evolving?

It is changing a lot. School systems are offering healthy choices and taking the sodas out. But it’s not only that. It’s also about the way the cafeterias look. If the kids come into the cafeterias and they look old, they won’t want to be there. Instead, they’ll hang out at the fast-food joint down the street. Kids want to hang out and lounge with their friends so we’ve got to make it cool for them while serving healthy foods.

What is the most important thing you ask of your employees?

I make sure to talk to them and make sure they bring the best customer service. People want two things: great customer service and for the place to be clean. If we provide both of those things, we win.

How do you manage to do so much — run your business, fundraising, personal appearances, etc?

I have a great executive team. If I didn’t, I couldn’t do all of this. I understand how to delegate, but I’m still very involved. I’m a control freak.

Lately, Tiger Woods has been in the news quite a bit. How do you think he has handled his situation?

Tiger is a friend and I really admire and respect him. That said, on the Friday after Thanksgiving he should have come out and said he made a mistake. As long as he doesn’t come out, the stories will keep going. He should come out, just like I did. I came out, it happened, and I moved on. Kobe Bryant did the same thing. Tiger Woods is a world-renowned sports figure. He should just say, ‘I’m not perfect ... I’m working on this with my wife,’ and the whole thing would turn around.

Do we hold our sports heroes up to too high a standard?

Of course we do. Hey, we make mistakes, too. But there is one great thing about Americans: we are very forgiving and there’s always another story. Tiger’s story replaced Michael Jackson’s. There’ll always be another story.

Contact Elissa Elan at eelan@nrn.com.

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