All posts tagged: Musician

A moment that changed me: I was planning to be a musician – then I had my ears syringed | Health & wellbeing

A moment that changed me: I was planning to be a musician – then I had my ears syringed | Health & wellbeing

Published by Sam Flores

The first sign that something was wrong was a static noise that emerged suddenly in my left ear. It was 2008 and a doctor had just syringed my ears, washing out the antibiotic drops she had prescribed a week earlier, and which had rendered my world temporarily muffled. I was so relieved the drops were out that I didn’t question the strange new noise. I simply thanked her and left. As I lay on my pillow that night, trying to ignore the new whooshing sound in my ear, a puzzling crunching noise caught my attention. My brain tried to unscramble the disturbance until, confused and now wide awake, I lifted my head up, only to realise it was our grandfather clock, chiming away the hour. My left ear, I realised, was no longer hearing sounds as they really were. After a few days with no improvement, I returned to the doctor. When I mentioned the constant white noise and hearing problems in my left ear, her eyes widened in alarm and she quickly referred me …

Willie Colón, salsa singer and musician, dies aged 75

Willie Colón, salsa singer and musician, dies aged 75

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Willie Colón, the prominent salsa singer and musician, has died aged 75. Colón’s family announced his death Saturday with a tribute on Facebook. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his beloved family,” the statement underneath an image of the singer read in both Spanish and English. “While we grieve his absence, we also rejoice in the timeless gift of his music and the cherished memories he created that will live on forever.” The statement concluded: “Our family is deeply grateful for your prayers and support during this time of mourning. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate our grief.” Musician Willie Colón’s family announced his death Saturday (Getty Images) The details of his funeral have not yet been finalized or …

Judge orders musician to halt ‘defamatory statements’ about COGIC

Judge orders musician to halt ‘defamatory statements’ about COGIC

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction to halt what Church of God in Christ officials call defamatory statements by a gospel musician about their predominantly Black Pentecostal denomination. The order, issued on Monday (Feb. 2) by Judge Mark Norris of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, seeks to prevent musician Moses Tyson Jr. from “publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any further defamatory statements” about the denomination, “including, but not limited to, any references to ‘thieves,’ ‘grand theft,’ ‘elder abuse,’ ‘fraud,’ or other similar accusations,” according to court records.  In a complaint filed Nov. 10 in a county court, COGIC, its general board and its general counsel alleged that Tyson has led a “malicious, nationwide campaign of libel and slander” against the denomination and its leaders. In recent months, court exhibits show, Tyson — who is a member of the denomination and is a cousin of the late musician Sly Stone — made accusations against the church in emails, podcasts and social media. The case was later moved to …

Gospel musician Richard Smallwood remembered with music-filled funeral

Gospel musician Richard Smallwood remembered with music-filled funeral

Published by Sam Flores

UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland (RNS) — Thousands of fans of gospel music giant Richard Smallwood bid him farewell in a music-filled funeral on Saturday (Jan. 24), as family and friends of the composer remembered him for his creativity, his theology and his humility. Smallwood’s black closed casket, covered with white flowers, stood at the front of the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, just east of Washington, at the 2 1/2-hour service dominated by the songs he wrote. Pastor Maurice Watson, the former pastor of Smallwood’s Washington-area home congregation, preached on the Bible’s Psalm 121, on which Smallwood based one of his most widely sung works, “Total Praise,” which begins with the words “Lord I will lift mine eyes to the hills, knowing my help is coming from You.” “His music had a depth to it that spoke to our souls and to our hearts,” said Watson, who led Metropolitan Baptist Church, where Smallwood was a member and was ordained himself. “His music was high enough to make the erudite sit up and listen, but …

Musician Phil Collins Reveals He Has Serious Health Issues

Musician Phil Collins Reveals He Has Serious Health Issues

Published by Sam Flores

Music legend Phil Collins has said he is currently battling serious health issues that require a 24-hour nurse. The former Genesis drummer and popular solo artist recently appeared on the BBC podcast Eras in advance of his 75th birthday next week, and discussed his ongoing health concerns. “I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” Phil explained. “I’ve had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me.” The In The Air Tonight singer said everything “seemed to converge at the same time”, and said his kidneys started to back up after he contracted Covid while in hospital. In addition, the drumming legend has difficulty walking after undergoing five knee surgeries that left him with only one knee “that works”. “I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever,” he added. Phil Collins Miami Herald via Getty Images Phil admitted that “drinking too much” is what caused his kidneys to get “messed up,” but said …

Brazilian Musician Seu Jorge Performs 15 Iconic Bowie Songs in Portuguese to Mark the 10th Anniversary of Bowie’s Passing

Brazilian Musician Seu Jorge Performs 15 Iconic Bowie Songs in Portuguese to Mark the 10th Anniversary of Bowie’s Passing

Published by José Betancourt

In 2004, the Brazil­ian musi­cian Seu Jorge record­ed a series of Por­tuguese cov­ers of David Bowie songs for Wes Anderson’s film The Life Aquat­ic with Steve Zis­sou. The next year, he released a full album of 13 Bowie clas­sics, and in 2016–2017, he even took the songs on tour. Now, in 2026, to mark the 10th anniver­sary of Bowie’s pass­ing, Jorge returns with the per­for­mance above. Set against a beau­ti­ful Brazil­ian coast­line, he sings some of Bowie’s most beloved tracks, all while in char­ac­ter as Pelé dos San­tos, the role he played in Anderson’s film. See the full track list below and enjoy. Lady Star­dustRock ’n’ Roll Sui­cideQueen BitchOh! You Pret­ty ThingsSuf­fragette CityChangesRebel RebelQuick­sandFive YearsTeam Zis­souZig­gy Star­dustSpace Odd­i­tyWhen I Live My DreamLife on Mars?Star­man Relat­ed Con­tent  David Bowie’s 100 Must Read Books Every Wes Ander­son Movie, Explained by Wes Ander­son Why Do Wes Ander­son Movies Look Like That? The Art Col­lec­tion of David Bowie: An Intro­duc­tion Source link

John Forté dead: Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees dies at 50

John Forté dead: Grammy-nominated musician known for his work with the Fugees dies at 50

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, celebrated for his work with the Fugees and Refugee Camp All-Stars, has died at the age of 50. He was found dead at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, police confirmed. Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin stated there were no signs of foul play or a “readily apparent cause of death.” The state medical examiner’s office is now investigating the case to determine the circumstances surrounding his passing. A native of New York City, Forté was a musical prodigy who broke through in his early 20s as a contributor to the Fugees’ Grammy-winning “The Score” and to Wyclef Jean’s Grammy-nominated “The Carnival.” A multi-instrumentalist and rapper, he also released such solo albums as “Poly Sci” and “I John,” with contributors including Carly Simon, whose son, Ben Taylor, was a close friend of Forté’s. open image in gallery …

Richard Smallwood, contemporary gospel musician known for ‘Total Praise,’ dies at 77

Richard Smallwood, contemporary gospel musician known for ‘Total Praise,’ dies at 77

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Richard Smallwood, a singer and pianist best known for his contemporary gospel music hit “Total Praise,” died Tuesday (Dec. 30). Smallwood was 77. He died of complications of kidney failure at a rehabilitation and nursing center in Sandy Spring, Maryland, his publicist announced. Nominated eight times for a Grammy Award, the Stellar and Dove awardee was known for combining Black gospel and classical genres of music. His ubiquitous song “Total Praise,” introduced with his group Vision in 1996, was later covered in the group Destiny’s Child’s a capella “Gospel Medley,” performed by a cantor at New York’s Carnegie Hall and sung by a choir when President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis to the White House. “When you write a particular piece, you have no idea what’s going to become of it — will people like it, or will people sing it?” he told Religion News Service in a 2024 interview when he was honored at the Kennedy Center. “And so, to see the years of people embracing it really means a lot to …

Musician Cancelled as AI Falsely Accuses Him of Horrific Crimes

Musician Cancelled as AI Falsely Accuses Him of Horrific Crimes

Published by José Betancourt

Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Ashley MacIsaac Who needs vicious music columnists when you live in the age of AI? Apparently not Ashley MacIsaac, a Canadian fiddler, singer, and songwriter who was labeled a sex criminal by Google’s AI overview. According to the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail, event organizers at the Sipekne’katik First Nation, north of Halifax, canceled an upcoming performance featuring MacIsaac after Google incorrectly described him as a sex offender. The paper reports that the misinformation was the result of one of Google’s AI summaries — brief summations it helpfully plasters above all other search results — which blended the musician’s biography with another person who bears the same name. “Google screwed up, and it put me in a dangerous situation,” MacIsaac told the paper. Though the AI overview has since been updated, MacIsaac explained that the situation presents a huge dilemma for him as a touring musician. For one thing, there’s no telling how many other event organizers passed on hiring him because of the libelous claim, or …