Michael Jackson News...!!

Twenty-five years after the phrase “Who’s Bad” became a generation’s cultural catchphrase, Epic/Legacy Recordings, in collaboration with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will celebrate the legendary album and record breaking BAD tour on September 17, 2012 with the release of a deluxe package, BAD 25, which includes three CDs, two collectible booklets, and features the first ever authorized DVD release of a concert from the record breaking BAD tour. 

  

The BAD World Tour was Michael’s first concert tour as a solo artist. The legendary tour included 123 concerts attended by more than 4.4 million fans over sixteen months. When it concluded, the tour had shattered all previous touring records for attendance and total gross revenue adding three new entries the Guinness Book of World Records in for the largest grossing tour in history, the tour with the largest attended audience and the most sold out shows at Wembley Stadium. 

More details on this and other exciting projects relating to BAD’s 25^th anniversary will be announced soon.

RIP Donna Summer

The Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, has sadly passed away today (17th May 2012) after losing her battle with Cancer.

Summer who was aged just 63 was in Florida at the time of her passing and a close friend has stated that the singer was trying to keep the extent of her illness under wraps.

Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the '70s with massive disco hits like "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls."

Donna Summer real name LaDonna Adrian Gaines was born in Boston USA on the 31st Dec 1948. The mezzo-soprano vocalist's career spanned four decades and was a five time Grammy award winner. She was the first artist to have three consecutive number one double albums and she also charted four number one singles in a thirteen month period.

One of her finest pieces of work was the album 'Bad Girls'. It was two years in production and she had based the whole theme on Prostitution. The album, when finally released in 1979, went on to be an international hit spawning two number ones in 'Hot Stuff' and 'Bad Girls' along with a number two in 'Dim All The Lights'.

The disco diva was currently focused on working on a new production, one which she had dedicated a lot of time and effort even though she was ill. Her passing is a huge loss to the world of music and she will be missed by us all, those of us young enough to know of her great work and those of us old enough to have really enjoyed it.

RIP Donna Summer you will be missed.

Don E Presents Ladies Night LIVE...!

UK Soul Legend Don E & sm8music are proud to present Ladies Night Live,

in anticipation of the launch of his new album, 'Ladies Night' featuring eight UK female vocalists.

The Ladies Night album launch will be taking place on Thursday 19th July at Plan B, 418 Brixton Road London SW9 7AY. 

Performing live on the night will be Nadine Charles, Kyra Simone, Shelly and Elisha La'verne alongside Don E, who will be playing some of his old and, of course, new tracks.

This is one not to be missed and you can pre order your reduced price tickets now by clicking HERE  

Melba Moore Live In Concert 29/04/12

Heres your chance to catch one of the finest vocalists from the soul scene....Melba Moore is live in concert at Londons Jazz Cafe on Sunday 29th April Doors at 7.00pm.

Miss Moore will be performing some of her many hits including "I Cant Believe Its Over", "You Stepped Into My Life" and of course my personal favourite "Standing Right Here".

Its not often such a soul legend graces us with here presence so make the most of it and get your tickets for this event before there all gone....! Just go to www.soulgigs.com for further details

R.I.P. UK Soul Mafia DJ Froggy

Steven Howlett aka DJ Froggy Born 8th November 1949 in East London - Died 28th March 2008, age just 58.

His early days as a DJ began in East London and most notably when he plyed his trade at The Robin Hood in Dagenham and the Bird's Nest in Romford. The name Froggy was given to him by his friends due to the way he would jump up and down in time to the music.

His reputatation as one of the UK's finest soul DJ's was rewarded when invited to the first ever Caister Soul Weekender, where he played alongside greats like Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards and Chris Hill.
The Froggy Sound System was notorious around the circuit and many have said that it just seemed to grow and get better each time they heard it.

Froggy sadly passed away on this day in 2008, at his home in Goodmayes Essex. He may be gone but his sound system plays on in our hearts.

News on Bobby Womack

News coming out of the United States is that music legend, Bobby Womack has been hospitalized and is reportedly in the early stages of colon cancer. The 68 year old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was taken to hospital struggling with a serious bout of pneumonia.

Today’s news is just another sad episode of bad health for the singer-songwriter who has also suffered from prostate cancer in the past. Earlier this month Womack was forced to cancel a scheduled performance as health issues prevented him from taking to the stage in Houston.

Syleena Johnson Live Concert Sunday 25th March 2012

Soulm8  catches up with awesomely talented Syleena Johnson, talking about her up and coming and nearly sold out concert at Londons Jazz Cafe on Sunday 25th March.

This is one NOT to be missed...Londons Jazz Cafe doors at 7pm

Lauryn Hill Announces Live UK Date

Grammy award winner and former Fugee member, Lauryn Hill will be returning to the UK stage to perform a rare, one-off show on April 14th at the Indigo2 in London.

This performance will mark the multi talented singer, rapper and actress’ first show in the UK in some five years. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday 23rd March 2012.

We remember Hip Hop legend Notorious BIG

 It was 15 years ago today (9th March) that arguably the greatest hip hop rhymer of all time, Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls, Notorios B.I.G., sadly departed this planet thus leaving a massive void in the music world of Hip Hop.

RIP

Notorious B.I.G. 21 May 1972 - 9 March 1997

His music plays on today and he will never be forgotten.

 

 

 

 

Whitney Houston Dies aged 48

Grammy award winning singer, Whitney Elizabeth Houston, has sadly passed away aged 48.

So far the cause of the star's death is currently unclear. It has been confirmed that Houston died in her room on the 4^th floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles. Police spokesman Mark Rosen told reporters Houston was found dead at 15:55 pm (23:55 GMT) at the Hotel, where she was staying as a guest.

During her career, which peaked during the 1980s and '90s and has spanned three decades, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling RnB artists.

Whitney was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s soul diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin. Whitney grew up in New Jersey, she began singing in church and then in the night clubs of New York, and was a model before being signed by Arista Records.

Houston had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina, with her ex-husband Bobby Brown who she divorced around six years ago following a turbulent marriage.

Among her hits were How Will I Know, Saving All My Love for You and I Will Always Love You.

Her success went far beyond music and she starred in movies, including most famously, The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner.

The soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy for Album of the Year. At the height of her career, she won many awards and enjoyed several number one singles and albums around the world.

Whitney Houston will definitely leave a foot print on the music industry which will be hard to follow.

RIP Whitney Houston August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012

Creator of Soul Train, Don Cornelius, Found Dead Aged 75

It has been reported that Don Cornelius has been found by a family member, who went to his Mullholland Drive home in Encino, dead from a single gunshot wound to his head. Although he was rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Centre, he was pronounced dead upon his arrival.

Stars have come out in their droves to pay respects to the man behind this iconic TV show. Rapper Ice Cube was one of the first to tweet "Rest in Peace, Love & Soul...Don Cornelius" and also Nile Rogers tweeted "Don Cornelius RIP - The 1st time I played Soul Train it changed my life! Thank you for creating a funkier more informed world".

The show “Soul Train” became the longest-running US nationally syndicated show in television history, bringing black music and style to the world for some 35 years. It was often imitated but the soul it gave could just never be duplicated. Cornelius stopped hosting the show in 1993, and “Soul Train” ceased production in 2006.

Police have stated that the wound seemed self inflicted but are still carrying out an investigation into his death is still being carried out by the Los Angeles Police department and the L A County Coroner's office.

RIP Don Cornelius, the memories you have left behind will be with many hundreds of thousands of people forever.

RIP Etta James 1938 - 2012

The legendary Soul and Jazz singer, Etta James, has sadly passed away today in California just five days short of her 74th Birthday.

Etta was suffering from Lukemia and her manager today claimed that complications with this illness lead to her passing.

Jamesetta was born in Los Angeles to Dorothy Hawkins in 1938 and her name was changed to Etta James when she began recording for Otis Reading back in the early 1950's.

Etta recorded for a number of different labels including Virgin/EMI, MCA Records, Island and Polygram and she had numerous hits around the world. Her musical style changed throughout her career, but that never stopped her from becoming a huge worldwide personality.

Etta James was admitted to hospital in 2010 to treat an infection caused by MRSA and then in 2011 James was diagnosed with Lukemia of which today she finally succumbed.

RIP Etta James, your music will forever live on.

Soulm8 Podcast Volume 10 is now LIVE....!

Merry Christmas from all of us at soulm8...check out our festive beats on the new soulm8 podcast....!

Subscribe to our podcasts and share...!

Win a copy of the new album by Colonel Red....!

Here is your chance to win a signed copy of the new beats by Colonel Red. 

Keep Walking is the name of his current album and all you need to do is visit the soulm8 website "HERE" enter your details and tell us the name of his previous album....its that simple.

The winner will be drawn at random and they will receive the signed copy of "Keep Walkin". 

Good Luck....!