soul

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She Told Us, 'No Pain (No Gain).' And Now She's Gone
'The Voice of
Every Woman'
Has Died at 66
obituary

'The Voice of Every Woman' Has Died at 66

Betty Wright kicked off her career at the ripe age of 2

(Newser) - Betty Wright, the Grammy Award-winning soul singer who gave us "No Pain (No Gain)" and "Tonight Is the Night," has died at age 66. The cause was cancer, Billboard reports. "I just lost my aunt this morning," Wright's niece tweeted Sunday, per People , adding...

Soul Revival Star Sharon Jones Dies
Soul Revival Star
Sharon Jones Dies
OBITUARY

Soul Revival Star Sharon Jones Dies

Dap-Kings singer became star in middle age

(Newser) - Sharon Jones, the powerhouse singer who shepherded a soul revival despite not finding stardom until middle age, has died. She was 60. A rep says Jones died Friday at a Cooperstown, NY hospital after battling pancreatic cancer, the AP reports. Loved ones and members of her retro-soul band, the Dap-Kings,...

Cops: Conspiracy Theorists With 'Arsenal' Arrested

Men allegedly planned to free souls by attacking research facility

(Newser) - Some men want to save our souls through religion. Two Georgia men arrested last week allegedly wanted to save them by shooting up an Alaska research facility that has been at the center of multiple conspiracy theories. Det. Michael Vickers tells the Alaska Dispatch News the men—30-year-old Michael Mancil...

'Me and Mrs Jones' Singer Dies
 'Me and Mrs. Jones' Singer Dies 
OBITUARY

'Me and Mrs. Jones' Singer Dies

Philadelphia soul legend Billy Paul was 80

(Newser) - Billy Paul, a jazz and soul singer best known for the No. 1 hit ballad and "Philadelphia Soul" classic "Me and Mrs. Jones," died Sunday. Paul, whose career spanned more than 60 years, died at his home in New Jersey, his co-manager, Beverly Gay, tells the AP...

'Ivory Queen of Soul' Teena Marie Dead
'Ivory Queen of Soul'
Teena Marie Dead at 54
obituary

'Ivory Queen of Soul' Teena Marie Dead at 54

Motown Californian rocked fans' worlds

(Newser) - R&B soul singer Teena Marie was found dead in her bed at her California home yesterday. She was 54. Known as the "Ivory Queen of Soul," Marie signed with the legendary Motown label in the '70s; recorded 13 albums, including hits Lovergirl, Fire and Desire, Square Biz...

McCain Has Sold His Soul: Jon Stewart
 McCain Has Sold 
 His Soul: Jon Stewart 
NON-MAVERICK DEPT.

McCain Has Sold His Soul: Jon Stewart

Disavowing 'maverick' rep like Giuliani pleading 9./11 ignorance

(Newser) - Jon Stewart is flabbergasted at John McCain’s recent assertion that “I never considered myself a maverick.” The Comedy Central host doesn’t “even f---ing need to” toss to a montage showing how often McCain has claimed the maverick label. Despite all of the Arizona senator’s...

Where Bernie's Headed: Dante's Ninth Circle

Hell's worst area is frozen land ruled by Satan

(Newser) - If 150 years in prison seems like meager penance for Bernie Madoff, consider where he would go in Dante's Inferno: the Ninth Circle of Hell. There, the world's worst sinners—betrayers—freeze in an iceworld kept cool by Satan himself. "Betrayal destroys the trust that binds humanity, and...

Four Tops Singer Dead At 72
 Four Tops Singer Dead At 72 

Four Tops Singer Dead At 72

Stubbs' baritone was featured on many Motown hits

(Newser) - Baritone Levi Stubbs, the heart of the Four Tops, died today in Detroit at age 72, the Detroit News reports. With Abdul Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo Benson, Stubbs recorded many iconic hits of the Motown era, including Bernadette, Reach Out (I’ll Be There), and Standing in the Shadows ...

Memphis Bids Hayes Soulful So-Long

Family, friends, stars and fans gather to honor Isaac Hayes' life

(Newser) - Thousands gathered at a Memphis-area mega-church to say a final farewell to Isaac Hayes, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Family members mixed with musicians from across the genres, as well as Hollywood stars, politicians, Scientologists, African royalty, and thousands of ordinary people paying tribute to the soul legend who died...

Music Giant Jerry Wexler Dead at 91

(Newser) - Jerry Wexler, a music industry giant who coined the term "rhythm and blues" and worked to bring black popular music into the mainstream, died today at age 91, the New York Times reports. Wexler, a producer at Atlantic Records in its heyday, worked with new artists such as Aretha...

Singer Isaac Hayes Dead at 65
 Singer Isaac Hayes Dead at 65 
OBITUARY

Singer Isaac Hayes Dead at 65

'Shaft' composer found unresponsive at home

(Newser) - Legendary singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes, whose "Theme from Shaft" claimed Academy Awards and Grammys alike, died early today at the age of 65, reports WMC-TV in Memphis. Hayes' wife found him lying unresponsive next to a still-running treadmill at their Memphis home; attempts to revive him failed and he was...

Medical Bracelet With Soul Sells for $32K

James Brown's goods sell for $850K at controversial auction

(Newser) - The personal belongings of James Brown sold for $850,000 at a bittersweet Christie's auction yesterday, E! Online reports. Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer provided the day's surprise by shelling out $32,500 for the medical bracelet Brown was wearing before he died on Christmas Day in 2006; the estimate had...

Duffy Latest to Give Motown a UK Twist

Welsh import, following Winehouse et al., makes US TV blitz this week

(Newser) - A 23-year-old Welsh singer is the latest in a wave of pop artists—female, British ones—to channel 1960s Motown, the Wall Street Journal reports. Duffy, who storms the US this week with TV talk-show appearances and a performance at the Apollo tonight, is already a hit across Europe, her...

Critics Split on Jukebox
Critics Split on Jukebox
NEW RELEASE

Critics Split on Jukebox

Some love Cat Power's 2nd covers record; others dismiss it

(Newser) - Indie crooner Cat Power's second album of covers is dividing critics. Many agree that Jukebox is a state-of-the-career effort, but they part ways on where the musician (real name: Chan Marshall) stands. After transforming from blues folkie to soul singer and overcoming depression, the Marshall who “savored” her songs...

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