Music news and notes 1/19/07

By Art Shimko
shimko_7@hotmail.com

-- Music news and notes from the last two days...

-- Mamas And The Papas member Denny Doherty died Friday at age 66 at his home in Mississauga. The 60's group was known for songs such as "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday". During his years after the Mamas And The Papas broke up Doherty particpated in one-off reunions and co-wrote and starred in the 2003 musical "Dream a Little Dream: The Mamas and the Papas Musical". Condolences go to his family and friends.

-- Doo wop singer Pookie Hudson dies at 72

-- More trouble for KDND/RE: Jennifer Strange

-- Harry Connick Jr. is closing the New Orleans Jazz Fest on 5/6. Let's all kill ourselves right now.

-- Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello will be releasing a solo album 4/24 titled "One Man Revolution" under the moniker the Nightwatchman which he has performed under including recent stints at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe. Morello's acoustic-based album was produced by Brendan O'Brien and Morello also plans on touring in the spring including playing South by Southwest in Austin. There are also rumors of Rage Against The Machine reuniting for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival this spring, an Coachella spokesperson wouldn't comment on the band reuniting and although former vocalist Zach de la Rocha has been in hiding since Rage's break-up in 2006 he is on good terms with his former bandmates.

-- Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Ray Price will be releasing a collaborative 2-disc set titled "Last Of The Breed" through Lost Highway Records on 3/20.

-- Evanescence begins the second leg of U.S. dates of their current world tour in Fresno, CA at the Selland Arena on 3/16 and ends in Glen Falls, NY on 4/5.

-- Yo Yo Ma's latest classical album "Appassionato", his first release in two years, sold more digital copies than CD's in its first week of release which is a first for his label, Sony BMG Masterworks. The high digital sales helped position the album at #1 on Billboard's Top Classical chart and #79 on Billboard's Top 200.

-- Question Mark, who along with his band the Mysterians scored a #1 hit in 1966 titled "96 Tears", lost his Flint, MI house, along four Yorkshire terriers, a cockatoo and 40 years of rock memorabilia including a gold record and an organ believed to belong to Pink Floyd in a fire, unfortunately he didn't have insurance. Mark has gained support from the community as they've offered money and musicians offered to arrange benefit concerts to help out the rock legend.

-- Local New Jersey band Drowning Eve is looking for a bassist and keyboardist, go to www.drowningeve.com to contact the band.

-- Ted Nugent is still a fucking asshole

-- Autopsy plotted for Big Bopper remains

-- Usher Fined $425 for Speeding in Ga.

-- Diddy Denied, Granny Gets In

-- Lawsuit Involving Rapper Death Dismissed

-- 'Idol' returns with a ratings high
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