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Briefly: Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Luther Ingram, 'American Idol'
Country legend Willie Nelson , known for his prolific recorded output and non-stop touring, is poised to help other artists get in on the act via his newly formed label, Pedernales Records.
The label, which Nelson unveiled the label during last week's South by Southwest music festival, takes its name from the Pedernales River, which runs by Nelson's home outside Austin, where he also owns Pedernales Country Club and founded Pedernales Studios, now owned by his nephew, Freddy Fletcher, according to a press release.
Nelson partnered for the Pedernales Records venture with his longtime manager, Mark Rothbaum, as well as Fletcher and producer James Stroud. The label's inaugural release will be the debut from 40 Points, which features Nelson's sons, guitarist/singer Lukas Nelson and drummer Micah Nelson. A street date hasn't been announced.
Classic rockers REO Speedwagon this spring will offer up their first new album in more than a decade. Titled "Find Your Own Way Home," the disc features 10 original songs "returning to the classic REO Speedwagon sound; power ballads and melodic rock anthems," according to a press release.
The set will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores beginning April 3, and will be available through traditional retail outlets, as well as via Apple's iTunes Music Store, beginning April 24.
R&B singer Luther Ingram , best known for the 1972 hit "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right," died Monday (3/19) of kidney disease, according to published reports. The Jackson, TN, native reportedly underwent a kidney transplant a few years ago.
"American Idol" hopeful Sanjaya Malakar--a contestant whose singing ability many viewers and critics have panned--continues to receive enough phone-in votes to remain on the show, and may have two unlikely sources to thank for his good fortune.
The first is the website VoteForTheWorst.com, which has made Malakar its current poster child; the second is Sirius Satellite Radio talk-show host Howard Stern, who has been encouraging his listeners to phone in their votes for the long-haired 17-year-old.
