Jerry Wexler, 91, who is known for coining the genre, "rhythm and blues," and producing albums for Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin has died in his Sarasota, Florida home. The Atlantic Records part-owner and executive was known for being "feisty," but also man in tune with music and had respect towards artists in the recording studio.......

So most of these are, yes, from Christmas specials from when I was a kid, but that definitely counts. Besides it just means you get to watch as well as listen. Here's the list. #'s 2-10 are embedded after the jump: 1. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders 2. Father Christmas - The Kinks 3. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The California Raisins, A Claymation Christmas 4. Island of Misfit Toys - Rudolf the Red-Nosed......

Artist: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Album: 100 Days, 100 Nights Label: Daptone Records Release Date: 10/02/07 Promo Track "100 Days, 100 Nights": When I first listened to this CD I thought it was a reissue of some '60s soul supergroup but no, this gem came out just last month! This album made me nostalgic for my first car, a '79 Honda Civic 4-door hatchback with an AM radio and the only music station that......

Ray Charles - "Ring of Fire" on the Johnny Cash Show, 9/23/70 One of the things the recent release of the Johnny Cash tv show on dvd reminds us is that the days of the tv variety shows and the real music shows are over. The closest thing going these days is the Henry Rollins thing on Bravo and all due respect to Henry but when you have a man with the stature of......

Still wondering what to give your sweet transgressive for Valentine's Day? Filthy, lovable, mustachioed filmmaker John Waters is releasing A Date With John Waters, a stirring yet suitably bizarre compilation album of his favorite love songs. To celebrate the album's release Waters will be at Amoeba Records in Hollywood tomorrow, February 6 at 6 PM, signing CDs and posing with fans in a Valentines setting. The album spans oddities such as the first record......

. 1. Kurt Cobain ($50M) 2. Elvis Presley ($42M) 3. Charles M. Schulz ($35M) 4. John Lennon ($24M) 5. Albert Einstein ($20M) 6. Andy Warhol ($19M) 7. Dr. Seuss ($10M) 8. Ray Charles ($10M) 9. Marilyn Monroe ($8M) 10. Johnny Cash ($8M) 11. J.R.R Tolkien ($7M) 12. George Harrison ($7M) 13. Bob Marley ($7M) Top Earning Dead Celebrities, Forbes, 2006 -- h/t stereogum......

John Bennett, not the US Rep from Michigan, not the acting governor of New Jersey, but the dashing troubador formerly of San Francisco, and now of Hollywood, is releasing his "here tomorrow" under the name Johnny Bennett. A little more stripped-down acoustic flavor than his previous material, Bennett's record-release party will be tonight at 9pm downstairs at the Key Club on Sunset. If you close your eyes you might think you're at an Anthony......

American Idol. Even when it's over, it's never really over. Silver-haired American Idol champion Taylor Hicks (the guy with the mixture of Ray Charles moves and Tourette's Syndrome), was named the No. 1 "Hottest Bachelor" by People Magazine today. Say whaaaat? The 29-year-old Hicks outranked other familiar names like Matthew McConaughey, Nick Lachey, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kenny Chesney, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson and even AI's host Ryan Seacrest. Another AI contestant makes it a trifecta......

Coffee juggernaut Starbucks recently named former Herbie Hancock manager Alan Mintz to be its newest player to help in the quest for more of your disposable income. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mintz will help Starbucks shape its entertainment offerings and help it become more of an entertainment destination for consumers. Starbucks has had some good results in the past with its entertainment offerings, particularly in music. In 2004, it sold 1 out......

On last night's American Idol, we found out that either Sherman Oaks' own Katharine McPhee or the gray-haired dude Taylor Hicks will be your American Idol. Ubiquitous host Ryan Seacrest revealed that less than 1 percent of the 50 million votes cast separated the three contestants. (Has anyone else noticed that with all his jobs lately, Seacrest is probably too tired to shave and be annoying?) Poor Elliott Yamin got the boot, and out......

June Pointer, youngest of the singing Pointer Sisters, died Tuesday of cancer at UCLA Medical Center. In addition to singing on the group's major albums, including lead vocal on the song "Jump (For my Love)," she co-wrote songs such as "I'm So Excited," which exemplified the group's capacity for joyous naughtiness. The Pointer Sisters' music spanned genres: they could sing rock, R&B, old-fashioned jazz, and country all on the same album and still have a......

Fri 4/7 - Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory @ Echo ($5) – Nobody is a DJ and beat maker. The Mystic Chords of Memory feature Chris Gunst who was the main voice behind the Beachwood Sparks. They’ve collaborated on an album for Mush Records that will be released on 4/25. The press release calls it psychedelic hip-hop and sunshine folk-rock, which is an accurate description. If they can get 1/10th of Postal Service's......

"We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark...and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it." It's hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the Blues Brothers first appeared on the silver screen, but they have. Harder still to believe that this movie holds up so well, and packs a powerhouse assembly of Blues and Soul music that have never been seen since in a film other than a......

While we only watched a little bit of the Grammys last night, all the local papers lede with the results of the Awards ceremony. The Daily News notes that Ray Charles was the night's big winner with 8 post-humous awards while The Los Angeles Times's Robert Hilburn wonders if the accolades aren't just a little too late for a man whose most creative and significant years were decades ago. Details about the Devin Brown......

Los Angeles citizens spoke this morning, albeit in hushed tones, about their thoughts on President Bush winning the 2004 election even more legitimately than in 2000. Him: Oh well. Her: Yeah. Him: Nothing we can do about it. Her: Yup. Him: I hear Jamie Foxx is great in that Ray Charles movie. Her: Yeah, me too. We should see it. Him: Totally.......

At 7:00 PM, the Hammer Museum hosts artist and teacher Klaus Rinke, contemporary of artist Joseph Beuys, as he gives a lecture titled “The Dream—an Ideal Art School: A world school, center for being, art, and creativity,” reflecting on his experience teaching at the Art Academy in Düsseldorf. At the Troubadour, KXLU presents John Vanderslice with Robbers on High Street and Two Gallants at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $12.00 at the door. At Amoeba......