Susan Boyle Collapses- Jay-Z a Racist?- Tiger Woods Press Conference Online Stream- Idol Disqualified- Gordon Lightfoot Death Hoax and more

Good thing Gordon Lightfoot has a sense of humor. Even about his own supposed death. For an hour or so on Thursday afternoon, the Canadian folk-pop music icon was reported to have died — no thanks to false rumours, tweets and even a bogus media report from Canwest. But Lightfoot had a good laugh about it when reached by QMI Agency here -

Black Sheep's Dres Announces Solo Album

With his first proper full length album since 2006, Dres of the legendary Queens outfit Black Sheep is gearing up to once again command the airwaves with the April 6th release of his album, From The Black Pool Of Genius.

In an effort to holdover his insatiable fans while finishing up the LP, Dres released the five song EP, From The Black Pool Of Genius: The Prelude to much fanfare in December. The EP served as a promising precursor of what fans can expect from the upcoming album, and since its release Dres has been hard at work in the lab perfecting his sound.

Unlike The Prelude, The From The Black Pool Of Genius LP finds Dres enlisting a handful of his hip-hop brethren to elevate the album to the next level. "I would say the major difference [between The Prelude and LP] is the entourage of songs on the LP come with many guests which brings a nice variety to the spices already being served" says Dres. Production duties are handled by Paten Locke, Tough Junkie, BeanOne, ShowBiz, the Beatnuts, and Urban Soul Group, producers of "Forever LuvLee," the only hold over track from the EP, all of who manage to season some new flavor onto the songs while keeping right in tune with Dres' signature sound. The album also boasts performances from lyrical heavyweights AZ, Rhymefest, and Jean Grae, who are all on hand to drop notable guest verses and showcase their verbal dexterity, as well as an appearance from P&V, who provide an R&B touch for the project. A rare Native Tongue's bonus track featuring Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Dave of De La Soul and Mike G of the Jungle Brothers rounds out Dres' sonic serving of genius. - more on this story

Kara Dioguardi Signs Neon Hitch

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that Senior Vice President of A&R and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi has signed British singer and songwriter Neon Hitch to a recording deal. Hitch will begin recording her debut album with executive producer Benny Blanco (Ke$ha, Spank Rock, 3OH!3, Britney Spears) in the next month.

"Neon Hitch is a star!" DioGuardi says. "I fell in love with her voice and personality the first time we met. She is a unique artist who has traveled the world and you can hear those influences in her vocal stylings and melodic and lyrical choices."

"For the last two years, I've been trying to figure out my sound," says Hitch, who creates a striking effect by deploying her soulful, jazz-inflected vocals atop an organic backdrop of eclectic pop melodies and hip-hop tinged beats. "I've decided to just be myself because my life up till now is enough to fill 10 albums' worth of songs. That's why I'm planning to call the album Beg, Borrow, and Steal,' because quite frankly, I have done everything to get where I am now." - more on this story

Boston Pops 125th Season Announcement

Today, Friday, February 19, Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops announce details of the orchestra's 125th anniversary season, May 4-June 20, 2010, outlining programs that celebrate the orchestra's rich tradition of performing the great music of this country's past and present, for which the Boston Pops is so well known.

The 125th season opens on May 4 with a gala concert featuring multiple Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel and the inimitable Doc Severinsen, who holds the distinction of having performed under the batons of Arthur Fiedler, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart—a perfect addition to a program honoring the leadership legacies of the three most famous Boston Pops conductors. During the season the Pops will present the world premiere of a new work in honor of the Kennedy brothers, mark the 10th anniversary of the popular radio and TV show "From the Top," focus on esteemed artists from the fields of jazz, musical theater, and pop, including Dave Brubeck, Kelli O'Hara, and Maureen McGovern, and honor the legacies of such musical titans as Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Daniel Bernard Roumain, who in concert melds his classical music roots with his own Haitian-American cultural references and vibrant musical imagination, and Ozomatli, the multi-Grammy award-winning, genre-defying sensation, join the orchestra for programs that continue the Pops tradition of focusing on the best and brightest new talent on the musical scene today. Returning to the Pops schedule is the legendary film music series under the direction of John Williams, this year marking his 30th anniversary with the Pops, and one of the newest Pops traditions, Gospel Night with Charles Floyd. To bring the 125th season to a close in June, the Boston Pops will present one of this country's greatest living legends—the incomparable Arlo Guthrie.

Season details are also available at www.bostonpops.org TICKETS FOR THE 125TH BOSTON POPS SEASON, PRICED FROM $20-$99, GO ON SALE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, THROUGH BOSTONPOPS.ORG OR BY CALLING 888-266-1200. - more on this story

Honor Society Announce Here Comes Trouble Tour

Pop rock band Honor Society, announced today dates and cities for their upcoming Here Comes Trouble Tour. Hot off tours with Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers and most recently with Grammy winning producer and singer Timbaland, Honor Society will be headlining their third tour in continued support of their debut album Fashionably Late which debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top 200 chart last fall. Honor Society's tour kicks off in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 19th and tickets go on sale Saturday, February 20th.

Honor Society's Here Comes Trouble Tour comes after a breakout year for the band which included a world tour opening up for the Jonas Brothers as well as national appearances on television shows including The Today Show, CBS's The Early Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live where the band sang their hit singles Over You and Here Comes Trouble.

Most recently Honor Society performed the National Anthem at this year's Pro Bowl and they were also selected to be part of the exclusive soundtrack for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games produced by AT&T, along with other artists such as Mariah Carey, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland. - dates

Clem Snide Streaming New Album Online

Inspired by the warm reception bestowed upon their reformation, Clem Snide happily announce the completion of their seventh full-length recording, "The Meat of Life."

The new album is the follow-up to the highly acclaimed "Hungry Bird" which, as fans of the band are well aware, was a project fraught with uncertainty and plagued by delays not to mention disarray both within the band and from outside forces. It was a scenario that led founder Eef Barzelay to embark on a series of solo recordings and film scores (an endeavor he continues to pursue) that left the fate of the band in doubt. Luckily, the band regrouped, completed the recording and toured extensively together throughout 2009.

Now consisting of the core trio of Barzelay, Brendan Fitzpatrick (bass, organ) and Ben Martin (drums, percussion), Clem Snide is a truly cohesive musical entity and the new album reflects it. 429 Records will release "The Meat of Life" on February 23rd. - But you can hear it now over at NPR

All Stars Pay Homage To Preservation Hall

Andrew Bird, Terence Blanchard, Pete Seeger, Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandi Carlile, Cory Chisel, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Richie Havens, Jason Isbell, Jim James, Angelique Kidjo, Amy LaVere, Anita Briem, Del McCoury, Buddy Miller, Paolo Nutini, and Tom Waits all made the pilgrimage to New Orleans last year to record their homage to New Orleans Jazz with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB).

Proceeds from the sale of the project will benefit Preservation Hall and The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program. The album is out now in standard CD, deluxe edition and double-LP collectible formats.

The mission of Preservation Hall, to showcase and nurture one of America's greatest indigenous national, cultural treasures – New Orleans Jazz – is as important today as it was when Preservation Hall officially opened it's doors in 1961. - more on this story

Adam Green Minor Love

Adam Green's new album Minor Love hit stores this week on Fat Possum Records. Minor Love, his sixth solo venture since the Moldy Peaches went on hiatus in 2002, is a very personal, '70s-influenced folk-rock album and Green's best work to date."

Green will embark on a three and a half week headlining tour beginning April 1st at Venue in Vancouver, BC, and wrapping up April 23rd and 24th with a two-night hometown stand at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY.

Last month, he spent ten days on the road in support of The Cribs before traveling overseas, where he is currently on a headlining tour in Europe. Green will also perform at SXSW in March. Full itinerary is
- here

League510 In My Face (Womp Womp)

Fresh off the Dope Winter Ball Tour alongside Tash of The Alkoholiks, League510 is back with their latest leak, the fun and catchy "In My Face (Womp Womp)." Hailing from the Bay Area, the group is quickly making a name for themselves as the leaders of the burgeoning Town Techno movement. Off their upcoming compilation project, Invasion Vol. 1, "In My Face (Womp Womp)" puts that sound on display, showing off the lighter side of the rising Bay Area foursome.

Taking a comedic turn, the track tells the story of a clingy girl who only hangs around League510 for the limelight. "The song is about drunk, loud-mouthed, annoying, chicken-head, jocking, gold-digging, groupie type chicks getting all in your face because they recognize you while you're out minding your own business," the group explains. "Its really more of a spoof. A joke in good spirit to diss those types of girls." The Charlie Brown-inspired "Womp Womps" and the call-and-response female voice keep the song light even as the group throws some pretty harsh zingers at the groupies of the world, and the track's pounding distorted drumbeat and deep synth - a staple of the Town Techno sound - will undoubtedly keep feet moving as the foursome of TK, Mont, Mr. Knowitall, and DJ Blacksmith give their take on the sort of hanger-on we could all do without.

League510 will be releasing Invasion Vol. 1 in the coming months, while the group's Clear Label Records debut, To The Beat, will be released Spring 2010. - mp3

Mindy McCready Sets New Album Release

Country music recording artist Mindy McCready, whose career has lived and died by her own trials and tribulations, resurrects her platinum-selling talent and hard-fast commitment to her music with her latest CD release, I'm Still Here. Available March 23, 2010, I'm Still Here* (Iconic Records/Linus Entertainment/E1 Entertainment) showcases McCready's brazen can-do attitude engaged with her subtle, womanly vulnerability.

Since her breakout more than ten years ago with "Ten Thousand Angels" and the monumental success of "Guys Do It All The Time," McCready has been drenched in public scandals. Despite personal issues and speculation about her new record, she announced her plans to record in May 2008. A proven self-help method, music is clearly McCready's therapy. Having battled personal demons, Mindy McCready returns from her eight-year hiatus, and in her first album since 2002, she shines. Her steadfast yet fiercely feminine voice rises again.

"We have always been confident in Mindy's talent," Michael Fancher, Iconic Records label head, states. "This album shows she's at the top of her game musically; she's the best she's ever sounded and we look forward to reintroducing her music to fans new and old." - more on this story