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Chris Brown will be performing at this year’s Grammy Awards. His last performance 3 years ago almost crashed his career.

Brown admitted to assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammy party in 2009 and is serving five years of probation for the felony attack. A source told The Associated Press on Monday that Brown will hit the stage at Sunday’s show. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because Brown’s performance has not been officially announced.

After the attack, Brown’s reputation plummeted, but he has since bounced back, releasing multiple mixtapes and the multi-hit album, “F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies).” The CD is nominated for three Grammys, including best R&B album.

Brown and Rihanna were supposed to perform at the 2009 Grammys, but that changed after Brown attacked the pop singer in the early morning hours before the awards show. Since then, Brown has not attended the Grammys, although he was nominated for three awards last year.

Brown, 22, has been nominated for Grammys in five of the last six years, though he has never picked up the top prize in music. His song “Look at Me Now,” which features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, is nominated for best rap song and best rap performance.

Rihanna is the owner of four Grammys, three with Jay-Z. She alone won a Grammy last year for her No. 1 smash, “Only Girl (In the World)” for best dance recording. In addition to album of the year, her fifth CD “Loud” is up for best pop vocal album. Rihanna is also nominated twice for best rap/sung collaboration for another No.1 jam — the Drake-assisted “What’s My Name?” — and for her guest appearance on Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.”

The Grammys will be televised live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Don Cornelius, the host of Soul Train who’s performance has lit up hearts for over 3 decades with his voice, dance movies and style died today at the age of 75. The apparent reason for his death is suicide.

The silken-voiced host of “Soul Train” who helped break down racial barriers and broaden the reach of black culture with funky music, groovy dance steps and cutting-edge style.

Police responding to a report of a shooting found Cornelius at his Mulholland Drive home around 4 a.m. He was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound about an hour later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to the coroner’s office.

Police Officer Sara Faden said authorities have ruled out foul play. Detectives have not found a suicide note and are talking to relatives about his mental state.

His death prompted many to speak of the positive influence he and his show had on pop culture, music and the black community.

“God bless him for the solid good and wholesome foundation he provided for young adults worldwide and the unity and brotherhood he singlehandedly brought about with his most memorable creation of ‘Soul Train,’” said Aretha Franklin, an early performer on the show.

Franklin called Cornelius “an American treasure.”

The Rev. Jesse Jackson told KNX-Los Angeles that Cornelius “was a transformer.”

“‘Soul Train’ became the outlet for African-Americans,” Jackson said, adding that he talked to Cornelius a few days ago and there were no signs Cornelius was upset.

Actor Robert Hegyes, one of the stars of the 70s sitcom “Welcome Back Kotter” died today of an apparent heart attack.

Hegyes was best known for his role as the Puerto Rican-Jew on that show — Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein. Epstein for short.

Hegyes reunited with John Travolta and the rest of the Sweathogs last year to accept TV Land’s 35th Anniversary Award.

He also co-starred on the hit drama, “Cagney and Lacey.”

Hegyes was in his New Jersey home this morning when he suffered the heart attack. He died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, NJ. He was 60 years old.

Source : TMZ

Heather Locklear was taken to a Southern California hospital for precautionary reasons after an emergency call was made from her home.We’ve learned … Locklear’s sister called 911 at 2:05 PM PT fearing Heather was in danger.

Paramedics and sheriff’s deputies responded Thursday afternoon to Locklear’s home in Westlake Village, which is 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Ventura County sheriff’s Capt. Mike Aranda says he did not know Locklear’s condition but deputies are not investigating.

Locklear has been hospitalized several times over the years. In 2009, she pleaded no contest to reckless driving after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription medication.

The 50-year-old actress’s publicists did not return messages seeking comment.

Locklear and “Melrose Place” co-star Jack Wagner recently ended their engagement. She was previously married to Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and they have a daughter together.

Source

The music industry is finally acknowledging the boost Steve Jobs gave for the music industry. Apple co-founder is receiving a posthumous Grammy for his technological innovations in the arts.

Jobs is among a dozen people, music groups or companies receiving honorary awards Feb. 11, the day before the Grammys. He died of cancer in October.

The Grammys are honoring Jobs with one of the group’s Trustees Awards, citing the late Apple boss’ advancements that “transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books.”

Grammy organizers called him a “creative visionary” for Apple Inc. innovations that include the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Others receiving honorary awards the day before the Grammys include Diana Ross, the Allman Brothers, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, the Memphis Horns and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder.

Steve Jobs did revolutionize the way music is brought and consumed forever. With just a few clicks now music can be purchased instantly. We can contain over a million legal songs in a device so small that we won’t even notice it with us.

The Hobbit returns with a bang! Continuing the famous Lord of the Rings series, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will see the return of almost all the main cast of Lord of the Rings series.

The new trailer features Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and opens with an older Bilbo – played by Sir Ian Holm – telling Frodo in a letter that he may not have told him everything about his adventures.

Andy Serkis makes an appearance as Gollum in the trailer, as does Cate Blanchett, reprising her role as mystical elf queen Galadriel.

I leave you with the Trailer below. The trailer has already hit around 550,000 view



Veteran film and television actor Dan Frazer, best known for his role as Captain Frank McNeil on the 1970s television series “Kojak,” has died in New York. He was 90.

Frazer’s daughter, Susanna Frazer, said Sunday her father died of cardiac arrest Dec. 16 at his home in Manhattan. She described him as a “very truthful, naturalistic actor.”

Frazer started playing character roles in various television series and films in the 1950s. His films include “Cleopatra Jones,” ”Take the Money and Run” ”Gideon’s Trumpet” and “Deconstructing Harry.” Besides “Kojak,” Frazer’s television appearances include “Car 54, Where Are You,” ”Route 66,” ”Barney Miller” and “Law & Order.”

He was a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and an adviser to The Workshop Theatre Co.