Tag Archives: Quincy Jones

Leto to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Academy Awards

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Jared Leto has a date with Oscar…

The 44-year-old part-Spanish actor/singer and Oscar-winner is the latest entertainer to be added to the list of presenters for the 88th Academy Awards this month.

Jared Leto

He joins a roster that includes Steve Carell, Priyanka Chopra, Quincy Jones, Byung-hun Lee, Julianne Moore, Olivia Munn, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel, Andy Serkis, J.K. Simmons, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.

Two years ago, Leto picked up the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his critically acclaimed performance as male-to-female transgender character Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club.

Café Tacvba to Receive Icon Award at This Year’s La Musa Awards

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There’s no doubt Café Tacvba is one of the Latin music world’s most iconic bands. And, now they have the award to prove it.

The trailblazing Mexican alt-rockers will be honored with the Icon Award at the La Musa Awards, which will take place on October 15 at The Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach.

Café Tacvba

The icon designation is fitting for a band that, over the last 25 years, helped elevate rock by fusing it with hip-hop, electronic music, and folkloric sounds.

Recently, the act – consisting of Rubén Albarrán, Emmanuel “Meme” del Real, José Alfredo “Joselo” Rangel, and Enrique “Quique” Rangel – celebrated the 20th anniversary of its seminal album Re, which revolutionized rock en español.

Their most recent album, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco, was deemed the Best Latin Album of 2012 by iTunes.

Café Tacvba will also perform during the awards show, produced by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (LSHOF). The non-profit was founded by renowned songwriters/composers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez in 2012 to honor their peers who have impacted music on a global scale.

Cuban music mogul Emilio Estefan, Chilean singer/songwriter Myriam Hernandez, Argentine composer/performer Gustavo Santaolalla, Argentine singer/songwriter Diego Torres, Colombian songwriter Hector Ochoa Cardenas and Salvadoran singer/songwriter Alvaro Torres are the six music luminaries being inducted into the LSHOF during this year’s ceremony. Quincy Jones will receive the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award while Chilean rock icon Beto Cuevas will be recognized with a special La Musa Conquistador Award.

Tickets for this year’s gala, hosted by actor/singer Carlos Ponce, are on sale via latinsonghall.com.

Billboard Launches First Spanish-Language Title, Billboard Argentina

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Billboard is now en español…

The international music magazine has debuted its first-ever Spanish-language edition with Billboard Argentina, which launched this week.

Billboard Argentina

The monthly, glossy publication will be Billboard’s 5th international property joining Brazil, Russia, South Korea and Japan.

Billboard Argentina, published by Sociedad de Editores ABC 1, will feature original content from Argentina as well as select Billboard charts and content from Billboard Magazine.

Jorge Arias and Hernán Simó, partners in Sociedad de Editores, will preside over the publication as CEO and Editor In Chief, respectively.

Unlike other music titles in Argentina like Rolling Stone, Billboard Argentina is dedicated 100% to music and geared toward the music fan, but it will also feature industry-leaning news.

The cover of the inaugural, 82-page edition is iconic Argentine rocker Charly Garcia, who sat down for an in-depth interview for the cover story, and the pages of the first issue include other artist features and reviews as well as industry analysis, including stories on Quincy Jones and Leo Fender and an interview with the president of Sony Argentina. The Billboard charts that run in the magazine include the Billboard 200, the Billboard Hot 100 and the Social 50.

Billboard Argentina printed 20,000 copies of its first issue, but Simó said plans call for double that number within the year.

Pitbull to Perform on “The Real Change Project: Artists for Education” Special

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Pitbull will be singing for real change…

The 32-year-old Cuban American rap superstar will appear in the upcoming one-hour television charity special, The Real Change Project: Artists for Education, according to The Hollywood Reporter.Pitbull

 

The special is set to air at 7:00 pm on April 23 on CBS and other syndicated networks, two weeks before National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Miley Cyrus, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO‘s Redfoo and SkyBlu, Jason Mraz, Quincy Jones and Glee‘s Matthew Morrison will also take the stage.

The Real Change, produced in association with Adopt a Classroom, combines celebrities with philanthropy and includes musical performances, interviews and more.

The special will see the musicians — who will sponsor classrooms — go back to their hometown schools, introduce the teachers who inspired them and surprise deserving students and organizations.

“Teachers are often the unsung heroes, while actors, musicians and pro athletes get all the praise. I’m willing to bet, though, that each one of us has had at least one teacher who changed our lives forever,” said Liam Murphy, founder and CEO of Real Change Productions. “The goal of our show is to not only honor these teachers but to also inspire Americans to adopt a classroom and support those who are shaping the minds of tomorrow by providing the supplies that enable them to keep making a difference today.”

Adopt a Classroom is a group that empowers teachers with the resources they need for their classes and increases their students’ chances for success. Teachers can participate by registering on the LiveRealChange.com website. Once they are selected, teachers can use the funds to improve their classrooms.

Lopez to Emcee This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

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George Lopez is the next jazz master… of sorts.

The 51-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor has been named the new master of ceremonies for the Playboy Jazz Festival, which will be taking place at the Hollywood Bowl on June 15-16.

george-lopez-to-appear-at-straz-in-november

This year’s lineup includes India.Arie, Sheila E., Trombone Shorty, Bob James/David Sanborn, George Duke with Jeffrey Osborne, Angelique Kidjo with Hugh Masekela and Taj Mahal.

The two-day fest, celebrating its 35th anniversary, will also present three world premieres. These include Naturally 7 with special guest Herbie Hancock; an 80th birthday salute to Quincy Jones by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with special guests Patti Austin and Hubert Laws; and jazz pianist Elew who, like India.Arie and Mahal, is making his first appearance at the festival. In addition, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet will perform a special tribute to the late Dave Brubeck.

Lopez takes over the emcee duties from Bill Cosby, who helmed the fest for more than 30 years. Described as the “perfect choice” to host by Playboy Jazz Festival’s president emeritus Richard Rosenzweig, Lopez called it a “most tremendous honor” to get the call from Cosby to be emcee.

He also noted that Cosby was giving him pointers like “don’t let the musicians in your dressing room because they will eat up all your food.”

Lopez later told Billboard.biz that he’s a longtime jazz fan. “To attend the show in this capacity is beyond whatever I could have imagined.” A guitar enthusiast, he noted that he’d also “love to play one song” with an act during the show. “That’s my goal.”