Hilton Releasing First Compilation From His Music Series

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He may be the internet’s most infamous gossip columnist… But Perez Hilton may soon become a music mogul.

The 34-year-old Cuban-American web celebrity is planning to release the first compilation from his new Perez Hilton music series.

Entitled “Pop Up #1,” the collection will be released jointly with the Opus Label on August 7.

The album showcases 18 of Hilton’s favorite artists, including: Kerli, Fedez, Jesse Marco, VanJess, Chantal Claret, Alphabeat and Manufactured Superstars (featuring Scarlett Quinn).

The featured tracks are described as an “eclectic, infectious mix of dance tracks.”

Along with being available on iTunes and at retail, fans can pick up the album at fashion stores through the “Perez Hilton Music Tee Series,” which allows listeners to buy music via a collection of t-shirts and tank tops with album-inspired artwork on the front and a digital hangtag that allows customers to download the compilation and artist information. The shirts are available at retailers nationwide and online.

Even though he’s best known for his celebrity blog, Hilton has always played a part in promoting music.

“Music is my passion and I consider it not just an opportunity but also a responsibility to share great new tunes with my readers,” said Hilton, who manages recording artists like CJ Baran, Kalie Shorr and MattyB among others. In 2008 he created the music event series “One Night In…” a live show he curated featuring up-and-coming musical acts. He’s also made cameo appearances in Britney Spears’ Circus tour and Rihanna‘s “S&M” video.

“Through this, my first-ever compilation,” Hilton said in a statement, “I now have a new vehicle to support artists and share their music in a meaningful way with the whole world.”

Espinosa: The Latina Choreographer Behind the Moves in “Magic Mike”

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Channing Tatum and Adam Rodriguez’s highly anticipated Magic Mike may be a movie about male strippers… But there’s actually a Latina behind some of the men’s dance sequences… And, her name is Teresa Espinosa.

The 38-year-old Latina actress/dancer—a member of the all-female breaking dance crew Beat Freaks, which was the runner-up on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew—served as an assistant choreographer on the Steven Soderbergh-directed film, which is loosely based on star Tatum’s real-life experiences in the world of male stripping.

Filming on Magic Mike took less than a month, leaving rehearsals “very sporadic because everybody’s schedule was so mixed up,” said Espinosa, who, assisting fellow Beat Freaks member Alison Faulk, choreographed group numbers and solo routines. “We’d get one hour with one person, another hour the next person. For one of the group numbers, we didn’t have everybody rehearsing together until the day of that shoot. But they all worked very hard individually that when it came together for the shoot day, they created magic.”

After graduating from the California Institute of the Arts, Espinosa got her big break dancing with Janet Jackson on her The Velvet Rope World Tour, and she later received an Emmy nomination for contributing choreography for Jackson’s HBO special.

Since then Espinosa has danced and choreographed for several popular artists, including Britney Spears, Pink, Rihanna, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus.

“The reason why I feel like I have been so successful is because of my passion,” said Espinosa in an interview with Latination. “I live and die by it!”

Meanwhile, Espinosa is excited about sharing her work on Magic Mike with the world.

“I don’t think any of us, except for Channing Tatum, really understood what we were getting into.”

Magic Mike opens in theaters this Friday, June 29.

Dudamel to Participate in the London 2012 Festival

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The London 2012 Summer Olympics may be 37 days away… But, Gustavo Dudamel will be getting people into the Olympic spirit this week.

On Thursday, June 21, the 31-year-old Venezuelan conductor will help kick off the London 2012 Festival, a cultural celebration across Britain tied to the Summer Olympics.

Dudamel, who won a Grammy this year for Best Orchestral Performance, will lead Venezuela’s Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar in a big open-air concert at Scotland’s Stirling Castle during the kick off event, which will include a fireworks display by Lake Windermere in northwest England.

The London 2012 Festival, which runs through September 9, will include 12,000 events and performances across the United Kingdom in celebration of the Summer and Paralympic Games. Organizers say there will be 10 million tickets for free and paid-for events in such fields as film, music, theater, fashion, dance and art.

Musical stars, including Jay-Z, Rihanna, David Guetta and Elton John, films from the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Mike Leigh and art from Yoko Ono and others will all be part of the festival, which is being described as “the biggest festival the U.K. has ever seen.”

With a budget of around £55 million ($86 million), the celebration is seen as a chance to showcase Britain’s cultural heritage and get the country in the Olympic spirit.

One of the most star-studded events of the London 2012 Festival will be a BBC Radio 1 show being dubbed the “biggest-ever free live music event.” The lineup for the June 23 and 24 extravaganza, which will feature six stages in the Hackney Marshes area of East London, includes Jay-Z, Rihanna, Flo Rida, David Guetta, Jessie J, Lana del Rey, Leona Lewis, Florence and the Machine and more.

Click here for a complete look at the London 2012 Festival.

Michele to Perform Selena Gomez’s Popular Tune

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an inescapable pop song that’s so catchy even celebrities like James Franco have been caught singing along to it…

And now Selena Gomez’s “Love You Like a Love Song” will be performed on Glee…

In an upcoming Prom-themed episode of Fox’s hit dramedy, Lea Michele’s character Rachel Berry will perform a “really powerful rendition” of the oh-so-catchy tune by Gomez and her band the Scene, according to E! News.

And, if the 25-year-old part Spanish actress/singer’s take on other pop songs like Rihanna’s “We Found Love” is any indication, you’ll most likely “keep hittin’ repea-pea-pea-pea-pea-peat” after downloading the track.

Exact details of Michele’s performance haven’t been released, but chances are she’ll sing the song to her on-and-off camera love Cory Monteith, who plays Finn Hudson on the show.

This will mark the first time Gomez’s music has been featured on Glee.

Rivera Nominated for NewNowNext Award

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Naya Rivera is über talented, especially after her memorable covers of Adele, Madonna and Rihanna on Glee… But she’s also being recognized for being hot, hot, hot!

The 25-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/actress has received a nod for Logo’s NewNowNext Awards in the “Cause You’re Hot” category.

Rivera is up against Magic Mike’s Channing Tatum,  The Tudors’ Henry Cavill, American Horror Story’s Jessica Lang, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol star Paula Patton.

Logo’s NewNowNext Awards, which showcase who and what are on the verge of a pop culture explosion in the coming year, will air on April 9, following the 90-minute show’s taping in front of a live studio audience at the Avalon in Hollywood on April 5.

Performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

Starting today, the public can vote for the awards on Logo’s NewNowNext website.

Shakira Signs with Jay Z’s Roc Nation

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is switching teams… Management teams, that is.

The 35-year-old Colombian superstar is reportedly no longer under the management of Epic, according to XXL magazine.

Shakira has allegedly signed a management contract with Roc Nation, joining the likes of such artists as Rihanna, Melanie Fiona, J.Cole and Willow Smith.

The move presents Shakira with a great opportunity to expand her musical horizons and gives her a great pick of collaborators for her next music project.

Roc Nation—which was founded by Kanye West and Jay Z, the husband of Shakira’s “Beautiful Liar” collaboration partner Beyonce—also represents Santigold, Alexis Jordan and Jay Electronica.

Pitbull to Perform at NBA All-Star Game…

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Mr. Worldwide is about to get his (all-star) game on…

Pitbull has signed on to perform at the NBA All-Star Game at the end of the month.

The 31-year-old Cuban American—who gave a high-octane performance In New York City’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve—will team up with Ne-Yo to perform their hit single “Give Me Everything” during the All-Star Game halftime show.

Pitbull will be following in the footsteps of Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West, who rocked the halftime show at last year’s NBA All-Star Game.

Before the big game, Nicki Minaj will perform a medley of her singles, including her brand new track “Starships” and her smash hit “Super Bass,” during the All-Star Game introductions.

Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige will perform the U.S. national anthem prior to the game, with pop group Neverest delivering the Canadian anthem.

Taking place in Orlando on February 26, the showdown between the NBA’s all-star teams will be broadcast on TNT.

Fergie Takes Home Two Grammy Awards

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’d previously won six Grammys with the Black Eyed Peas… But its Fergie’s recent project without the group that has resulted in more gramophones in her collection.

The 36-year-old part-Mexican singer took home two awards at the 54th Grammy Awards on Sunday for her work on Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.”

The track from West’s album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy—featuring Fergie, Rihanna and Kid Cudi—won in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song categories.

But Fergie wasn’t the only two-time winner… Jazz musician Chick Corea also picked up a pair of gramophones at this year’s Grammys.

The 70-year-old part-Spanish jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer won in the Best Improvised Jazz Solo category for the song “500 Miles High,” as well as in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album for the album Forever.

In all, Correa has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards during his illustrious career.

Meanwhile, Louis C.K. earned his first Grammy, further cementing his status as the world’s biggest comedy star.

The 44-year-old part-Mexican American comedian won in the Best Comedy Album category for “Hilarious,” beating out the Weird Al Yankovic, Patton Oswalt, Kathy Griffin and Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island for the award.

Here’s a look at some of the other Latino winners at the 54th Grammy Awards:

Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
Maná, Drama y Luz

Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
Pepe Aguilar, Bicentenario

Best Banda or Norteño Album
Los Tigres Del Norte, Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends

Best Tropical Latin Album
Cachao, The Last Mambo

Mars Wins a People’s Choice Award…

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The people have spoken… And, they’re showing the love to Bruno Mars.

The 26-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/songwriter picked up the Favorite Male Artist trophy on Wednesday night at the 38th annual People’s Choice Awards. Mars beat out Enrique Iglesias, Blake Shelton, Eminem and Justin Bieber for the fan-voted prize.

But Mars wasn’t the only Hispanic celebrity to take home a coveted statue.

Demi Lovato received the Favorite Pop Artist award. The 19-year-old part-Mexican singer/actress, who performed her latest single during the awards show, beat out Beyonce, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.

In the television categories, Glee’s Lea Michele took home the Favorite TV Comedy Actress statue. The 25-year-old part-Spanish actress/singer beat out Courtney Cox, Jane Lynch, Kaley Cuoco and Tina Fey for the award.

Katy Perry—who cancelled a scheduled appearance on the show, held at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre—was the night’s big winner with five statues, while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 nabbed four awards.

In all, a record-breaking 230-million-plus online votes were cast during the voting period at the People’s Choice Awards website and via Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to see the complete list of winners.

Fat Joe & Chris Brown Ready for “Another Round”…

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe has partnered with Chris Brown for “another round” of oh-so-catchy music…

The 41-year-old half-Cuban/half-Puerto Rican American rapper—who recently shed 88 pounds off his previous weight of 350 pounds—jams out with Brown in the just released music video for their single “Another Round.”

In the clip directed by Colin Tilley, the pair perform the track on a Southern California beach while surrounded by exotic ladies clad in barely-there bikinis. Fat Joe stays warm in a sweater and scarf, while Brown dons a Versace x H&M jacket.

The slimmed-down singer name-drops Janet Jackson, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna on “Another Round,” which samples Troop’s “I Will Always Love You.”

The track is expected to appear on Fat Joe’s upcoming studio album.

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