A duel with Van Morrison: ‘Is this a psychiatric examination? It sounds like one’

The singer-songwriter is releasing his sixth album in three years – his best since 1997. Would he like to expand on how he made it, or why he chose his collaborators? He would not

There is a song on Van Morrison’s 1991 album Hymns to the Silence called Why Must I Always Explain? in which the Northern Irish singer-songwriter appears to rail against the endlessly tiresome process of giving interviews. “And I never turned out to be the person that you wanted me to be,” he sings. “And I tell you who I am, time and time and time again / Tell me why must I always explain?”

The song is in my mind when I meet Morrison on a midweek morning in Cardiff. The singer sits by the window in a fourth-floor hotel room; a pale white knuckle of a man in a blue patterned shirt, his hair a sweep of bracken red. Beyond him, the view over the bay has been obscured by heavy autumn mist.

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Amy Winehouse hologram tour postponed due to ‘unique sensitivities’

Base Hologram, which was planning a concert tour featuring the deceased singer, says ‘creativity does not necessarily follow a schedule’

The company developing an Amy Winehouse hologram tour has postponed the project. Base Hologram said in a statement that it had encountered “some unique challenges and sensitivities” on the path to “remembering Amy Winehouse and her legacy in the most celebratory and respectful way possible”.

In a further statement issued to Billboard magazine, Base chairman and CEO Brian Becker described the production as a “cross between a Broadway show and a concert spectacle which requires creative engineering”, and added: “that type of creativity does not necessarily follow a schedule.”

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Facebook and Instagram Users Remembered Aretha Franklin and John McCain in August

Facebook and Instagram users remembered those who are no longer with us in August, as late singer Aretha Franklin and late Sen. John McCain were among Facebook IQ 's Hot Topics for the month. Former President Barack Obama also cracked Instagram's list in the people topic, while Facebook users chatted about Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos .

Copyright rulings extend liability risks

Nona Gaye, second from left, daughter of late soul singer Marvin Gaye, and lawyer ichard Busch, front right, speak to the media outside a Los Angeles court in March 015. Mr. Gaye's heirs won a $7.4 million judgment against recording stars Robin hicke and Pharrell Williams, whom a jury found plagiari/ REUTERS The lines are being blurred when it comes to infringement of copyrighted music, as musicians turn to the courts to defend their art and large verdicts garner major media and insurer attention.

Next month’s Riverfront Jazz Festival will join up-and-comers with stars like Erykah Badu

What have you been hearing about the Riverfront Jazz Festival that The Black Academy of Arts and Letters will present next month? Most likely, you've not heard enough. The three-day event on three stages is poising itself to line up with some of the better-known jazz festivals across the country.

Maxine Waters, the rock star, shines at black women’s event

Fiery Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters was welcomed like a contemporary rock star when she entered the 2017 Black Girls Rock Awards, as the audience screamed loudly and gave her the night's rowdiest and wildest applause. Waters was one of the honorees Saturday at the annual event honoring black women in fields such as entertainment, politics, science and social justice.

Jackie Evancho, Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform at inaugural

The new president called out "Great job, Jackie!" after 16-year-old Jackie Evancho delivered a soft-voiced rendition of the national anthem at Friday's swearing-in ceremony. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang "America the Beautiful," and the Missouri State University Chorale sang "Now We Belong," in a ceremony that featured decidedly less star power than in 2013.

Inauguration Day: Trump to become America’s 45th president

Donald Trump, a real estate mogul and reality television star who upended American politics and energized voters angry with Washington, will be sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the United States, putting Republicans in control of the White House for the first time in eight years. Ebullient Trump supporters flocked to the nation's capital for the inaugural festivities, some wearing red hats emblazoned with his "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan.

Singer Jennifer Holliday withdraws from Donald Trump inauguration gig after fans’ comments

In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, actress and singer Jennifer Holliday poses for a photo during an interview in New York. Holliday, who supported Hillary Clinton in the election, says her initial decision to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration was not a political statement.

Holliday sees inaugural gig as for ‘the people,’ not Trump

In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, actress and singer Jennifer Holliday poses for a photo during an interview in New York. Holliday, who will perform at Donald Trump's inaugural welcome concert next week, supported Hillary Clinton in the election and says her decision to participate is not a political statement..

The Obamas Made Sure Black Art Was Celebrated In The White House

Even before Barack Obama was officially sworn in as president in January 2009, he set the tone for his presidency with "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial." What the president seemed to be saying with the star-studded event was that Black arts and culture would take center stage during his administration.

Even politicians love Patti LaBellea s famous pies

Patti LaBelle is running late. But no one here seems to mind. The crowd of staffers, members, Walmart execs and the lucky legislative aide who happened to get "the email," are too busy rubbernecking the passed trays carrying slices of sweet potato pie to notice that the woman of the hour is missing.

Hillary Clinton Just Played – I Feel Good’ by James Brown…

In an effort to reassure supporters worried about her health, the campaign played James Brown 's iconic song "I Feel Good" during a stop in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was supposed to be humorous way to address her recent health scare, after nearly fainting at a 9/11 ceremony in New York City on Sunday.

Reflective Clinton returns to campaign trail after pneumonia

Back on the campaign trail, a reflective Hillary Clinton said Thursday that her three-day, doctor-mandated break gave her new perspective on why she's running to be president. She vowed to close her campaign against Donald Trump by giving Americans ''something to vote for, not just against.'