Cover Me...

Season six American Idol contestant Lakisha Jones has covered Whitney Houston's 'You Give Good Love' for her debut album.  The set, titled 'So Glad I'm Me' is available now.  When asked in interview by Huntington Herald Dispatch why she chose the song, Jones replied "["Love"] was from Whitney Houston’s first album and she’s had a lot of success. It’s my tribute to Whitney and hopefully I’ll do the same.”

 

NEWSFILE: 16 MAY  2009
 

Picture Scoop...

Perez Hilton: Your First Look!

Whitney Houston is reported to be in the final stages of recording her new CD and on Tuesday Whitney had her album photo shoot with famed photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

And, exciting news: Perez Hilton has got an exclusive preview of some of the pictures - see below:

NEWSFILE: 12 MAY  2009
 

Cover...

Former 'American Idol' (season 6) contestant Lakisha Jones has covered Whitney Houston's 'You Give Good Love' for her debut album, 'So Glad I'm Me', which is released in the US 19 May 2009.

'You Give Good Love' also features as part of Jennifer Hudson's US tour.

NEWSFILE: 11 MAY  2009
 

Egmont Lüftner Dies...

Billboard: German Biz Mourns Egmont Lüftner
May 08, 2009 - Global

By Wolfgang Spahr, Berlin

Egmont "Monti" Lüftner, formerly chairman of Arista Records, RCA Ariola and co-chairman of the Bertelsmann Music Group who worked with artists including Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 77 after he was hit by a truck at a recycling depot near Munich.

Austrian-born Lüftner, who died yesterday (May 7), was one of the most charismatic personalities in the music business. In 1959 he founded the record company Ariola in Austria and Germany. From 1969, he built up the Ariola company in Europe and the U.S. and from the beginning of 1978 he was on the board of the media group Bertelsmann and became responsible for the worldwide activities of the Bertelsmann Music Group.

As chairman of Arista Records, he worked with Clive Davis from 1979. He discovered acts including Udo Jürgens, Peter Alexander and Boney M and was closely involved in Whitney Houston's career in Germany.

In 1990 Lüftner was vice chairman BMG and worldwide president A&R, president and CEO of BMG Ariola GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria). In 1991, he left BMG at the age of 60 and founded his own Monti Media Consulting in Munich.

The post-war founder of Bertelsmann, Reinhard Mohn, and his wife Liz issued a statement to say they are deeply distressed about the death of their friend. Their statement reads: "Monti Lüftner will always be a part of the history of our company. He was a sought after advisor and good friend to all of us. We mourn a wonderful person."

Hartmut Ostrowski, CEO of Bertelsmann AG, underlined Lüftner's entrepreneurial skills. "Hardly anyone else was able to combine artistic creativity with entrepreneurial skill as successfully as he did," said Ostrowski. "He supported me personally as well as the company with his advice right up to the end. We will miss him."

German publication Bunte quotes Whitney Houston's tribute to Lüftner. "Monti Lüftner was when I met him, already a legend in the music business," said Houston, noting his "kindness and generosity" in supporting her career. "I will miss him immensely," she said.

Lüftner was not married but is survived by a daughter of 15.
 

NEWSFILE: 8 MAY  2009
 

Did You Know...

“Mother and Child Reunion” (1972) — Paul Simon

This song from Paul Simon’s debut solo album was one of the first tracks written by a non-Jamaican artist to incorporate elements of reggae. Simon actually recorded the song in Jamaica, using reggae star Jimmy Cliff’s band as his backing musicians. Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, is featured prominently on backing vocals.

NEWSFILE: 7 MAY  2009
 

Swizz Twitter Interpretation?...

Rap-Up.com: Whitney Houston is Swizz Beatz' 'Mill Dollar' Baby

Swizz Beatz is playing millionaire matchmaker with Whitney Houston. We previously reported that the producer had crafted a “smash” for the legendary diva’s new album. Now Swizzy is revealing the name of the track to Rap-Up.com.


The hitmaker has been in the lab with Houston working on her first studio album in six years. He tells Rap-Up.com that the song is an uptempo banger called “Mill Dollar Bill.”

“I got a big comeback record for her,” Swizz wrote on his Twitter page last month. “She’s comin’ back crazy!”

In addition to Swizz Beatz, Houston has collaborated with songwriter Diane Warren, will.i.am, Ne-Yo, and John Legend for the as-yet-untitled project.

 

NEWSFILE: 4 MAY  2009