Music

Cancer claims ‘Queen of Disco’

NEW YORK — Like the King of Pop or the Queen of Soul, Donna Summer was bestowed a title fitting of musical royalty — the Queen of Disco.

Yet unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was a designation she wasn’t comfortable embracing. READ

Nazareth coming to Westerner

Legendary rock band Nazareth is joining the Westerner Days entertainment lineup this summer. READ

Heavy sounds at The Vat

The thrash/metal band Tribune will bring some intense, head-banger sounds to The Vat in Red Deer on Thursday. READ

Thank you for the music, Mr. Cohen

Leonard Cohen humbly accepted the Glenn Gould Prize on Monday, but not the $50,000 prize that accompanied it, instead donating the cash to the Canada Council for the Arts. The 77-year-old Cohen struck a modest tone as he claimed the award, first by hushing a standing ovation and then by offering his reassurance to the roster of musicians set to perform in his honour. READ

Young cancer patients’ video a big hit; Kelly Clarkson calls effort amazing

A video featuring cancer-stricken children, their nurses, doctors and parents lip-synching and dancing to the popular Kelly Clarkson song “Stronger” has become an online sensation. READ

Music reality show ‘Canada Sings’ returns with more at stake

You’d have to have a heart of stone to be unaffected by the contestants on Canada Sings, says judge Rob Van Winkle, better known as early 1990s rapper Vanilla Ice. READ

Bass player Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn of Booker T. and the MGs dies in Tokyo

Bass player and songwriter Donald “Duck” Dunn, a member of the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70. READ

Musician seizes the muse

Regular deadline pressure is the one thing you’d think a singer/songwriter could avoid — but not Peter Katz. READ

Country music legends Sawyer Brown join Hedley on Westerner Days lineup

Country music legends Sawyer Brown are coming to entertain at Red Deer’s Westerner Days in July. READ

New boy band on the block

Part of The Wanted’s excitement over its recent success in America comes from being initially dissed in its native United Kingdom. READ

Finale music ‘very easy listening’

Fiery “in-your-face” gypsy music from Brahms will be delivered along with some tuneful trifles from Dvorak and dreamy romance from Schubert in the last RDSO Chamber Series concert of the season. READ

Elton John lands at Centrium

The Rocket Man touched down in Red Deer on Wednesday night for a red-hot concert at the sold-out Centrium. READ

Adele a strong contender to top Grammy nominations

She likely won’t get “21,” but Adele is poised to take the biggest share of nods when the Grammy nominations are announced Wednesday night. READ

Taylor Swift was wins artist of the year at the American Music Awards

Taylor Swift was crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards for a second time. READ

Beyonce worried baby secret would be revealed at concert

It’s tough to keep a pregnancy a secret when you’re in the public eye, and for a while, Beyonce thought the jig was up. READ

All eyes on Gomez and Bieber at MMVAs

Lady Gaga won two awards and provided a double shot of her trademark edgy, eccentric stage theatrics at Sunday’s MuchMusic Video Awards — but it was a surprise appearance from beloved teen-pop star Justin Bieber that really sent fans into a frenzy. READ