Music Blogs

It's too bad Notorious B.I.G. isn't alive to watch the web series "The Smalls Family" that is based on lyrics from his songs.

On Tuesday, the late rapper's 41^st birthday, show creator David Catalano released two new episodes, "Unbelievable" and "Party & Bullsh-t."

In March, Catalano, an assistant director with an extensive list of credits in music videos, film and television, debuted the first three episodes of "The Smalls Family," "Warning," "Big Poppa" and "Going Back To Cali."

Read More »from How Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics Became Web Sensation, ‘The Smalls Family’ Creator Explains

No one pushed the myth of the Doors and of Jim Morrison, Shaman harder than Ray Manzarek, who just died of bile duct cancer at the age of 74. He reminded me of Allen Ginsberg in this way, just with fewer friends to peddle.

He hadn't been sure to how to take it when I told him that I'd had a 'Manzarek' bumper sticker personally made for my car in the mid-1980s. At the time, Morrison bumper stickers were common and I thought it would be both funny and appropriate that someone recognize another member of the group. We agreed that 'Manzarek' sounded like someone running for county freeholder more than a rock musician with 100 million records sold.

On a reflective day, I'm inclined to think of The Doors as anything but a rock 'n' roll band. Sure, they played the blues and a couple R'n'R standards, but they did something far beyond what people think of as rock 'n' roll.

In all my years of writing around music -- I count 25 or so -- no band has generated the bi-polar love and rage that is an average discussion about the Doors. All I can say to people who think they were undeserving of the good words written about them: well, you're wrong.

Here are 25 songs that I associate with Ray Manzarek and his organ-y and piano-y skills.

25) Close To You: It

Read More »from Ray Manzarek -- The Organ Master

By Jon Wiederhorn

(Dave Hogan, Getty Images)

Is the newly leaked early Spice Girls song "Strong Enough" good enough to hold up to the band's back catalog or the current crop of dance pop bands. Errrr, maybe not. But it’s not entirely the Girls' fault.

The track was posted on YouTube Tuesday and according to the text on the site, it’s an old "demo taken from a cassette that Melanie B (a.k.a. Sporty Spice) sold at auction."

The band’s management hasn't confirmed that the song is actually the Spice Girls, but the Huffington Post reported that Melanie Brown has a track record of contributing early Spice Girls memorabilia to charity auctions.

Read More »from Previously Unreleased Spice Girls Track “Strong Enough” Surfaces On Internet

[Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage]It's been eight long years since Will Smith seemingly abandoned his music career full-time for acting. But now, it seems he might be ready to jump right back into his hip hop roots. And you might be surprised at who inspired him to get back in the saddle.

Read More »from Who Inspired Will Smith to Jump Back into the Music Game?

By Laura Ferreiro

(Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images)The love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash has become the stuff of legend. Famously illustrated in the Oscar-winning 2005 film "Walk the Line," the country couple's great love for one another kept them together through Cash's substance abuse problems and the trials and tribulations of living in the public eye.

Now director Allison Anders has put her own spin on the story, telling it from June Carter Cash's point of view in the upcoming Lifetime biopic "Ring of Fire." Based on the book "Anchored in Love" by Johnny and June's only son, John Carter Cash, the film had its world premier at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Tuesday night before it airs Monday (May 27) on the cable network. Cast members, the director, producers and Lifetime executives were on hand to share their experiences and their take on the story of the country music royalty.

Read More »from Jewel Discusses Her Role as June Carter Cash in Lifetime Biopic

Allison Iraheta & Matthew Hager [photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage]Season 8 "American Idol" finalist Allison Iraheta has married her Halo Circus bandmate Matthew Hager, Matthew has confirmed to Yahoo!'s Reality Rocks. "Best thing I've ever done," says Allison's happy new groom.

Read More »from Idol Allison Iraheta Marries Halo Circus Bandmate Matthew Hager