Van Morrison

Van Morrison is set to drop a brand new studio album this year entitled 'Versatile' - and it is certainly that. Coming less than three months since he dropped his last album, the record features a collection of jazz standards as well as seven original songs.

Van Morrison live at Hampton Court

The new 16-track album is Van Morrison's 38th release featuring George and Ira Gershwin's 'A Foggy Day' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me', Cole Porter's 'I Get a Kick Out of You' and the Righteous Brothers' 'Unchained Melody'. Plus, there's Van Morrison's own arrangement of the traditional 'Skye Boat Song'.

Continue reading: Van Morrison Drops Yet Another Album In The Form Of 'Versatile'

Van Morrison doesn't ''intellectualise'' music.

The 'Brown Eyed Girl' hitmaker doesn't like to analyse tracks he listens to because it ''takes away'' the connection he has with songs, but insists he does take on such an approach in other aspects of his life.

He said: ''I don't intellectualise music. For me that spoils it, if I'm trying to analyse it and break it all down. It takes away whatever you connect with.

Continue reading: Van Morrison: I Don't Intellectualise Music

Lady GaGa, Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison were among the honourees at Thursday night’s Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony, held at the Marriott Marquis in New York’s Times Square. The three-hour ceremony featured plenty of tears and heartfelt speeches, as well as some stunning live performances from artists across the musical spectrum.

Lady Gaga was presented the award by friend and collaborator Tony Bennett.

Gaga was honoured with the contemporary icon award, presented to her by singer and Cheek to Cheek collaborator Tony Bennett. For the occasion Gaga dressed in a black leather look bra and panties cover by a red riding coat. The singer also performed at the event, covering Four Non Blondes’ classic ‘What’s Up’.

Continue reading: Lady Gaga, Van Morrison And Cyndi Lauper Enter Songwriters Hall Of Fame

American Kevin Spacey has said he was "honoured and humbled by such recognition from the Queen”, after being included in this year’s birthday honours list. The actor has been given an honorary knighthood by the monarch, after serving as the artistic director of the Old Vic theatre for over a decade.

Kevin Spacey has been given an honorary knighthood.

Spacey was recognised for his 'services to British theatre and international culture'. Accepting the honour he told the BBC, "I must thank the British public for being so supportive of my efforts on behalf of the Old Vic. I feel like an adopted son.”

Continue reading: Arise Sir Kevin Spacey: US Actor Receives Honorary Knighthood In Queen's Birthday Honours List

Lady GaGa's status as an iconic singer has been confirmed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Hall will present Gaga with the Contemporary Icon Award which is presented to a singer "who has attained an iconic status in pop culture".

Lady Gaga will receive the Contemporary Icon Award.

Read More: Lady Gaga Lands Guest Starring Role On American Horror Story: Hotel.

Continue reading: Lady Gaga Receive Contemporary Icon Award Songwriters Hall Fame

Mellody Hobson has married her long-time partner - Star Wars director George Lucas - at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. The ceremony went ahead on Saturday afternoon (June 29, 2013), with former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley giving away the bride and George's son Jett serving as the best man. The director and producer's daughters Amanda and Katie served as bridesmaids, according to the movie mogul's spokesperson.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison played live at the reception, with the soulful Janelle Monae also playing a set. Steven Spielberg was also in attendance and director Francis Ford Coppola read a poem by Maya Angelou. That's some guest-list. 

Lucas became engaged to DreamWorks Animation chair Hobson, 43, in January. She is also head of the Chicago-based investment management firm Ariel Investments and chairman of Ariel Mutual Funds. Oh, and she's a director at Estee Lauder, Groupon and Starbucks as well as a regular contributor at CBS - in other words, she's a big player. A huge player. It will be her first marriage, though the second for Lucas, 68.

Continue reading: Mellody Hobson Marries George Lucas, But Which Legend Played Live?

The 'Turn On Your Love Light' star, also known as Bobby "Blues" Bland and "The Lion of the Blues", was extremely influential in the blues genre, establishing a unique sound that incorporating gospel-influenced singing into blues and R&B. Robert Calvin Bland was born in 1930 in Rosemark, Tennessee, and later moved to Memphis where he would join gospel groups and frequent Beale Street with its reputation for blues clubs. His career as a singer was temporarily put on hold after serving a stint in the US army, but he fell back into the music scene upon his return. He hit his No.1 spot on the R&B charts with his 1957 single 'Further On Up The Road' and continued to feature in the charts in the late fifties and sixties. He emerged as a unique blues singer with a characteristic vocal style, described by biographers as a "supple, confidential, soul-blues delivery" that would become known as a "chicken-bone sound", characterised by "guttural growls and snorts" whilst retaining a "smooth as velvet quality."

Listen To Blues Legend Bobby Bland Performing St James Infirmary:

Continue reading: R.I.P Bobby Bland: "The Lion Of The Blues" Singer Dies Aged 83