August 26, Artemis Records will release Warren Zevon's final album, Zevon was diagnosed with a rare type of terminal lung cancer last year. Guests on include Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Dwight Yoakam, and many others. Two days prior to its release, cable music channel VH1 will air "(Inside)Out: Warren Zevon," a special that follows him through his year-long battle with the disease and the making of his new album. The show will feature interviews with Zevon's two children, his producer Jorge Calderon, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood.
A previously unreleased Elvis Presley track, titled will be included on RCA Records' upcoming compilation, The song was rejected from Presley's 1964 musical and was recently found in Winfield Scott's home. Scott co-wrote the tune with Otis Blackwell. will be out on October 7. The set also contains such Presley classics as and
Pop singer-songwriter Jewel is developing an independent film, which she'll also star in and produce. tells the story of a mother who reunites with her son after serving a prison term. Jewel will play the role of the son's girlfriend. Although the singer is interested in acting, she has no plans to abandon her music career. Beginning September 19, Jewel will perform a month-long concert tour in support of her latest album,
Sting has been chosen to receive this year's Century Award. Created in 1992, the award is magazine's highest honor for creative achievement. Previous recipients include Annie Lennox, John Mellencamp, Randy Newman, Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, the late Chet Atkins, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Buddy Guy and the late George Harrison. Sting will receive the 2003 Century Award at the Music Awards on December 10.
August 26, Verve Records will release Aaron Neville's first album for the label, The collection features Neville's covers of standards by Nat "King" Cole, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. Guests on the set include Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder and Michael Breaker, among others.
For the past three months, original Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger have been touring with Cult vocalist Ian Astbury and drummer Ty Dennis as The Doors 21st Century. The band's set list include two new songs, and which will appear on a new studio album, due out in 2004. For its August 24 concert at Jones Beach in New York, The Doors 21st Century plans to perform the Doors' 1971 album in its entirety. The show will be recorded and released on DVD sometime next year.
The 2003 Watershed Four festival in Ontario, Canada will take place August 29 -31. This year's lineup includes Alan Jackson, Terri Clark, ZZ Top, Bryan Adams, Travis Tritt, Martina McBride, Peter Frampton, Our Lady Peace, Melissa Etheridge, LeAnn Rimes, and others. The Watershed festivals began in 2000 as a benefit concert for Walkerton, Ontario after seven people died from an outbreak of e.coli bacteria in the city's water supply.
August 28, the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards will be handed out at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Missy Elliot leads the contenders with eight nominations for her video. Following close behind is Justin Timberlake, whose clip for received seven nods. The video for Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' is up for six awards. Signed on to perform at the live MTV Video Awards broadcast are Beyonce, Metallica, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Good Charlotte, Coldplay and Christina Aguilera.
Alison Krauss & Union Station lead this year's nominees for the 14th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards. Their 13 nominations include Entertainer of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year. Another bluegrass favorite, the Del McCoury Band, received twelve nominations. Other multiple nominees include Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder with seven nods, and The Lynn Morris Band, which picked up six. Alison Krauss and her bandmate Dan Tyminski will host the ceremony, set for October 2 in Louisville, Kentucky.
One day after his appearance at the August 29 "Harley Davidson Anniversary" concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Peter Frampton will kick off a U.S. tour in support of his first album in nine years. The rock veteran will begin the outing in Clarkston, Michigan. He'll stop in 35 cities before wrapping up shows in Seattle, Washington on October 30. Frampton recorded with his touring band in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The album includes a cover of Frampton recorded the track as a tribute to his late friend George Harrison.