“If @barackobama doesn’t do something about the genocide in Chicago fast,” he tweeted Monday (January 14), “I’m gonna have an @kanyewest melt down & say Barack Don’t care about?”

The rapper’s reference to a Kanye West moment has to do with the meltdown West had while filming a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims. ”George Bush don’t care about black people,” West said on the live telecast in 2005. 

Shyne’s Twitter tirade began on Sunday when he asked President Obama to call in his celebrity friends for reinforcements. 

“Dear @BarackObama, call Jay-Z to fly his private plane Down to Chicago & you fly yours the same way you called in the stars to win Ohio#help”

“@barackobama I forgot you weren’t an impoverished inner city kid! You grew up in Kansas & Hawaii! You only play the ghetto card come election time!”

Along with the request to add some celebrity attention, Shyne demanded that the president call a state of emergency in Chicago. 
He pointed to an article that outlined the astounding death rate, including 18 within the first days of the new year. 

The Belize-born MC—who was deported out of the United States after being released from prison in 2009 following a nine year sentence for his part in the 1999 Club New York shooting—has been trying to get back to the States with no success.

Shyne expressed his issues with the president well before the recent Chicago murder rant. In October, he called out the president over his policy in Syria.

“How Obama put the hit on Kadafy but Assad murdering tens of thousands of his own people in Syria & nobody doing nothing?,” he tweeted. 

While many of his rapper contemporaries have been vocal about their support for the president, Shyne challenged the idea that, as black person, he should support America’s first African-American president. 

“Am I obligated to support Barack Obama because he’s half African-American?” he questioned, before making a reference to Chicago rapper Chief Keef‘s hit song. “That’s that ish I don’t like!”

–Erik Parker, CBS Local

[Some tweets have been corrected for grammar]

“If @barackobama doesn’t do something about the genocide in Chicago fast,” he tweeted Monday (January 14), “I’m gonna have an @kanyewest melt down & say Barack Don’t care about?”

The rapper’s reference to a Kanye West moment has to do with the meltdown West had while filming a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims. ”George Bush don’t care about black people,” West said on the live telecast in 2005. 

Shyne’s Twitter tirade began on Sunday when he asked President Obama to call in his celebrity friends for reinforcements. 

“Dear @BarackObama, call Jay-Z to fly his private plane Down to Chicago & you fly yours the same way you called in the stars to win Ohio#help”

“@barackobama I forgot you weren’t an impoverished inner city kid! You grew up in Kansas & Hawaii! You only play the ghetto card come election time!”

Along with the request to add some celebrity attention, Shyne demanded that the president call a state of emergency in Chicago. 
He pointed to an article that outlined the astounding death rate, including 18 within the first days of the new year. 

The Belize-born MC—who was deported out of the United States after being released from prison in 2009 following a nine year sentence for his part in the 1999 Club New York shooting—has been trying to get back to the States with no success.

Shyne expressed his issues with the president well before the recent Chicago murder rant. In October, he called out the president over his policy in Syria.

“How Obama put the hit on Kadafy but Assad murdering tens of thousands of his own people in Syria & nobody doing nothing?,” he tweeted. 

While many of his rapper contemporaries have been vocal about their support for the president, Shyne challenged the idea that, as black person, he should support America’s first African-American president. 

“Am I obligated to support Barack Obama because he’s half African-American?” he questioned, before making a reference to Chicago rapper Chief Keef‘s hit song. “That’s that ish I don’t like!”

–Erik Parker, CBS Local

[Some tweets have been corrected for grammar]

The story involves two young white male Mormon missionaries who are placed in Uganda for their two year service stint. They are immediately faced with the grim state of the locals, who sing a cheery song about saying EFF YOU to none other than God. The two young men are tasked with converting the group to Mormonism, which all leads to an actually tender story about faith, love and service. (But not the way strict Mormons would have it.)

Who’s behind this Broadway hit? The nasty guys behind South Park - Trey Parker and Matt Stone. I swear I heard Cartman singing out a few times during the show. The music is infectious, you find yourself loving the melody, but shocked at the lyrics. The traveling show needs just a few adjustments – mostly to do with the sound quality, but really, the three main actors and the orchestra are more than perfect.

For the most part, the show is sold out, but here’s some good news from The Seattle Theatre Group:

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle and plays a limited two week engagement through Sunday, January 20. In Seattle, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making 20 tickets available at $25 apiece.

The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances. The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour.

Entries will be accepted at the box office beginning two and a half hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability. 

- Good luck, – Lee Callahan – CBS Seattle

This East-meets-West program features Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, performing Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1. Tsujii, who was born blind, was a gold medalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, with a performance that was deemed “absolutely miraculous” by Van Cliburn himself.

Plus, there will be a series of pre-concert performances in the Grand Lobby at Benaroya Hall. Four local ensembles representing different ethnicities within Seattle’s Asian community will be featured: Filipiniana Dance Company will perform the tinikling dance, a popular traditional dance from the Philippines; Kolintang Ensemble Washington will perform traditional Indonesian music; Village of a Thousand Gingkos, a short work composed by Mercer Island High School senior Christina Sun for the Seattle Symphony’s 2012 Young Composers Workshop, will also be performed. Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness will conclude the pre-concert performances with a rousing Chinese Lion Dance, leading concertgoers to their seats.

After the concert, the celebration will continue in Benaroya Hall’s Grand Lobby with a performance featuring Japanese Taiko drummers One World Taiko. Both pre- and post-concert lobby performances are included with a concert ticket.

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2013 by attending this delightful celebration of Seattle’s Asian community. For more information about Celebrate Asia, visit http://www.seattlesymphony.org.

Tickets start at $19/person, and are available online.

Pre-concert performances begin at 3:00pm. The concert begins at 4:00pm.

Benaroya Hall is located at:
200 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206.215.4800

Mojito
7545 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206.525.3162
http://www.mojitoseattle.com

Step into this warm little restaurant and you’ll hear latin music and see live performances! The tiny tables are happily shoved aside to make room for live music. You’ll also find appetizing dishes from Latin America and the authentic mojito Cubano. Fans of Latin food head here for authentic plates of Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine. All plates are accompanied by thick cakes of smashed plantains, fried crisp and topped with spicy avocado dip. Plates of parrilla (grilled steak or chicken) present charred exteriors and tender insides that are served with plenty of flavorful rice and black beans.

Seattle Club Sur
2901 1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
206.607.4929
http://www.seattleclubsur.com

Enjoy Sur’s large dance floor and performance area while you party in Seattle’s vibrant nightlife scene. Sur offers a unique dining experience with a full in-venue restaurant offering Argentine and South American cuisine. With a variety of late night shows, live bands and entertainment, Club SUR also offers late dining a la Carte and VIP experiences. The opulent dining room, handcrafted Argentinean bar and elegant dinners served while you are entertained by live stage performances, makes your evening at Seattle Club Sur extra special.

La Flora Tapas Bar & Restaurant
4500 9th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105
206.632.7135
http://www.laflorarestaurant.com

The menu carries a variety of authentic Spanish dishes, representative of Spain’s rich and diverse culture, climate and geography. Enjoy paella, tapas, seafood and ine dishes prepared with lamb, beef and chicken. A popular destination for local Spanish artists, come hear live guitar performances from 7:00pm – 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday. Live Flamenco is on stage Fridays from 8:00pm – 10:00pm, and live band music is on Saturday nights from 8:00pm – 10:00pm.

Century Ballroom & Tin Table
915 E Pine
Seattle, WA 98122
206.324.7263
http://www.centuryballroom.com

Nearly every Saturday night, you’re invited to dine and dance at Seattle’s largest ballroom! The salsa music pulses through the room, and as part of the evening, you are given 30 minutes of instruction prior to the dance. Dancing not your thing? Just pull up a chair and watch the dancers sizzle across the floor. Plus, enjoy time before or after the dance for a meal or cocktail at The Tin Table, located steps outside of the ballroom doors.

The White Rabbit
513 N 36th St, Suite E
Seattle, WA 98103
206.588.0155
http://www.fremontwhiterabbit.com

Come on Mondays for live musical entertainment from Spellbinder. From the original drummer of Santana, Michael Shrieve’s new group Spellbinder has the sound of the best instrumental music of Santana and more. A mix of latin, rock and jazz, it’s a fusion that haunts and moves the soul. A happy hour on weekdays from 6:00pm – 7:00pm, plus a creative menu and Stumptown coffee, you can come on Monday for Spellbinder, or check the White Rabbit’s calendar for their great musical line up.

Buenos Aires Grill
2000 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206.441.7076
http://www.buenosairescuisine.com

An authentic South American-style restaurant, Buenos Aires has some of the most delectable cuts of meat in town. On Saturday nights, authentic Argentine Tango dancers weave past your table, infusing your evening with entertainment, passion and romance. The romantic lighting and intimate setting make for a relaxing, enjoyable meal that whisks you out of Seattle, if just for the evening.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with The Rhythm Nation
Monday, Dec. 31
8:15pm – 11:45pm
Seattle Center House
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest

The Rhythm Nation is the ultimate party band, playing a diverse mix of popular dance, R&B, rock and old school music drawing from the 1970s through the 1990s to the current hits of today. Their high-energy performance and music will surely fill the dance floor and leave crowds cheering for more! Come to Seattle Center for this fun, FREE concert event!

Concert, Countdown & Celebration with the Seattle Symphony
Monday, December 31
9:00pm
200 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206.215.4800
http://www.seattlesymphony.org

Ring in the New Year with a concert of classical music blockbusters led by Ludovic Morlot, followed by a countdown to midnight and post-concert celebration. The concert will begin with Rachmaninov’s famous Second Piano Concerto, performed by rising-star British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. After intermission, the Orchestra will be joined onstage by the Seattle Symphony Chorale and distinguished vocal soloists for Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony, with its inspiring “Ode to Joy” finale. Purchase tickets online.

Bring in 2013 with The Dudley Manlove Quartet
Monday, December 31
7:00pm Or 10:30pm
216 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206.838.4333
http://www.thetripledoor.net

The Dudley Manlove Quartet are Northwest lounge/pop legends that have been delivering the goods at clubs, festivals, weddings, and corporate parties since 1995. If you are a fan of Sinatra, ABBA and Neil Diamond, you’ll love Dudley Manlove. The 7:00pm show includes dinner service begins in the theater. All ages are welcome. The $100 Dinner Package includes cover charge, sparkling wine toast, a $49 food and beverage credit, tax and gratuity. Or come to the 10:30pm show (21+ only) Dinner service begins in the theater, or choose the $70 Dessert Package, which includes cover charge, sparkling wine toast, a $27 food and beverage credit, tax and gratuity. Purchase tickets online.

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band New Year’s Eve 2012
Monday, December 31
8:45pm OR 11:00pm
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
2033 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
206.441.9729
http://www.jazzalley.com

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley welcomes Grammy Winning Master Conguero Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band New Year’s Eve 2012! Enjoy a relaxing New Year’s Eve at Jazz Alley with Poncho Sanchez’s salsa, straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz, soul and blues. Several packages available, starting at $60.50/person. Call or go online for reservations.

Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Sing-Along
Monday, December 31
9:30pm
Central Cinema
1411 21st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
206.686.6684
http://www.central-cinema.com

Join the hottest sing-along party of the season! Four full hours of sing along music videos, curated and hosted by Jason Miller. It’s a handpicked selection of the BEST and WORST music videos from the past year’s sing alongs. Expect lots of seat jumpers, 808′s and heartbreak, hunks, pop princesses and of course Janet Jackson! Click HERE to purchase tickets.

New Year’s Eve at Cedarbrook Lodge
Monday, December 31
7:30pm
18525 36th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98188
5:30pm
206.214.4282
http://www.cedarbrooklodge.com

Those wishing to begin their New Year’s celebrations in an amazingly awesome culinary fashion, need look no further than Cedarbrook Lodge. Savor a scrumptious seven-course menu for only $95/person. Optional wine pairings for each course are available at an additional $35/person. Plus, the Jacqueline Tabor Quartet will perform starting at 7:30pm. An ala carte children’s menu is also available. Call for reservations or more information.

The Mayan calendar ends Friday, and to some that means the world is ending. And even though it’s highly unlikely that we’ll all die on December 21, why not celebrate the night with the undead at the “End of the World Zombie Christmas Bash” taking place at Detroit Music Hall.

The title pretty much says it all: The end of the world … “just happens to be four days before Christmas, if we survive that long! So we decided to create and event that captures the essence of each of those concepts: the end of the world, Christmas, and zombies,” said event coordinator Emil Chantal.

So what can you expect at this bash hosted by Zombie Nation Detroit?

Live music from Metro area bands Concrete Angels, MediSin Wheel, Blackmail, and Nuroksol. Plus, there will be a display of circus-style performances from the Detroit Circus troupe. And, let’s not forget that Zombie Nation’s first ‘Ms. Zombie Christmas’ will be crowned during this night of the damned.

Needless to say, zombies are pretty fitting for this kind of event. For the obvious reason, zombies seem to work well with the whole “end of the world” theme. But recently, America can’t seem to get enough of zombies. You’ve got shows about them, video games, movies, and people dressing up like them for Halloween.

“There’s something mystical about zombies in general. I think people are just fascinated with the afterlife and where we go afterwards. So I think there’s just something about that that we want to capture and bring to our local event,” Chantal said.

That leaves the question of how you can be part of this event. Ticket prices are $20 in advance (purchase online before December 21), or $25 general admission at the door. There’s also the option of $50 V.I.P. advance which includes admission, complimentary drinks, and a private lounge.

Event coordinators suggest you dress as a zombie to move safely among the “undead.” But non-costume wearers are welcome of course.

The bash takes place at Detroit Music Hall in downtown Detroit on Friday, December 21. Doors open at 9 p.m.

For tickets and more information, click here. 

All were among inductees announced Tuesday by Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers at a news conference in Los Angeles. For most of this year’s inductees, inclusion was a long time coming.

“I’m very happy,” the 69-year-old Newman said Monday from his home in Los Angeles. “I thought I’d have to die first, but I’m glad I’m around to see it.”

Newman is joined in the 2013 class by the eclectic group of rockers Rush and Heart, rap group Public Enemy, “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer and bluesman Albert King. Jones and his friend Lou Adler will enter the hall as Ahmet Ertegun Award winners for their contributions to rock beyond performance.

They will be inducted into the hall of fame April 18 in Los Angeles. The ceremony will mark the end of a long wait for fans of five of those six acts, who’ve been eligible for entry for some time. Public Enemy was inducted on its first ballot appearance, swelling the ranks of hip-hop entries.

In many ways, the 2013 class balances the scales, though not nearly soon enough for some new members.

“Well, it’s about time, man,” Jones said late Monday night in an interview from his home in Los Angeles. “But I promise you I’m not sitting around worrying about it.”

Summer, who passed away at age 63 in May, gains entry after six years as a nominee. King, a deep influence on Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn who died in 1992, now takes his place alongside all the other legendary blues guitarists in the hall.

Rush, one of the most-played staples of classic rock radio, gained entry following its first appearance on the ballot. But the Canadian trio became eligible in 1998 and was repeatedly left off the list, to the great consternation of its legion of fans who cried bias against prog rock. Heart also waited a decade to make it on the ballot, gaining entry during its second appearance.

After years of disappointment, then disinterest, Rush’s Alex Lifeson said the band now feels “wonderful” about its entry into the hall and is especially happy for its followers.

“First of all it’s all water under the bridge and it was a very tiny bridge,” the 59-year-old guitarist said in a phone interview from his home in Toronto. “I think our fans are more upset than we were because they feel a real bond to this band and it’s been an important part of their lives in some form, and to be snubbed was snubbing them at the same time. … Perhaps there were times when I thought if this ever happens I’m not going to bother going, or who cares or whatever, but at the end of the day positive karma is an important thing and this is an important thing to a lot of our fans and people we know.”

Jones was less forgiving of the long wait he had. The 79-year-old entertainment icon’s fingerprints are all over the hall of fame. He pops up often at key moments in rock ‘n’ roll history and was even Ray Charles’ presenter during the soul singer’s induction at the inaugural 1986 ceremony. He never expected to wait so long for his own entry.

“I was pissed off about it at first because I saw how it was going down and who was going in and who wasn’t,” Jones said with a deep laugh. “But I’m used to it, man. I’ve been around a long time, and I know how it works, you know. It’s still an honor, man.”

The 2013 class also continues the process of opening the hall of fame’s doors a little bit wider.

In many cases, the delayed entry of this year’s inductees had to do with a debate among its membership over the hall of fame’s direction. The rock ‘n’ roll family sits under a big tent, but just how big it should be has been a matter of debate for the Cleveland, Ohio, institution.

The class may signal a new direction.

“That is an eclectic group,” Newman said. “Well that’s nice. It seems like they’re broadening what they think rock ‘n’ roll is. That’s good. There’s no point being doctrinaire about music. … People get awful strict. It’s a hell of a thing to get strict about, isn’t it?”

There was clearly no debate among the hall’s membership about Public Enemy, which gained membership on its 25th anniversary.

The openly militant, always angry group helped elevate and define nascent rap in the 1980s and ’90s. MC Chuck D said the group’s induction is about more than simple membership.

“It’s a great piece of news for the genre and our intention was to spread the light that our music is as legitimate as any other music,” Chuck D said as the group traveled through Wyoming on tour Monday. ” … So this is significant to be alongside Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Run DMC and the Beastie Boys and just to be able to say this accomplishment, we don’t think it’s solely due to us.”

Lifeson hopes the hall’s membership keeps up with the trend.

“Maybe it should be the Music Hall of Fame and not so much the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” Lifeson said. “But maybe it all is rock ‘n’ roll. It started as a little seed and grew into this great big tree with a lot of branches. That’s why it’s so sad the whole progressive movement, bands like Yes and King Crimson, are not included in this. … I hope there comes a time when these other artists and bands are included because they were equally as influential as any of the ones that are being inducted today.”

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The ‘Fridays@7 ‘ concerts seek to appeal to a crowd less familiar with the Cleveland Orchestra, and by pulling in banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, they accomplished their goal. The sold-out Severance Hall was full of orchestra regulars, Fleck fans, a few families and local college students looking for entertainment.

The night began around 6:00pm in the smaller music hall with Harmonia, a group that provided the folk sounds of Austria, Slovenia and Eastern Europe. Although the hall was only half-full for the performance, the crowd made their presence felt with syncopated handclaps, foot stomps and the occasional sing-a-long of “na na na na.”

At 7:00pm the night shifted in Severance Hall’s main auditorium for a performance of John Adam’s “Short Ride In A Fast Machine,” Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” and lastly Bela Fleck’s “Banjo Concerto.”

PHOTOS: Cleveland Orchestra’s Fridays@7 Concert ft. Béla Fleck

The first piece, Adams’ “Short Ride In A Fast Machine,” displayed the elements for which Adams is most recognized for – minimalist techniques and dramatic settings. Tension and anxiety were built with a repetitive beat on the wood blocks, something that was hard to ignore. A very epic sounding and short (around five minutes) piece, the work sounded like something you would expect during a major sporting event or the Olympics. Images of gears, pistons and winding turns filled my mind as the horns whirled and guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero moved about his podium with energy and command.

Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” was the second piece to be performed. One of his most notable and popular works, this piece was a near polar opposite to Adams’ piece. Much more playful, the audience could relax and let the imagination carry them to the French capital in the 1920s. The orchestra did a fine job on this familiar piece, keeping it precise and passionately emotive.

The Fridays@7 concerts do not have an intermission, rather they move continuously. Removed from the previous and following night’s itinerary was Copland’s suite from “Billy the Kid,” leaving only Fleck and his “Banjo Concerto” left to be performed.

In the final piece, two things that are not normally associated with one another, came together in hopes of accomplishing a goal. Whether or not they did, is up to the individual. Throughout the piece, I kept asking myself, “Does a banjo belong?”, “What is Fleck trying to fulfill?”, “Will it be appreciated?”.

PHOTOS: Cleveland Orchestra’s Fridays@7 Concert ft. Béla Fleck

Out of the three pieces performed, this one was the hardest to understand and follow. Consisting of three movements, the tones from the banjo began with more loose, intermittent sounds, but by the final movement had evolved into something more familiar, as if the banjo had found its place. Following the final note, the crowd rose for a standing ovation, although it may have been fraudulent or pretentious. I believe some of the crowd truly did enjoy the piece, while others simply applauded in order to appear as if they understood Fleck’s goals. As a fan of Fleck, I appreciated the work, but believed the previous two were more captivating.

After a brief exit, Fleck and Guerrero returned to the stage for an encore where familiarity and comfort were much more present. Full of improvisation, a take on “God Bless Ye Merry Gentelmen,” and quite possible the theme to Beverly Hillbillies, Fleck made his banjo an extension of himself and even gave the audience something to laugh about with bluegrass licks and a few strange faces.

After Fleck’s performance, the audience exited the auditorium into the Bogomolny-Kozerefski Grand Foyer where a jazz trio featuring a trombone, bass and drums was dishing out New Orleans inspired jazz. Present in the set were call-and-response vocals, improvised solos, and the popular Mardi Gras tune “Iko Iko.”

After a handful of songs, Fleck joined the trio for a few numbers before eventually adding Fleck’s wife Abigail on vocals. Personally considering this moment as the evening’s highlight, the audience was also enjoying themselves with dancing, singing, and libations.

The Fridays@7 concerts are truly something special in the city of Cleveland. They should be enjoyed by music enthusiasts and people who simply looking for lively and entertaining night out.

The next Fridays@7 concert will take place on January 18th and will feature violinist Joshua Bell, Beethoven’s “Violin Concerto” and Bartók’s “Dance Suite.” Also on the schedule for this month are Christmas and Holiday concerts and a New Year’s Eve Concert & Dance with the Cleveland Pops. For more information visit ClevelandOrchestra.com.

PHOTOS: Cleveland Orchestra’s Fridays@7 Concert ft. Béla Fleck

Given the choice between GRAMMY nominees Taylor Swift, Florence Welch and P!nk, he surprisingly put Taylor Swift into the avoid category right away. Even more surprising was his reason why.

“I would say I would avoid Taylor Swift, because she’s dating one of my friends. She’s going out with Harry Styles. So Harry, I couldn’t obviously go near Taylor because that’s his missus.”

[worldnow id=8044290 width=435 height=270 type=video]

Looks like Haylor is real!

Murs weighed in on the other ladies as well, first debating whether or not to kiss P!nk or Florence. Ultimately he decided to snog Florence because, “I don’t think I’m her cup of tea. I don’t think she’s someone who’d be interested in dating me so why not? Give her a cheeky snog.”

That leaves P!nk as Olly’s future wife. He knows she’s already married and has a kid, but said, “I think if she was single and saw me she might want to marry me.”

Bold choices.

-Courtney E. Smith, CBS Local

“Getting the announcements for GRAMMY nominations was nothing short of a dream come true,” Miguel said backstage at Hot 93.7/Hartford’s Jingle Jam concert. “Contemporary Album of the Year, that’s what I’m really, super happy about.”

Miguel’s five GRAMMY nominations include Song of the Year for the ballad “Adorn,” and Best Urban Contemporary Album of the Year for his sophomore album Kaleidoscope Dream.

[worldnow id=8039500 width=480 height=270 type=video autoplay=true]

But he was just as excited to meet soul and R&B singer Bill Withers, who was at the GRAMMYS Nominations Concert — Live!! in Nashville.

“Bill Withers was sitting right next to me,” he recalled. ”I’m geeking out over Bill Withers…And him being like, ‘I know exactly who you are, my daighter told me about you.’ I’m like, ‘You’re following me?’” 

Miguel’s debut album, All I Want Is You, was also released to positive reviews but was snubbed from last year’s GRAMMY nominations. He feels Kaleidoscope Dream differs from his debut and that made the difference in catching the right ears to earn his nominations.

“The sound overall [is] a lot more edgy,” he explained. “It’s a little psychedelic. It’s pretty cool.”

The singer also explained how he was personally able to grab the attention of the Recording Academy this year.

“If nothing else, leave some kind of impression on the people,” he said. “All my favorite artists did that. I am not saying I am the best, I am not saying I am doing anything super innovative on stage, but I know I go out there and I really [work] my hardest. I really work for it. I am gonna earn the attention, I am gonna earn your respect.”

–Tyler Roman, Hot 93.7/Hartford

Given the choice between GRAMMY nominees Taylor Swift, Florence Welch and P!nk, he surprisingly put Taylor Swift into the avoid category right away. Even more surprising was his reason why.

“I would say I would avoid Taylor Swift, because she’s dating one of my friends. She’s going out with Harry Styles. So Harry, I couldn’t obviously go near Taylor because that’s his missus.”

[worldnow id=8044290 width=435 height=270 type=video]

Looks like Haylor is real!

Murs weighed in on the other ladies as well, first debating whether or not to kiss P!nk or Florence. Ultimately he decided to snog Florence because, “I don’t think I’m her cup of tea. I don’t think she’s someone who’d be interested in dating me so why not? Give her a cheeky snog.”

That leaves P!nk as Olly’s future wife. He knows she’s already married and has a kid, but said, “I think if she was single and saw me she might want to marry me.”

Bold choices.

-Courtney E. Smith, CBS Local

But if Big Boi had his way, he would have a record with acoustic rock band and recently announced GRAMMY nominees, Mumford & Sons, whom he counts among his favorites.    

“I’m biased because Mumford & Sons is one of my favorite groups,” he told CBS Local, when asked about the group’s GRAMMY chances. “What really turned me on to the Mumford & Sons–that’s why I like the GRAMMYS– is the live performances. When I saw them perform with the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan, it blew me away. Killed it. I was looking for some banjo on this album after that.”

[worldnow id=8039576 width=480 height=270 type=video]

While he didn’t quite pull together the Mumford And Sons-styled banjo, he did reveal a possible collaboration in the future.

“I was actually going to do something with Mumford & Sons,” he said. “I ran into them at Glastonbury [Music Festival]. Still something will probably be in the works. They know I want to work with them and they are open to it.”

With years of pushing and pulling rap across otherwise uncrossed borders, Big Boi said rappers could learn a great deal from groups like Mumford & Sons. 

“Their music is filled with feeling,” he said. “Not just reciting words over a beat. They really feel it. The melodies, the riffs, they put songs together [with] song structure. These days it’s four rappers on every song, rap-hook-rap-hook-rap-hook, [then] thank you. It’s no build-up, no climax, just run-on sentences. People want to feel something you have to be real personal honest in your music and people will know where you’re coming from.”

[worldnow id=8039573 width=480 height=270 type=video]

Mumford & Sons received six GRAMMY nods as part of a six-way tie for most nominations. The other five top-nominated artists include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Jay-Z, The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach and fun.

-Erik Parker, CBS Local

“Getting the announcements for GRAMMY nominations was nothing short of a dream come true,” Miguel said backstage at Hot 93.7/Hartford’s Jingle Jam concert. “Contemporary Album of the Year, that’s what I’m really, super happy about.”

Miguel’s five GRAMMY nominations include Song of the Year for the ballad “Adorn,” and Best Urban Contemporary Album of the Year for his sophomore album Kaleidoscope Dream.

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But he was just as excited to meet soul and R&B singer Bill Withers, who was at the GRAMMYS Nominations Concert — Live!! in Nashville.

“Bill Withers was sitting right next to me,” he recalled. ”I’m geeking out over Bill Withers…And him being like, ‘I know exactly who you are, my daighter told me about you.’ I’m like, ‘You’re following me?’” 

Miguel’s debut album, All I Want Is You, was also released to positive reviews but was snubbed from last year’s GRAMMY nominations. He feels Kaleidoscope Dream differs from his debut and that made the difference in catching the right ears to earn his nominations.

“The sound overall [is] a lot more edgy,” he explained. “It’s a little psychedelic. It’s pretty cool.”

The singer also explained how he was personally able to grab the attention of the Recording Academy this year.

“If nothing else, leave some kind of impression on the people,” he said. “All my favorite artists did that. I am not saying I am the best, I am not saying I am doing anything super innovative on stage, but I know I go out there and I really [work] my hardest. I really work for it. I am gonna earn the attention, I am gonna earn your respect.”

–Tyler Roman, Hot 93.7/Hartford

But if Big Boi had his way, he would have a record with acoustic rock band and recently announced GRAMMY nominees, Mumford & Sons, whom he counts among his favorites.

“I’m biased because Mumford & Sons is one of my favorite groups,” he told CBS Local, when asked about the group’s GRAMMY chances. “What really turned me on to the Mumford & Sons–that’s why I like the GRAMMYS– is the live performances. When I saw them perform with the Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan, it blew me away. Killed it. I was looking for some banjo on this album after that.”

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While he didn’t quite pull together the Mumford And Sons-styled banjo, he did reveal a possible collaboration in the future.

“I was actually going to do something with Mumford & Sons,” he said. “I ran into them at Glastonbury [Music Festival]. Still something will probably be in the works. They know I want to work with them and they are open to it.”

With years of pushing and pulling rap across otherwise uncrossed borders, Big Boi said rappers could learn a great deal from groups like Mumford & Sons.

“Their music is filled with feeling,” he said. “Not just reciting words over a beat. They really feel it. The melodies, the riffs, they put songs together [with] song structure. These days it’s four rappers on every song, rap-hook-rap-hook-rap-hook, [then] thank you. It’s no build-up, no climax, just run-on sentences. People want to feel something you have to be real personal honest in your music and people will know where you’re coming from.”

[worldnow id=8039573 width=480 height=270 type=video]

Mumford & Sons received six GRAMMY nods as part of a six-way tie for most nominations. The other five top-nominated artists include Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Jay-Z, The Black Keys‘ Dan Auerbach and fun.

-Erik Parker, CBS Local

Kicking off in North America, the tour makes its way to arenas and stadiums from coast to coast, including Detroit’s own Ford Field on Thursday, July 18. Tickets for the show will go on sale early next year, with details to come.

Ensuring that there is truly something for every fan, Bon Jovi is offering a wide range of ticket options for the show, starting at $19.50 (plus service charges).

“We’re thrilled to be hosting Bon Jovi at Ford Field in 2013,” said Tom Lewand, president of Ford Field and the Detroit Lions. “It was important to provide flexible ticket options for this show…and with seats starting at just $19.50, Bon Jovi fans in Detroit will be able to see one of the greatest original rock bands of our time at an affordable price.”

Visit www.BonJovi.com or www.Detroitlions.com for up-to-date ticket information. #BecauseWeCan

The tour, promoted by AEG Live in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., will debut brand new songs from Bon Jovi’s upcoming album “What About Now,” to be released in spring 2013, loading even more ammunition into the band’s huge arsenal of hits.

The group’s return to the road in 2013 will launch the latest chapter in an ongoing blockbuster run which has already secured Bon Jovi’s status as the essential live rock band – having performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 35 million fans. “Bon Jovi Because We Can – The Tour” will make its way across the globe with dates in Europe, the Far East, Africa, Latin America and Australia.

Evans is no stranger to GRAMMY pressure and hoopla. In 1998 she, along with Diddy, took home the award for Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group for “I’ll Be Missing You”. While she has been nominated several times since, she has yet to take home another GRAMMY.

When asked who she thinks deserves a nod this year in the R&B categories, Evans pointed to herself.

“Normally I wouldn’t say this, but I think I should be nominated,” she told CBS Local, with a laugh. “It feels funny saying that about myself. But my first single ‘Tears of Joy’ from Faith Evans R&B Divas album is just one of those songs. If I’m not nominated, the song writer Claude Kelly should be. It’s just a great timeless R&B record. It puts me in the mind of Gladys Knight meets Aretha Franklin.”

For her final appeal, which she delivered with a chuckle, the GRAMMY veteran emphasized songwriter Claude Kelly’s contribution. 

“You ain’t got to give me props, but it’s just a great song,” she continued. “I think they would be crazy if they don’t nominate the songwriters of ‘Tears of Joy’ for a GRAMMY this year.” 

[worldnow id=8029597 width=480 height=270 type=video autoplay=true]

Faith’s latest album, R&B Divas hit stands in early October and was the companion set to the reality TV show of the same name. With a wide range of powerful voices, including Nicci Gilbert, Monifah Carter, Syleena Johnson and Keke Wyatt, Fantasia and Kelly Price–Evans had compared the set to Waiting To Exhale,” the popular 1995 soundtrack album.

Last month “Tears of Joy” cracked the Top 10 on Urban AC radio play charts. As previously reported by CBS Local, Faith  explained how she connected with songwriter Claude Kelly for the song. 

“Claude Kelly tweeted months ago: ‘Somebody tell Faith Evans I love her I want to work with her’,” she said. “Two weeks later, we were in the studio and he played me this song and I’m like, Oh my god this is amazing I need this record.”

On Wednesday (December 5), the GRAMMY nominations will be announced live in Nashville, TN.

Along with the nominations, there will be performances by artists from a broad range of genres, including rock band fun. R&B star  Ne-Yo as well as pop act Maroon 5, country singer Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift, who will also serve as the evening’s host. 

Watch the show live on December 5 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBS to find out Faith received her GRAMMY nod or if the voters are “crazy,” as she playfully suggested they’d be if “Tears Of Joy” is overlooked.

-Erik Parker, CBS Local 

Evans is no stranger to GRAMMY pressure and hoopla. In 1998 she, along with Diddy, took home the award for Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group for “I’ll Be Missing You”. While she has been nominated several times since, she has yet to take home another GRAMMY.

When asked who she thinks deserves a nod this year in the R&B categories, Evans pointed to herself.

“Normally I wouldn’t say this, but I think I should be nominated,” she told CBS Local, with a laugh. “It feels funny saying that about myself. But my first single ‘Tears of Joy’ from Faith Evans R&B Divas album is just one of those songs. If I’m not nominated, the song writer Claude Kelly should be. It’s just a great timeless R&B record. It puts me in the mind of Gladys Knight meets Aretha Franklin.”

For her final appeal, which she delivered with a chuckle, the GRAMMY veteran emphasized songwriter Claude Kelly’s contribution. 

“You ain’t got to give me props, but it’s just a great song,” she continued. “I think they would be crazy if they don’t nominate the songwriters of ‘Tears of Joy’ for a GRAMMY this year.” 

[worldnow id=8029597 width=480 height=270 type=video autoplay=true]

Faith’s latest album, R&B Divas hit stands in early October and was the companion set to the reality TV show of the same name. With a wide range of powerful voices, including Nicci Gilbert, Monifah Carter, Syleena Johnson and Keke Wyatt, Fantasia and Kelly Price–Evans had compared the set to Waiting To Exhale,” the popular 1995 soundtrack album.

Last month “Tears of Joy” cracked the Top 10 on Urban AC radio play charts. As previously reported by CBS Local, Faith  explained how she connected with songwriter Claude Kelly for the song. 

“Claude Kelly tweeted months ago: ‘Somebody tell Faith Evans I love her I want to work with her’,” she said. “Two weeks later, we were in the studio and he played me this song and I’m like, Oh my god this is amazing I need this record.”

On Wednesday (December 5), the GRAMMY nominations will be announced live in Nashville, TN.

Along with the nominations, there will be performances by artists from a broad range of genres, including rock band fun. R&B star  Ne-Yo as well as pop act Maroon 5, country singer Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift, who will also serve as the evening’s host. 

Watch the show live on December 5 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBS to find out Faith received her GRAMMY nod or if the voters are “crazy,” as she playfully suggested they’d be if “Tears Of Joy” is overlooked.

-Erik Parker, CBS Local 

KDKA Radio’s Bill Rehkopf and Rose Ryan Douglas talk with their good friend Charlie Gerow from Quantum Communications.

They discuss the fiscal cliff, and more importantly, if the whole notion of a Fiscal Cliff is one big political game.

[audio_link url="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/charlie.mp3" name="Charlie Gerow On Fiscal Cliff" artist="Bill Rehkopf"]

Later in the program, Bill is joined by State Sen. Wayne Fontana who talks about re-introducing legislation to tax non-profits.

[audio_link url="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/fontana.mp3" name="Sen. Wayne Fontana On Taxes" artist="Bill Rehkopf"]

City Councilman Bill Peduto then checks into the program to talk with Bill about his proposal to eliminate parking fees on area streets after 6 p.m.

[audio_link url="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/peduto.mp3" name="Councilman Bill Peduto On Free Parking" artist="Bill Rehkopf"]

Music giant Fleetwood Mac announced today that Pittsburgh will be one of the stops on their upcoming tour. Bill talks with Jimmy Roach from Y-108 about his memories with dealing with the band.

[audio_link url="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/jimmey.mp3" name="Jimmy Roach On Fleetwood Mac" artist="Bill Rehkopf"]

Finally, Bill talks with Ryan Devlin who won the 2012 Pa. Teacher of the Year Award.

[audio_link url="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/teachers.mp3" name="Ryan Devlin On Being Teacher Of The Year" artist="Bill Rehkopf"]

“I was in a spaceship! Seriously, I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing there and literally it felt like I had suddenly been beamed into the TV. It was the most out-of-body experience I’d ever had,” she confessed. “And then on top of that, not only to be there, but then to have won, you know was like, I couldn’t even really hold myself together very well.”

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Her most recent GRAMMY win was with Jay-Z for “Empire State of Mind.”

“It’s so crazy with music because you never know exactly how it’s going to go. It’s all spiritual. It’s all emotional. It’s all a moment,” she said.

While recording their GRAMMY winning duet Alicia confessed that she was feeling under the weather.

“Basically I recorded the song and I was kind of sick. But I was in the zone and I was like, ‘I gotta get this done, I know he wants it and I love it,’” she said. “When I dropped it off to him I was like, ‘Here it is!’ And he called me back and was like, ‘Can you do that again?’ I was like, ‘What? What do you mean do it again? It’s good!’”

In the end though, Jay-Z knew what he was looking for.

“I think he actually ended up being right. I did do it again and I wasn’t sick anymore and I was able to really give it the right swag that it needed. The un-sick swag.”

In 2006, she was also nominated for a duet with The Voice season 2 winner Jermaine Paul. He was one of her background singers until he got his big break on the singing competition series.

“First of all, Jermaine is like the truth, for real!” Keys exclaimed. “He’s an incredibly talented guy and this actually was a tribute to Luther Vandross, so there was a whole tribute album that was put together for him that we did ‘If This World Were Mine,’ which is one of my favorites.”

The GRAMMY nominations concert will be broadcast live on CBS on December 5.

-Sarah Carroll, 97.1 AMP Radio/Los Angeles

“I was in a spaceship! Seriously, I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing there and literally it felt like I had suddenly been beamed into the TV. It was the most out-of-body experience I’d ever had,” she confessed. “And then on top of that, not only to be there, but then to have won, you know was like, I couldn’t even really hold myself together very well.”

[worldnow id=8027145 width=435 height=270 type=video]

Her most recent GRAMMY win was with Jay-Z for “Empire State of Mind.”

“It’s so crazy with music because you never know exactly how it’s going to go. It’s all spiritual. It’s all emotional. It’s all a moment,” she said.

While recording their GRAMMY winning duet Alicia confessed that she was feeling under the weather.

“Basically I recorded the song and I was kind of sick. But I was in the zone and I was like, ‘I gotta get this done, I know he wants it and I love it,’” she said. “When I dropped it off to him I was like, ‘Here it is!’ And he called me back and was like, ‘Can you do that again?’ I was like, ‘What? What do you mean do it again? It’s good!’”

In the end though, Jay-Z knew what he was looking for.

“I think he actually ended up being right. I did do it again and I wasn’t sick anymore and I was able to really give it the right swag that it needed. The un-sick swag.”

In 2006, she was also nominated for a duet with The Voice season 2 winner Jermaine Paul. He was one of her background singers until he got his big break on the singing competition series.

“First of all, Jermaine is like the truth, for real!” Keys exclaimed. “He’s an incredibly talented guy and this actually was a tribute to Luther Vandross, so there was a whole tribute album that was put together for him that we did ‘If This World Were Mine,’ which is one of my favorites.”

The GRAMMY nominations concert will be broadcast live on CBS on December 5.

-Sarah Carroll, 97.1 AMP Radio/Los Angeles

Clad in a red dress and gold heels, Taylor took to the stage walking through the crowd, high-fiving fans, and singing her hit “You Belong With Me.” And during a set that included songs from her new album as well as some of her classic hits, she also took time to bring fans into her world by taking questions from the audience. Additionally, she revealed the story behind many of her compositions, and what a day in her life is really like.

“Well hi, guys. My name is Taylor. Thank you for being here,” she said once she finished “You Belong With Me.”

Watch Taylor Swift’s entire Live from New York City performance right now on demand:

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As she strapped on a banjo for her Grammy-winning track “Mean,” she told the story behind the song.

“This is a song that I wrote about a critic who hated me,” she said. “When you write a song you never know where it’s going to go. You never know what it’s going to mean to people. And, you never know if in your lowest moment of feeling totally completely rejected and this guy hates you and you can do nothing and you’re helpless and you’re in this horrible place and you write a song. Then, a year later you win two Grammys for it.”

Taylor proved that she had the last laugh this time around as fans sang along word for word.

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“You guys are fun. I like you a lot. I like you so much that I feel like I’d love to talk to you,” she said before taking her first question of the night.

Asked what inspired her to be a singer, Taylor expressed that she never realized she could sing about her life until she dug deeper into songwriters of the ’90s like Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan and the Dixie Chicks.

“It’s been my absolute favorite thing to do ever since so thank you for liking it,” she said.

In fact, it’s no secret that her new album Red has been inspired by real life love and heartache she’s witnessed first hand.

“This song is about moving on and finding out who you are,” Taylor explained as she prefaced new single “Begin Again.”

Her whispered vocals alongside fiddle and mandolin accompaniment showcased a more mature sound for the singer.

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After a fan asked how she came up with the title of her new album, Red, Taylor explained that it came from the song of the same name.

“The title came from the song ‘Red’ that I wrote about a really awful breakup,” she said. “It was the best thing ever and the worst thing ever all at the same time, but I finally wrote a song that explained why I couldn’t forget it. The intense emotions is what this album is about.”

Luckily for Taylor not all songs are inspired by heartbreak. The familiar and hopeful “Love Story” saw Taylor nearing the edge of the stage shaking fans’ hands, while the bombastic “Red” transformed the venue with heart-pounding drum beats and impressive guitar riffs.

One fan wondered how fame has affected Taylor’s life, and despite what the gossip magazines report, she had only praises.

“After having experienced it . . . now it’s the sixth year so I had a little while to get used to it,” Taylor admitted. “[I've realized] when you leave the house it’s going to be a social situation . . . it is a responsibility. The reality is it’s made my life so awesome, so thank you for that.”

As she closed her set with her chart-topping single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor profusely thanked her fans.

“I’m stuttering so much this week because I’m so excited! I will never ever ever forget what you’ve done for me this week,” she said. “Thank you so much for being here tonight to celebrate Red. I love you so much and I”ll see you on tour!”

-Annie Reuter, CBS Local