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Tag: singers and musicians

  • Billy Joel Fast Facts | CNN

    Billy Joel Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the life of Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Billy Joel.

    Birth date: May 9, 1949

    Birth place: Bronx, New York

    Birth name: William Martin Joel

    Father: Howard Joel, engineer and pianist

    Mother: Rosalind (Nyman) Joel, homemaker

    Marriages: Alexis Roderick (2015-present); Katie Lee (2004-2009, divorced); Christie Brinkley (1985-1994, divorced); Elizabeth Weber (1973-1982, divorced)

    Children: with Alexis Roderick: Remy Anne and Della Rose; with Christie Brinkley: Alexa Ray

    Nominated for 23 Grammy Awards and won five, plus an honorary award.

    Nominated for one Tony Award and won.

    Nominated for one Primetime Emmy Award but did not win.

    His father was a Holocaust survivor from Germany.

    Named one of the 100 greatest songwriters of all time by Rolling Stone.

    Holds the lifetime record of most performances by any artist at Madison Square Garden in New York.

    He played the first rock concert ever held at New York’s Yankee Stadium in 1990, and the final rock concert ever played at New York’s Shea Stadium before it was torn down in 2008.

    1965 – At 15 years of age, plays piano on a demo version of The Shangri-Las’ hit single, “Leader of the Pack.”

    1971 – Releases his first solo album, “Cold Spring Harbor.”

    1973 – Releases his first hit single, “Piano Man.”

    February 15, 1979 – Wins two Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Just the Way You Are.”

    February 27, 1980 – Wins two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his album, “52nd Street.”

    February 25, 1981 – Wins the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for “Glass Houses.”

    April 15, 1982 – Is hospitalized after he severely injures both hands in a motorcycle accident on Long Island. He needs two months to recover.

    July 26, 1987 – As the first American entertainer to launch a full-scale rock production in the Soviet Union, Joel plays his first concert in Moscow; five other concerts follow, including two more in the capital and three in Leningrad.

    January 1990 – Forty thousand copies of a ten-minute audio message by Joel, plus a recording of his 1989 hit, “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” are sent to schools across the United States in hopes it will assist them in understanding history.

    February 25, 1992 – Receives the Grammy Legend Award.

    1992 – Becomes a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

    September 1992 – Files a fraud and breach of contract lawsuit against his legal team for their role in mismanaging his financial affairs. The case is settled in October 1993.

    1994 – Kicks off his Face-to-Face tour with Elton John. Joel and John perform additional Face-to-Face tours together in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.

    1999 – Ray Charles inducts Joel into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    2001 – Releases an album of classical music, “Opus 1-10 Fantasies & Delusions – Music for Solo Piano.”

    June 14, 2002 – Enters Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut for alcohol abuse treatment.

    October 24, 2002 – The Broadway show “Movin’ Out,” based on the music of Joel, opens. The production is conceived, directed and produced by Twyla Tharp.

    2003 – Wins a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for the Broadway musical, “Movin’ Out.”

    2004 – Scholastic publishes Joel’s first children’s book, “Goodnight My Angel: A Lullabye.”

    March 2005 – Enters a rehabilitation center for alcohol treatment.

    2005 – Scholastic publishes Joel’s second children’s book, “New York State of Mind.”

    February 14, 2007 – Releases one song, “All My Life,” for his wife, Katie Lee, on People Magazine’s website.

    November 2010 – Undergoes a double hip replacement in a New York hospital.

    December 12, 2012 – Along with Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones, Joel performs at Madison Square Garden to help raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

    December 8, 2013 – Is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Performing Arts Award.

    January 2014 – Begins his run as the first musical act to perform monthly shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. On June 1, MSG Entertainment announces Joel will end his ten-year, record-breaking residency at MSG. The final concert, his 150th lifetime show, will take place in July 2024.

    June 18, 2014 – Joins the fight to criminalize the ivory trade. Joel publishes a letter on his website stating: “I am a piano player. And I realize that ivory piano keys are preferred by some pianists…but a preference for ivory keys does not justify the slaughter of 96 elephants every day.”

    November 19, 2014 – Is awarded the 6th Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

    March 23, 2016 – Joel’s hit single, “Piano Man,” is selected by the National Recording Registry for preservation in the Library of Congress.

    March 10, 2023 – Joel and Stevie Nicks kick off their co-headlining tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

    February 1, 2024 – Joel releases his first new single in 17 years, titled “Turn the Lights Back On.”

    April 14, 2024 – Joel’s concert special, “The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time,” airs on CBS. The special marks Joel’s 100th consecutive performance at Madison Square Garden.

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  • Willie Nelson Fast Facts | CNN

    Willie Nelson Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the life of Grammy Award-winning musician Willie Nelson.

    Birth date: April 30, 1933

    Birth place: Abbott, Texas

    Birth name: Willie Hugh Nelson

    Father: Ira Nelson

    Mother: Myrle (Greenhaw) Harvey

    Marriages: Ann Marie D’Angelo (1991-present); Connie Koepke (1971-1988, divorced); Shirley Collie (1963-1971, divorced); Martha Matthews (1952-1962, divorced)

    Children: with Ann Marie D’Angelo: Micah and Lukas; with Connie Koepke: Amy and Paula; with Martha Matthews: Billy (died in 1991), Susie, Lana; with Mary Haney: Renee

    Education: Attended Baylor University, 1954

    Military: US Air Force, 1950, medical discharge

    Raised by his grandparents.

    Sold encyclopedias door-to-door and taught Sunday school.

    Has collaborated with Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Lee Ann Womack, Rob Thomas and Snoop Dogg, among others.

    Has a fifth-degree black belt in GongKwon YuSul.

    Nominated for 57 Grammy Awards and won 12. He has also been awarded the Lifetime Achievement and Legend Grammy Awards.

    Nominated for one Academy Award.

    Composed the song “Crazy,” which was made famous by singer Patsy Cline.

    Is on the advisory board of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

    1957 – Releases his first single, “No Place for Me.”

    1960 – Moves to Nashville.

    1962 – Releases his first album, “And Then I Wrote.”

    1970 – Moves back to Texas.

    1973 – Holds the first annual Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic in Texas.

    1975 – Wins a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.”

    1978 – Wins a Grammy, with Waylon Jennings, for Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group for “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.”

    1978 – Wins a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Georgia On My Mind.”

    1979 – Makes his acting debut, alongside Robert Redford, in the film, “The Electric Horseman.”

    1980 – Wins a Grammy for Best Country Song for writing “On The Road Again.”

    1980 – Stars in the film “Honeysuckle Rose.”

    1982 – Wins a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Always On My Mind.”

    1982 – Stars in the film “Barbarosa.”

    1985 – Releases the album “Highwayman” with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.

    1985 – Organizes Farm Aid, a concert to benefit family farmers.

    1988 – Releases his memoir, “Willie: An Autobiography.”

    1990 – The IRS seizes Nelson’s property and possessions to settle a $16.7 million tax debt.

    1991 – Nelson releases the album, “The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?” Nelson gives the profits from the album to the IRS.

    1991 – Nelson’s son, Billy, commits suicide.

    1993 – Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

    1994 – Is arrested for possession of marijuana. The case is later dismissed.

    2000 – The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presents Nelson with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

    2002 – Wins a Grammy, with Lee Ann Womack, for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for “Mendocino County Line.”

    2002 – Releases the book, “The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes.”

    2006 – Releases the book, “The Tao of Willie.”

    2006 – In Louisiana, Nelson is issued a citation for possession of marijuana and illegal mushrooms. Nelson receives six months’ probation and pays a fine.

    2007 – Wins a Grammy, with Ray Price, for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for “Lost Highway.”

    2010 – Is charged with marijuana possession after US Border Patrol agents search his tour bus in Texas near the US-Mexico border.

    2012 – Releases the book, “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road.”

    2013 – Nelson donates his collection of awards and personal items to the University of Texas at Austin’s Briscoe Center.

    July 9, 2015 – The Library of Congress announces Nelson as the latest recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

    July 2016 – Nelson launches “Willie’s Reserve,” his own personal brand of marijuana that will be grown and sold wherever it’s legal. The brand will feature “high quality strains of marijuana,” and Nelson himself will work with “master growers” and local retailers to establish a set of “quality standards” for his special reserve.

    February 12, 2017 – Wins a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, for “Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin.”

    July 4, 2018 – Launches his own blend of CBD infused coffee called “Willie’s Remedy.”

    September 29, 2018 – During a campaign rally for Beto O’Rourke’s senate run in 2018, Nelson plays a new election themed song called ‘Vote ‘Em Out.”

    August 7, 2019 – After a show in Toledo, Ohio, announces via Twitter that he must cancel upcoming shows on his 2019 tour due to “a breathing problem.” He will resume the tour on September 6 in New Hampshire. This follows a 2017 show that was halted and a 2018 performance that was canceled due to health issues.

    November 29, 2019 – Nelson announces he is no longer smoking marijuana and cigarettes due to ongoing health and breathing issues.

    January 26, 2020 – Wins a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Ride Me Back Home.”

    April 11, 2020 – Nelson hosts “At Home with Farm Aid,” a virtual benefit concert for farms impacted by coronavirus.

    April 20, 2020 – Nelson hosts a virtual variety show, “Come and Toke It”, featuring “cannabis-centric entertainment”.

    June 29, 2020 – Nelson performs with Robert Earl Keen at a virtual fundraiser to support the former US vice president Joe Biden’s presidential bid.

    February 5, 2023 – Wins Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance, for “Live Forever” and Best Country Album, for “A Beautiful Time.”

    February 1, 2023 – Nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On May 3, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces Nelson as one of the inductees in the 2023 class in the performer category. The 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place on November 3.

    March 14, 2024 – Nelson announces via Instagram that his new album, “The Border,” will be released on May 31. This will be his 75th studio album.

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  • Mariah Carey Fast Facts | CNN

    Mariah Carey Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the life of Grammy Award-winning singer and actress, Mariah Carey.

    Birth date: March 27, 1970

    Birth place: Long Island, New York

    Birth name: Mariah Carey

    Father: Alfred Roy Carey, aeronautics engineer

    Mother: Patricia (Hickey) Carey, opera singer and voice coach

    Marriages: Nick Cannon (2008-2016, divorced); Tommy Mottola (1993-1998, divorced)

    Children: with Nick Cannon: Moroccan and Monroe (twins)

    Has a five-octave vocal range.

    Supported herself as a waitress and back-up singer before being signed to Columbia Records.

    Has won five Grammys and has been nominated for 34.

    Is the first artist ever to top the Billboard charts in four different decades.

    1988 – Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola listens to Carey’s demo tape and signs her to the label.

    1990 – Her debut album, “Mariah Carey,” is released. It goes on to sell more than six million copies and spawn four number one singles.

    1991 – Carey wins two Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for “Vision of Love” and Best New Artist.

    1994 – Joins the board of directors of the Fresh Air Fund. She is a supporter of the fund’s Career Awareness Program, which is named Camp Mariah, in honor of her.

    Summer 2001 – She suffers an “emotional and physical breakdown” and is hospitalized.

    September 2001 – Carey stars in a semi-autobiographical movie, “Glitter,” and releases an album of the same name. Both the album and movie are unsuccessful critically and commercially.

    2002 – Virgin pays Carey a reported $28 million to end her contract. She later signs a $20 million deal with the Island Def Jam Music Group.

    2006 – Wins three Grammy Awards: Best Contemporary R&B Album, with Brian Garten and Dana John Chappelle for “The Emancipation of Mimi,” Best R&B Song, with Jermaine Dupri, Johntá Austin, and Manuel Seal Jr., for “We Belong Together,” and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “We Belong Together.”

    2009 – Portrays a social worker in the film “Precious,” directed by Lee Daniels.

    March 2011 – Following reports that she accepted payment in 2009 to perform for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Carey releases a statement that she was “naïve and unaware of who I was booked to perform for. I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess.”

    2013 – Appears as a judge for the 12th season of “American Idol.”

    August 5, 2015 – Carey is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    December 4, 2016 – The eight-episode E! docuseries “Mariah’s World” premieres.

    December 31, 2016 – Experiences an audio track malfunction while lip-syncing in front of a live audience on ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”

    April 2018 – Carey reveals she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In an interview in People magazine, she says she is now in therapy and is taking medication for bipolar II disorder, which involves periods of depression as well as hypomania.

    January 16, 2019 – Carey’s former assistant, Lianna Shakhnazaryan, files a civil lawsuit claiming she was harassed and tormented by Carey’s manager, Stella Bulochnikov. In the complaint, Shakhnazaryan alleges that she was physically abused and urinated on by Bulochnikov, and that Carey was sometimes present for the abuse and allowed it to continue. Carey files her own lawsuit against Shakhnazaryan, claiming breach of contract, invasion of privacy and extortion. The case is settled in July 2021 for an undisclosed amount.

    December 16, 2019 – Carey’s 25-year-old holiday song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.

    September 29, 2020 – Carey’s memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” is published.

    March 3, 2021 – Carey’s brother, Morgan Carey, files a lawsuit against her for defamation, alleging that his depiction in “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” caused him “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The lawsuit follows a separate suit filed by Carey’s sister, Alison Carey, a month earlier for emotional distress caused by the memoir.

    June 3, 2022 – In a complaint filed in New Orleans federal court, Andy Stone sues Carey over her 1994 Christmas classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Stone says he co-wrote a song with the same title five years earlier. The complaint states that Stone’s lawyers first contacted the defendants in April 2021 about their alleged unauthorized use, but were “unable to come to any agreement.” On November 1, Stone files to dismiss the case.

    June 16, 2022 – Is inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

    November 1, 2023 – Andy Stone re-files his complaint in Los Angeles federal court over “All I want for Christmas Is You.” Stone is alleging copyright infringement and unjust enrichment and is asking for at least $20 million in damages.

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  • Bette Midler Fast Facts | CNN

    Bette Midler Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here is a look at the life of award-winning singer, actress, comedian and activist Bette Midler.

    Birth date: December 1, 1945

    Birth place: Honolulu, Hawaii

    Birth name: Bette Davis Midler

    Father: Fred Midler, house painter

    Mother: Ruth (Schindel) Midler, seamstress

    Marriage: Martin von Haselberg (1984-present)

    Children: Sophie

    Education: Attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa

    Named after actress Bette Davis.

    Nominated for 14 Grammy Awards and has won three.

    Nominated for nine Emmy Awards and has won three.

    Nominated for two Academy Awards and has not won.

    Nominated for one Tony Award and has won once.

    She was the valedictorian of her high school class.

    1965 – Moves to New York City after winning a small part in the movie, “Hawaii.”

    1966 – Makes her Broadway debut in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

    Early 1970s – Performs at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in New York, with Barry Manilow as her pianist, arranger and musical director.

    1970 – Midler appears on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson for the first time.

    April 28-May 16, 1971 – Midler stars as the “Acid Queen” in the first professional production of the rock opera, “Tommy.”

    November 1972 – Releases her first album on Atlantic Records, “The Divine Miss M.”

    March 2, 1974 – Wins the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

    April 1974 – Receives a special Tony Award for “adding lustre to the Broadway season.”

    September 17, 1978 – Wins the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special in a Comedy-Variety or Musical for “Ol’ Red Hair is Back.”

    November 7, 1979 – Her first film, “The Rose,” is released. It is loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

    1980 – Simon & Schuster publishes her first book, “A View from a Broad.”

    February 25, 1981 – Wins the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Performance, for her single, “The Rose.”

    January 28, 1985 – Midler joins 45 other stars to record “We Are the World,” USA for Africa’s fund-raising single.

    1985 – Forms All Girl Productions, with partner Bonnie Bruckheimer.

    November 22, 1988 – Releases the soundtrack to the film “Beaches.” The album goes triple platinum, and the title track, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” goes to number one.

    February 21, 1990 – Wins the Grammy Award for Record of the Year for “Wind Beneath My Wings,” with producer Arif Mardin.

    September 15, 1991 – Is presented with the Commitment to Life Award from AIDS Project Los Angeles for her work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

    August 30, 1992 – Wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for her May 21, 1992, appearance as one of the two final guests of “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

    December 12, 1993 – Stars as “Mama Rose” in the television version of the famed Broadway play, “Gypsy.”

    July 7, 1995 – Midler begins The New York Restoration Project, a non-profit focusing on beautifying the open spaces in under-resourced communities in New York.

    September 14, 1997 – Wins the Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program for her HBO special “Diva Las Vegas.”

    2003 – Joins forces with Barry Manilow for the first time since the 1970s to record “Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook.”

    February 20, 2008 – “Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On” debuts at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The show includes the Harlettes, the Caesar Salad Girls, and a 13-piece band. The show ends its run in January 2010.

    March 20, 2011 – “Priscilla: Queen of the Desert,” opens on Broadway. Midler is co-producer of the show which runs through June 2012.

    June 14, 2012 – Receives the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

    April 24, 2013 – “I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers” opens on Broadway with Midler’s portrayal of the famous Hollywood agent. The show runs through June 2013.

    November 4, 2014 – Releases her 14th studio album “It’s the Girls,” a tribute to the music of famous girl-groups over the years.

    June 11, 2017 – Wins a Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for “Hello Dolly.”

    September 14, 2017 – Takes a tumble during a Broadway performance of “Hello Dolly” after two set pieces collide and gets back on stage after a short break to resume her performance.

    June 29, 2019 – Headlines New York’s Pride Main Event, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall at WorldPride NYC. The event is held at the Javits Center in Manhattan and includes performances by Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Brandy.

    February 16, 2021 – Midler’s children’s book, “The Tale of the Mandarin Duck,” is published.

    December 5, 2021 – Receives the Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award.

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  • Andy Rourke, former bassist with The Smiths, dead at 59 | CNN

    Andy Rourke, former bassist with The Smiths, dead at 59 | CNN

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    London
    CNN
     — 

    Andy Rourke, bassist for legendary English rock band The Smiths, has died at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his former bandmate announced Friday.

    “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer,” guitarist Johnny Marr wrote on Twitter.

    “Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans,” Marr said.

    “We request privacy at this sad time,” he added.

    Rourke joined The Smiths in 1982, and played alongside the band until their split in 1987 ahead of the release of their fourth studio album, “Strangeways, Here We Come.”

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  • K-pop star Se7en and actress Lee Da-hae are getting married | CNN

    K-pop star Se7en and actress Lee Da-hae are getting married | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    South Korean celebrity couple Se7en and Lee Da-hae are getting married in May.

    The K-pop singer and his actress fiancée shared the news of their upcoming nuptials in separate posts on Instagram.

    Se7en, whose real name is Choi Dong-wook, told his 551,000 followers that he had “happy news” to share.

    “I have vowed to marry my girlfriend Lee Da-hae, who always embraced me with love, and shared joy and sorrow together for the past eight years,” he said, revealing that the wedding would take place on May 6.

    Pledging his commitment to his bride-to-be, the 38-year-old singer wrote: “From now on, I will live with more responsibility as a head of a family and a husband.”

    Lee’s post on her Instagram page was accompanied by a series of wedding pictures. In South Korea, couples commonly have their wedding pictures taken ahead of the ceremony and then often use the images for digital invitations and social media.

    The post features four pictures of the happy couple in different settings and different outfits. In one, she is pictured in a sleeveless floor-length lace gown, while Se7en wears a tailored gray suit with black bow tie. Another sees the couple outside a pink hotel, with Se7en in a pink blazer and shorts, with his wife to be in a lacy mini wedding dress.

    One shot features a close-up of the bride, while the final image shows the pair in profile by the sea at sunset.

    Lee told her 207,000 followers: “It may not be a big surprising as we have been dating for eight years, but I am still shy. I pondered a lot about how I should share the news.

    “We have vowed to become a husband and wife from a long-term couple this coming May. Although I’m still used to calling him a ‘boyfriend,’ I will become more considerate and a bigger supporter of ‘him,’ who gave me big happiness by staying by my side and now will be my forever companion.

    “It will be a huge happiness for us if we can get married in your love and blessings.”

    Se7en released his debut album “Just Listen” in 2003. His career has also extended to acting. In 2007, he played the lead role in TV drama “Goong S” (Palace S.) He has also starred in four musicals and numerous commercials, including for Coca-Cola.

    Lee has featured in many popular TV dramas, including “Good Witch” in 2018 and “Chuno” (“Slave Hunters”) in 2010, and the 2013 spy movie “IRIS 2.”

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  • Viola Davis achieves EGOT with Grammy win for her audiobook | CNN

    Viola Davis achieves EGOT with Grammy win for her audiobook | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    After winning a Grammy Award, Viola Davis has officially completed the holy grail of entertainment awards.

    Davis’ Sunday win for the audiobook of her memoir “Finding Me” completes her EGOT collection. She previously won an Emmy for her role in “How to Get Away with Murder,” an Oscar for “Fences,” and two Tony awards for “King Hedley III” and “Fences.”

    Davis, 57, won the award for “Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording,” according to a tweet from the Recording Academy, which hosts the Grammys.

    In her acceptance speech, the multi-hyphenate performer paid tribute to her younger self.

    “I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola,” she said. “To honor her life, her joy, her trauma, everything. And, it has just been such a journey – I just EGOT!”

    Davis’ career has been studded with awards and firsts. In 2015, she became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama and in 2017, she became the first Black woman to score three Academy Award nominations.

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  • K-pop star Jin of BTS completes basic training for military service in South Korea | CNN

    K-pop star Jin of BTS completes basic training for military service in South Korea | CNN

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    Seoul, South Korea
    CNN
     — 

    The oldest member of the K-pop supergroup BTS has completed five weeks of basic training as part of his mandatory military service in South Korea.

    On Wednesday, Jin posted on the fan community app Weverse for the first time since enlisting last month, sharing three photos of himself in a military uniform.

    “I’m having fun. I’m posting a photo with permission from the military,” the 30-year-old wrote. “Army, always be happy and stay well,” he added.

    Military service is compulsory in South Korea, where almost all able-bodied men are required to serve in the army for 18 months by the time they are 28 years old.

    Jin entered the Yeoncheon training center on December 13, 2022, and has since been selected to serve as an assistant instructor at the Yeoncheon army base in northern Gyeonggi province, according to the South Korean military.

    BTS have become worldwide superstars since debuting in 2013, earning No. 1 singles in more than 100 countries, more than 46 million followers on Twitter and being awarded Time magazine’s Entertainer of the Year award in 2020.

    Under a bill passed in parliament in 2020, South Koreans who “excel in popular culture and art” are allowed to deter mandatory military service until the age of 30.

    Jin, the oldest member of BTS, is the first in the group to enlist. He will be one of about 560,000 army troops, according to the South Korean army website.

    The group’s record label BIGHIT Music said in October that all seven members would serve their mandatory military service.

    BTS is expected to reconvene as a group around 2025.

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  • Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green dead at 45 | CNN

    Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green dead at 45 | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Just days after his cancer diagnosis was publicly announced, Jeremiah Green – the drummer for the rock band Modest Mouse – has died, according to statements from his mother and bandmates.

    He was 45 years old.

    “It is with a very heavy heart that the Green and Namatame families announce the passing of their husband, father, son and brother, Jeremiah Green,” his mother Carol Namatame posted on Facebook.

    “Jeremiah, drummer and founding member of the Issaquah based band Modest Mouse, lost his courageous battle with cancer on December 31. He went peacefully in his sleep,” the post read.

    “Jeremiah was a light to so many. At this time the family is requesting privacy. More information will be forthcoming including a Celebration of Life for friends and fans in the coming months. Jeremiah’s loved ones would like to thank everyone for their continued well wishes and support.”

    Modest Mouse announced Green’s passing in an Instagram post Saturday.

    “Today we lost our dear friend Jeremiah. He laid down to rest and simply faded out,” the post read. “I’d like to say a bunch of pretty words right now, but it just isn’t the time. These will come later, and from many people.”

    Modest Mouse, famous for the song “Float On,” was formed in the 1990s and released its debut album in 1996.

    Modest Mouse has released eight albums, including “The Golden Casket” in 2021.

    Last week, band frontman Isaac Brock announced Green had been recently diagnosed with cancer but did not specify what kind of cancer.

    Radio DJ Marco Collins tweeted last week that Green had pulled out of a tour because he had stage 4 cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

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  • Irene Cara, ’80s pop star behind ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ theme songs, dies at 63 | CNN

    Irene Cara, ’80s pop star behind ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ theme songs, dies at 63 | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Academy Award winner Irene Cara, best known for singing the theme songs for “Fame” and “Flashdance,” has died in her Florida home, according to a statement from her publicist made on behalf of the singer’s family. She was 63.

    “This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news,” Judith Moose said in a tweet announcing the singer’s death. “Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.”

    Cara’s cause of death is unknown, according to Moose’s statement.

    This story is developing.

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  • BTS singer Jin set to begin South Korea military service, source says | CNN

    BTS singer Jin set to begin South Korea military service, source says | CNN

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    Seoul, South Korea
    CNN
     — 

    K-pop superstar Jin will begin his mandatory military service next month, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed Friday, after the BTS singer appealed to the supergroup’s devoted fans to stay away from his South Korean army training center.

    The source said the 29-year-old star, BTS’ oldest member, will enter service December 13 at Yeoncheon army base in the northern Gyeonggi province.

    Military service is compulsory in South Korea, where almost all able-bodied men are required to serve in the army for 18 months by the time they are 28 years old.

    South Korea’s parliament passed a bill in 2020 allowing pop stars – namely those who “excel in popular culture and art” – to defer their service until the age of 30.

    Jin’s service will begin with a five-week basic training course before being assigned to a unit, based on standard practice.

    The move had been widely expected.

    Last month, BTS’ record label said that all seven members of the group were planning to undertake military service and Jin – who turns 30 on December 4 – would be the first to enlist.

    On Thursday, Jin posted a message on fan community app Weverse, urging fans not to visit the military training center to get a glimpse of him amid reports of his impending enlistment. He did not deny the reports in the post.

    “Reports have come out against my will, but our ARMYs (BTS fans), should not come to the training center,” he wrote. “It could be dangerous because the place will be crowded with many people besides me who are coming. ARMY, I love you.”

    BTS has been frequently compared to The Beatles, even breaking one of the English rock band’s records with three Billboard No. 1 albums in a single year.

    Their devoted fan base calls themselves the “BTS Army,” propelling their music and coming to their defense on social media in 2019 when the group was shut out from Grammy nominations. They have been nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2023.

    With their military service looming, BTS said in June it would press pause to pursue solo projects. The group is expected to reconvene in 2025, according to their record label.

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  • Angela Álvarez makes history at age 95 with Latin Grammy tie win for best new artist | CNN

    Angela Álvarez makes history at age 95 with Latin Grammy tie win for best new artist | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Angela Álvarez made Latin Grammy history on Thursday by winning the award for best new artist at age 95.

    The singer tied in the category with musician and songwriter Silvana Estrada, but she had already set a record going into the event with her nomination as the oldest musician ever nominated in the category.

    “I want to dedicate this award to God and to my beloved country, Cuba, which I will never be able to forget,” Álvarez said accepting her award on stage at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas.

    The Cuban-native’s passion for music began in her youth. She was discouraged from pursuing a career in music by her father but found joy performing for her family. The mother of four, grandmother of nine and the great-grandmother of 15 immigrated to the United States in the 1960s, according to Billboard.

    Over the years, she sang for her family about her life and developed a collection of songs she composed. At the encouragement and support of her grandson, she eventually recorded and released collection of her songs in 2021.

    The Latin Grammy nomination came as a surprise to her, Álvarez told CNN en Español last month.

    “I felt very, very proud to be able to tell my story, to touch people who have probably gone through the same or more than what I have gone through. There are people who give up, but I did not give up. I always fought,” she said.

    Álvarez concluded her speech on Thursday with words of inspiration.

    “To those who have not fulfilled their dream, although life is difficult, there is always a way out and with faith and love you can achieve it, I promise you,” Álvarez said. “It’s never too late.”

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  • The Neighbourhood drops drummer Brandon Fried after groping allegation | CNN

    The Neighbourhood drops drummer Brandon Fried after groping allegation | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The Neighbourhood have ousted drummer Brandon Fried after he was accused of groping a woman and apologized for it.

    María Zardoya, of the band The Marías, shared her account of the incident on the Instagram Stories portion of the band’s verified account.

    “I was at a bar last night, and I was groped under the table by brandon fried, the drummer of the neighbourhood. It was one of the most uncomfortable things I’ve ever experienced,” she wrote. “I felt an invasion of my space, privacy and body. @thenbhd y’all need a new drummer, this guy is a complete creep.”

    “We are grateful to Maria for coming forward,” The Neighbourhood wrote in a statement shared on their verified social media.

    “We have zero tolerance for any kind of inappropriate behavior towards women,” the statement continued. “As a result of Brandon’s actions, he will no longer be a member of The Neighbourhood.”

    Fried also released a statement on social media.

    “I am so terribly sorry to María. My actions were inexcusable and intolerable,” he wrote in a statement posted on his Instagram stories. “They are not reflective of who I am as a person, but clearly a reflection of who I become under the influence.”

    “It is evident that I must address my problems with alcohol and substance abuse, which I am now seeking help for,” he added.

    “I want to apologize to women who have been victims of any behavior that has left them feeling uncomfortable or violated,” Fried concluded his statement. “I am also sorry to The Neighbourhood and our fans for letting them down.”

    The band is best known for its hit song “Sweater Weather.”

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  • Jeff Cook, guitarist and co-founder of the band Alabama, dead at 73 | CNN

    Jeff Cook, guitarist and co-founder of the band Alabama, dead at 73 | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Jeff Cook, one of the original members of the country band Alabama, has died, according to the group’s representative, Don Murry Grubbs. He was 73.

    Cook died at his vacation home in Destin, Florida on Monday “with his family and close friends by his side,” according to a press release and a statement posted to the band’s social media accounts. Cook, the statement added, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012.

    A guitarist and co-founder of Alabama, Cook also played fiddle and other musical instruments for the band. He is “credited for introducing the electric double neck guitar to country music,” the statement said.

    He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville in 2019 and is also a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Fiddlers Hall of Fame.

    Over the course of his country music career as part of Alabama, Cook sold 80 million albums and charted 43 No. 1 hits.

    The band enjoyed 13 Grammy nominations and two wins – back to back trophies in 1983 and 1984 for best country performance by a duo or group with vocal for “Mountain Music” and “The Closer You Get,” respectively.

    Cook, a native of Fort Payne, Alabama, is survived by his wife of 27 years Lisa Cook, his mother Betty and his brother David, among other family members.

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  • Andy Taylor, former Duran Duran guitarist, has stage four prostate cancer | CNN

    Andy Taylor, former Duran Duran guitarist, has stage four prostate cancer | CNN

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    London
    CNN
     — 

    Andy Taylor, guitarist with British New Romantic group Duran Duran at the height of their fame, is battling stage four prostate cancer.

    The band made the announcement on Saturday as they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

    Taylor, who did not join his former bandmates John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes at the Class of 2022 celebrations due to ongoing treatment, wrote a letter to mark the occasion.

    In the note, parts of which were read out by frontman Le Bon, Taylor disclosed that he had received his diagnosis four years ago and spoke of his delight at being inducted into the hall of fame.

    “There’s nothing that comes close to such recognition. You can dream about what happened to us but to experience it, on one’s own terms, as mates, was beyond incredible,” Taylor wrote in the message relayed by Le Bon.

    Touching on his health issues, the 61-year-old Taylor added: “Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease and of course, we are no different; so I speak from the perspective of a family man but with profound humility to the band, the greatest fans a group could have and this exceptional accolade.”

    Taylor joined Duran Duran in April 1980 and left in 1986 to pursue a solo career. He then rejoined in 2001 for a string of successful concerts and their 2004 album “Astronaut” before quitting again in 2006.

    Taylor said he was “massively disappointed” to miss the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame show, which was set to be his first time performing with the group in 16 years, and that he had “bought a new guitar” for the occasion.

    “I’m so very proud of these four brothers, I’m amazed at their durability, and I’m overjoyed at accepting this award,” Taylor said. “I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.”

    In the letter later shared in full on the band’s website, Taylor said his condition was incurable, but that he was receiving “sophisticated life-extending treatment” that had allowed him to “just rock on” until recent times when he suffered a “setback.”

    “Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening there is no cure,” he said.

    According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

    Reacting to Taylor’s health update on Saturday, Le Bon said: “It is devastating news to know and find out that a colleague… Not a colleague, a mate, a friend, one of our family is not going to be around for very long. It’s absolutely devastating. We love Andy dearly and you know, I’m not going to stand here and cry. I don’t think that would be very appropriate but that’s what I feel like.”

    Duran Duran formed in 1978 and topped the US singles charts in the 1980s with their hits “The Reflex” and “A View to a Kill.”

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  • D.H. Peligro, drummer of legendary punk rock band Dead Kennedys, dies at 63 | CNN

    D.H. Peligro, drummer of legendary punk rock band Dead Kennedys, dies at 63 | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    D.H. Peligro, a drummer for punk rock icons the Dead Kennedys and formerly the Red Hot Chili Peppers, died Friday from a head injury, his band announced. He was 63.

    “Police on the scene stated that he died from trauma to the head caused by an accidental fall,” a statement from the Dead Kennedys read. “Arrangements are pending and will be announced in the coming days. We ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”

    Peligro passed away in his home in Los Angeles, according to the statement.

    Peligro, whose real name is Darren Henley, had been a pillar in the San Francisco and Los Angeles music scene since 1978, according to his biography on the Dead Kennedys’ website.

    He was a drummer for punk rock legends the Dead Kennedys until the band’s breakup in 1986, after which he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers for some time, CNN affiliate KARE reported.

    His passion for punk rock and funky music continued with his new band, Peligro, which featured him as a singer and guitarist.

    Fans have flooded Peligro’s Instagram posts with comments honoring and praying for him, and friends have left him heartbreaking goodbyes: “I love you my friend. I am so sad I won’t get to feel you hug me again,” one wrote.

    Other fellow bandmates and friends, including Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, have also taken to social media with tributes to Peligro.

    “My dear friend, my brother I miss you so much. I’m devastated today, a river of tears, but all my life I will treasure every second. The first time I saw you play with the DK’s in ’81 you blew my mind. The power, the soul, the recklessness,” Flea wrote on Instagram along with a photo of the rocker. “You are the truest rocker, and a crucial part of rhcp history. D H P in the place to be, you live forever in our hearts, you wild man, you bringer of joy, you giant hearted man.”

    Alice In Chains’ guitarist William DuVall also shared a tribute, reminiscing on one of Peligro’s memorable performances as a rocker whose passion for the drums pulsed through the crowd whenever he got in front of the set.

    “Drum hero. Super cool guy,” DuVall wrote on Twitter. “I’ll never forget the DKs gig I saw at 688 in May ’83 where, after shredding his drums the entire set, he ended the show by diving over his kit straight into the crowd in a single leap. F*****g legend. Rest In Peace.”

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  • Photos: Pop superstar Taylor Swift | CNN

    Photos: Pop superstar Taylor Swift | CNN

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    Taylor Swift performs at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2015.

    Christopher Polk/TAS/Getty Images

    Updated 4:45 PM EDT, Fri October 21, 2022

    Taylor Swift unveiled her 10th studio album, “Midnights,” on Friday, October 21.

    It’s her first original album in two years. The 11-time Grammy Award winner is currently in the midst of revisiting her early albums in a bid to regain ownership of the work she released under her former label Big Machine Records.

    Born in 1989, Swift launched her country music career at age 16. Her debut self-titled album was released in 2006. She went on to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time — earning legions of loyal fans known as “Swifties.”

    Her 2014 album, “1989,” was her first purely pop album. Known for her songwriting, she took on a folk-rock sound on her 2020 albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore.”

    Swift has broken a number of records throughout her career. In 2021, she became the first woman to win the Grammy for album of the year three times. She was also the first woman to ever score three new number one albums in less than a year.

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  • White House preparations for state dinner with India’s Modi include plant-based chef and violinist Joshua Bell | CNN Politics

    White House preparations for state dinner with India’s Modi include plant-based chef and violinist Joshua Bell | CNN Politics

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    CNN
     — 

    Preparations are underway at the White House as President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden will welcome India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington for an official state visit on Thursday, rolling out pomp and circumstance at a state dinner in the evening as the two countries reaffirm close ties.

    There has been close attention to diplomatic detail in advance of Thursday’s state dinner, including catering to the guest’s dietary restrictions.

    Nina Curtis, a plant-based chef from Sacramento, California, will be the dinner’s guest chef, working with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison to develop the menu, the office of the first lady said.

    Modi, a White House official said, is a vegetarian and “the First Lady selected Chef Curtis for her experience with plant-based cuisine.”

    And Grammy Award-winning American violinist and conductor Joshua Bell will provide the evening’s entertainment, the office of the first lady said.

    The state dinner is one element of an elaborate visit for the prime minister, which comes amid some criticism over Modi’s human rights record.

    State dinners, former White House curator Betty Monkman said, are “a courtesy, an expression of good will, and a way of extending hospitality,” as well as “an event that also showcases global power and influence.” The office of the first lady works closely with her social team, executive residence staff from the calligraphers to the florists to the pastry chefs and the State Department in preparation for these dinners.

    National security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to India this week ahead of the dinner, meeting with Modi and other officials.

    “He reviewed preparations for the upcoming official state visit of the prime minister, and discussed a range of strategic, regional, and bilateral issues including steps to advance the strategic technology and defense partnership between the United States and India,” a readout of Sullivan’s trip stated.

    This will mark the third state dinner of the Biden administration after the Bidens hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in December and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in April.

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  • The invention that changed music forever | CNN Business

    The invention that changed music forever | CNN Business

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    CNN
     — 

    “Do you believe in life after love?” Cher used to sing. And if you’ve ever heard that song, you might now have an earworm in your head.

    The singer’s 1998 comeback track marked the first prominent use of a technology called “Auto-Tune”, a pitch correcting software that has since changed the music industry.

    Auto-Tune alters the pitch of a singing voice to make everyone sound perfectly in tune. When used properly, it’s subtle enough that it can’t be detected.

    But Cher’s producers played with the idea of cranking it up to 11, creating the now-familiar effect that is part human synthesizer, part robotic voice.

    Andy Hildebrand, the inventor of autotune, told CNN: “My thinking was, ok, I’ll put that setting in the software. But I didn’t think anyone in their right mind would ever use it.”

    Thus was born the “Cher effect”, and one of the biggest hits of the 1990s.

    The invention that changed the world of music

    How does one invent Auto-Tune? By analyzing seismic data while looking for oil, of course.

    That’s Hildebrand’s previous job: “Oil companies would detonate charges in the ground or in the water, and then they have sensors analyze the reflections to spot the oil,” he explains.

    That technology was bought by American oil giant Halliburton in 1995 and it’s helped internal production in the U.S. soar from 30 to 60 percent, netting the company about $1 billion a year.

    “It uses the same science of digital signal processing,” says Hildebrand, a long time musician who then applied that science to singing.

    It took him just a month to create it. “Before Auto-Tune, studios would do pitch correction by having the singer repeat a phrase over and over and over. They would do 100 takes and then patch them together to make one piece of music that sounded in tune.”

    Auto-Tune does all that at the push of a button.

    A magic button that makes everyone sing in perfect key was, unsurprisingly, an instant hit with the industry: “Within a year we had sold to every major studio in the world, and that was a year or two after Cher did her song ‘Believe’”, Hildebrand recalls.

    Here are his tasting notes on that song: “I thought it was really cool! Even if they used a bad setting, or what I call bad setting since I didn’t design it to be used like that: it makes this robotic effect because it changes the pitch instantly from note to note.”

    But the jury is still out on whether Auto-Tune was a boon for the music industry, or a disaster: in 2010, Time magazine included it in the list of The 50 Worst Inventions, calling it “a technology that can make bad singers sound good and really bad singers sound like robots.”

    Indie band Death Cab for Cutie showed up at the 2009 Grammys wearing blue ribbons to “raise awareness against Auto-Tune abuse”, and fervent Auto-Tune critic Jay-z released a song in 2009 entitled D.O.A. – Death of autotune.

    Britney Spears notoriously fell into an Auto-Tune controversy in mid-2014, when a vanilla recording of her 2013 song Alien was leaked and compared, rather unfavorably, to the autotuned version on the album Britney Jean.

    But what does its inventor think? “Singers learn about how it works and they kind of like it, but they have a love-hate relationship with it: they don’t want to let others know that they need it.”

    It seems that Auto-Tune might be to music what Photoshop is to photography: everybody uses it, but no one’s too keen to admit it.

    After having sorted singing – “music’s second most popular instrument” – Hildebrand is now going after the first: guitars.

    “It doesn’t sound anything like a vocal correction, but it keeps the guitar perfectly in tune,” he says.

    Next up, your heartbeat: “There’s a new kind of device called the embedded defibrillator: it’s a pacemaker implanted in the chest that monitors heartbeat irregularities and releases energy pulses to correct anomalies. The problem is that sometimes the software fails to detect the heartbeat, and we’re hoping to fix that.”

    The technology, in the form of an algorithm, will soon be embedded into these pacemakers.

    And we have a feeling it might not even stop there.

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