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Keith Girard

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Reese Witherspoon Co-Chairs Beat the Odds Awards

Keith Girard
Reese Witherspoon was the guest of honor at the 2012 Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds Awards in Beverly Hills. She was joined by Michelle Monaghan, Miranda Cosgrove and other celebrities for the dinner and ceremonies. Co-chairing the event this year were Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams and others. ...
CalendarLIVING
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Dave Brubeck, a Titan of Jazz For Seven Decades, Dies at 91

Keith Girard
Dave Brubeck, a seminal figure in jazz, who popularized the musical form over seven decades with his unique compositions, died suddenly today from a heart attack at his home in Norwalk, Conn. He was one day shy of his 92nd birthday. Brubeck composed hundreds of songs during his long career. “In Your Own Sweet Way, “The Duke” and Take Five" were most popular. He recorded and toured with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, with renowned alto saxophonist Paul Desmond and was embraced by the Beat Generation....
JAZZ
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Melanie Amaro Rides X-Factor Fame to Second Single; Album Due (listen!)

Keith Girard
Melanie Amaro is trying to capitalize on her win on the premiere season of X-Factor USA with the release of her second new single “Long Distance.” It’s just another peppy pop tune, but her distinctive voice does set it apart. Amaro, 20, released her debut single “Don’t Fail Me Now” in August, laying the groundwork for her upcoming album, Truly, which is expected to drop next year. The judges at the time were Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid....
R & B
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Gwen Stefani, No Doubt Go on Seven Night Tear in Los Angeles (watch!)

Keith Girard
Gwen Stefani and No Doubt went on a seven night tear at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, rocking to packed audiences eager to hear the band for the first time live in three years. The shows come on the heels of the release of the band’s first studio album, “Push and Shove,” in 11 years, featuring Stefani guitarist and keyboardist Tom Dumont, bassist and keyboardist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young. To its credit, the band made an effort to cut out scalpers when tickets went on sale ...
POP
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Taylor Swift Rocks KIIS Jingle Ball; Watch Her Sing Two Songs (video!)

Keith Girard
Taylor Swift touched off frenzy at the 2012 KIIS FM Jingle Ball at the Nokia Theatre last night (Dec. 1) in Los Angeles. Swift is riding a wave with the release of her new album Red, which soared to the top of the charts in its first week out. The 22-year-old singer gave a pre-show interview with two KIIS FM disc jockeys JoJo and Cisney, whom she kindly thanked for playing all of her singles from her new album on the radio. “You guys are playing all the singles we put out like crazy, thank you for that,” she said....
COUNTRY
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Lana Del Rey Woos Jools With 'Ride' on British Television (Watch)

Keith Girard
Lana Del Rey has always been bigger in Europe than she is in the United States, and it showed in London, where did a guest spot on the Jools Holland show on BBC-2. She sang “Ride” and drew screams from a packed audience. The 26-year-old singer has been promoting her new Paradise EP, which features eight new songs. Holland, 54, is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and hosts a sort of musical variety talk show called “Later… with Jools Holland,” It would be the equivalent of Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” with a heavier music emphasis....
POP
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The Truth About Carly Rae Jepsen: She's Paid Her Dues (photos!)

Keith Girard
Carly Rae Jepsen became a YouTube sensation with a little help from another YouTube sensation, Justin Bieber. Now the fellow Canadian talks to Cosmpolitan about finally catching a break in the music business after years trying. Bieber, like millions of others, was enamored by Jepsen’s pop tune “Call Me, Maybe.” He made it an international hit when he Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and other pals posted a sing-along on YouTube. Jepsen went viral....
POP
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Taylor Swift Down Under Mingles With Fans in Australia (video)

Keith Girard
Taylor Swift was spotted in Australia making the rounds to promote her new album, Red, ahead of her star turn on Aria Awards Thursday night, which is actually tonight by U.S. time standards. The awards show is Australia’s version of the Grammy Awards in the United States, but she’ll only be performing as a special guest. Her new album is not up for any awards. ...
COUNTRY
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Pete Bennett, Legendary '60s, '70s Rock Promoter, Dies Suddenly at 77

Keith Girard
Pete Bennett, one of the top promotion men in rock music during its Golden era, died suddenly of a heart attack on Thanksgiving day at his home in Connecticut. He was 77. Bennett, named “World’s Top Promotion Man,” by Billboard magazine, is credited for propelling the careers of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and many artists and bands. Bennett, born in the Bronx, NY was described by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney as “the promotion man responsible for getting the Beatles on the radio,” according to his company Peter Bennett Enterprises....
CELEBRITIES
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Mick Jagger Cranks It Up as Rolling Stones Open 50th Anniversary Tour

Keith Girard
Mick Jagger put most 69-year-olds to shame as he strutted his stuff on stage at London’s O2 Arena to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary. Keith Richards, 68, Charlie Watts, 71, and Ronnie Wood, 65, did their best to keep up. Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor also joined the celebration. Wyman, 76, retired from the band in the 1990s, while Taylor hasn’t played on stage in more than 30 years. R&B singer Mary J Blige and British guitar god Jeff Beck also joined the Stones, who ran through the repertoire of their most popular songs,...
ROCK
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Peter Gabriel: Insights Into His Genius on New 'So' DVD

Keith Girard
Peter Gabriel’s classic album So was featured in a compelling behind-the-scenes documentary in October and has just been released on DVD by Eagle Rock Entertainment. I have to say, it’s one of the best behind-the-scenes compilations I’ve ever seen. Gabriel’s smash album contained many of his most beloved songs including “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes.” Released in 1986, it was his fifth studio album and seventh album overall. So became the best-selling album of Gabriel’s career and went five-times platinum in the U.S., selling more than 5 million copies. It was also his first experiment with pop music, albeit “on his own terms,” he once said....
BETWEEN THE LINESR & B
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Ke$ha Hits Today Show Determined to Show She's Real (watch!)

Keith Girard
Ke$ha is still having a hard time proving she’s real. With he second album about to drop, she went on the Today Show this morning (Nov. 20) with at least one goal in mind. She wanted to prove she can sing. “Because I really can sing,” she told Savannah Guthrie. The 25-year-old singer has been battered by Internet snark over her purported use of autotune, an electronic device that automatically corrects off-key sounds during vocal recordings or live performances. ...
ROCK
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Justin Bieber Totally Commercial, Films Macy's Holiday Ad (watch!)

Keith Girard
Justin Bieber looks undeniably cute in a new holiday commercial for Macy’s department stores, but the spot also represents one of the down sides of music these days. It’s all about selling. It wasn’t always that way. Back in the early days rock in the ’50s and ’60s, musicians survived on their music alone. Neither Macy’s nor General Motors, for that matter, would think twice about trying to sell a product with a rock song. Not any more. ...
POP

Ashley Greene, Cast Turn Out for Breaking Dawn, Pt 2, NY Premiere (photos!)

Keith Girard
“Twilight” hottie Ashley Greene joined other cast members for the New York City premiere of “Breaking Dawn, Part 2″ at the Landmark Sunshine Theater. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, however, were busy promoting the film in Europe. She was joined by newcomer Mackenzie Foy, who plays Edwards’ and Bella’s child Renesmee, and coven vampires Maggie Grace, Lisa Howard, and Casey LaBow. Cast stalwarts Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser also made the screening....
CalendarENTERTAINMENT

Keith Girard

Keith Girard four decades of experience as an award-winning reporter, editor-in-chief, and senior media executive. Keith’s career began in Washington, D.C., where he was a reporter for The Washington Post and a contributing editor for Regardie's and Washingtonian magazines. He also worked as a writer/producer in CNN's Washington Bureau and has written one book on the U.S. Marines in the Gulf War.