Scott's Rock & Roll Music News

8.16.10 - Patti Labelle Hits Broadway - Patti Labelle will join the cast of the Broadway musical, "Fela," beginning September 14 and running through its scheduled close January 2. The musical centers around the life of Nigerian political activist and performer Fela Kuti. OldiesMusic.com

8.23.10 - George David Weiss, 1921-2010 - George David Weiss, a songwriter best known for such pop classics as 'What a Wonderful World,' 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight,' dies of natural causes. For more details and video, click here. Courtesy Sam Teicher Archives/Songwriters Hall of Fame

8.15.10 - Bon Jovi Helps Apollo Theater - Every arts organization and national institution should get a board member like Revlon chairman Ronald Perelman. Like this reporter, he loves classic R&B music. The result of him going to an event last year at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater is that he’s now on their board of directors and getting involved. Click here for more! Roger Friedman, ShowBiz411.com

8.12.10 - Carl Perkins Honored - Carl "Blue Suede Shoes" Perkins was posthumously honored on August 12th with a brass music note on Memphis' Beale Street Walk of Fame. OldiesMusic.com

8.10.10 - Olivia Honored in Australia - Olivia Newton-John was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia by the Governor-General in Canbera. Olivia was actually given the honor in 2006 but just now was able to collect it. This honor is given for Newton-John's service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actress. She was also recognized for her fundraising work for breast cancer research. The Sydney Morning Herald

8.8.10 - Ted Kowalski of The Diamonds Dies - Ted Kowalski, a member of Canadian quartet The Diamonds, who had a string of hits in the late 1950s, has died. He was 79. Kowalski was the original tenor with The Diamonds, an all-white quartet that did cover versions of many R&B hits created by black artists. Formed in Toronto in 1953, the group was fronted by Dave Somerville and also included Phil Leavitt and Bill Reed. For more, click here. CBC News

8.6.10 - Catfish Collins Dies - Phelps "Catfish" Collins, guitarist with Parliament/Funkadelic as well as James Brown and brother of Bootsy Collins, died August 6th of cancer in Cincinnati at the age of 66. His death follows that of Funkadelic guitarist Gary Shider, who died June 16. Boston Herald