Fragrances Boutique

AP – Mitch Miller, the goateed orchestra leader who asked Americans to “Sing Along With Mitch” on television and records, has died at age 99.

AP – When rapper K’Naan was recording songs peppered with tales about warfare, poverty and despair in his native Somalia, there were people who told him he should consider abandoning his socially conscious frame of mind for material that wasn’t so somber.

AP – These ivories have history.

AP – Los Lobos, “Tin Can Trust” (Shout! Factory)

AP – Here come the new judges on “American Idol,” maybe.

AP – Country singer Jimmy Wayne can finally put his feet up.

Reuters – Our national obsession with the tanned, gelled, fist-pumping cast of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” doesn’t look as if it will end anytime soon. Witness the international headlines after Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was arrested for disorderly conduct last Friday.

Reuters – Just what television needs: another awards show.

Reuters – U.S. jazz singer Al Jarreau was discharged from hospital on Sunday after being treated for heart problems and plans to continue his European tour on Tuesday, hospital authorities in Marseille said.

AP – A French cardiologist who’s been treating Al Jarreau says the Grammy-award winning singer has been discharged from the hospital, more than a week after he was admitted.

AP – His name is all but forgotten today, but a century ago Franz Schreker was considered perhaps the most important operatic composer since Richard Wagner.

AP – Thousands of grief-stricken mourners watched in tears on Saturday as rescue workers lit one white candle for every one of the 21 people crushed to death in a tunnel at the Love Parade techno music festival.

Appolicious – The $2.99 Rush iPhone app is one I can get behind because I like Rush. As any self-respecting drummer has, I have watched videos of Neil Peart playing, drooled over pictures of his drum kit, and tuned in to his beats when listening to Rush songs.

Reuters – Wedding proposals at concerts are nothing new, but country act Little Big Town took things a step further on its recent tour, setting up a space for lucky fans to tie the knot at one of its shows.

Reuters – Making an album about such seemingly simple concepts as food or ice cream trucks might seem like a fool’s errand, but for Brooklyn indie duo One Ring Zero, those concepts have led to opportunities to perform at events including book award ceremonies and children’s festivals.

Reuters – Kings of Leon’s Nathan Followill is confident that organizers of the upcoming Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco will keep stray pigeons as far away from the stage as possible. But, the drummer notes, “we’re bringing a couple of muzzle loaders, just in case.”

Reuters – Freddie Gibbs has nothing against rap artists who embrace catchy hooks to land on pop radio, but that’s not his style. He didn’t need a hit single to draw attention to both of his 2009 mixtapes, and he’s about to delve deeper into hardcore street rap on his new EP, “Str8 Killa.”

Reuters – Rappers have a propensity for christening themselves with royal titles to promote their standing in hip-hop (e.g., King of the South, Prince of Rap). But for Bun B, the less-regal handle Trill OG was the most fitting.

Reuters – Most people wouldn’t associate the term “modern” with classical chamber music. But if anyone can pull off the pairing, it’s bassist/vocalist/composerEsperanza Spalding.

Reuters – Before Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers once again invade tween TVs with “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” fans of the Disney franchise can sing along with the “Camp Rock 2″ soundtrack, due August 10.

AP – The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week’s ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

AP – The mayor of the German city where 21 people were crushed to death at a music festival last weekend is facing growing pressure to resign amid nationwide outrage over the tragedy.

AP – The Black Eyed Peas have more proof of the ubiquity of “I Gotta Feeling.”

Appolicious – The $2.99 Rush iPhone app is one I can get behind because I like Rush. As any self-respecting drummer has, I have watched videos of Neil Peart playing, drooled over pictures of his drum kit, and tuned in to his beats when listening to Rush songs.

AP – Despite his success with the Grammy-winning, multiplatinum group OutKast, Big Boi felt artistically stifled when he tried to step out on his own as a solo rapper.