Gone Too Soon

I've interviewed just about everyone in the game in the music business, from Madonna to Prince to Beyonce to Dolly Parton to Jay-Z, but the one person I've always wanted to talk to was Michael Jackson. It was partly because of course he is _ or was (sorry, it's hard to get used to talking in the past tense about MJ) _ the world's greatest and most complex entertainer. But also, I was a huge fan. Not in the sense that I blindly saw MJ as a god, but really connected with him and believed in his magic.

So it was with a heavy heart that last week, I found myself working on his obituary. I really can't believe he is gone. Michael Jackson has informed my entire life with his music, and been such a focal point for things outside of music. He was so much more than the soundtrack to our lives.

I went to his parents' house the other day and snapped this picture of the growing memorial to him; it's still so surreal.

Here's a link to my appreciation of one of othe most unique characters to ever grace this planet.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504841.html

Jay-Z's "Death of Auto-Tune"

By now most Jay-Z fans have heard the "Death of Auto-Tune" song he dropped on Friday ... so far I've heard mixed response. What do people think? I know he can't hate on Auto-Tuners that much since he came out on stage with the King of Auto-Tune, T-Pain, at Summer Jam ... Take a listen ...

Kenny Loggins' mini me: Crosby Loggins

That might be a little bit unfair, actually ... Even though Crosby Loggins is the son of pop-soul man Kenny Loggins, he's got his own sound apart from his dad. And he showcased it this week at a showcase at Pop Burger in midtown Manhattan.

In front of a small group of journalists and an acoustic guitar, Loggins performed a few songs (including a weird one about a dog getting shot, which thankfully is not on his upcoming debut album).

Crosby talked about working with people like Brett Dennen and John Mayer, and recording the CD, "A Time To Move, which is out July 14.

Here's a few pics I took while he was performing. Enjoy!

Kanye kills it about 98 percent of the time ...

I am listening to DJ Class' "I'm the S%#@!" and of course Kanye has the verse that makes the track stick in your head for hours and hours ... you may hate him but you can't deny that he usually kills it on record.

I wish his verse on the "Ego" remix was as good as this, but of course, you can't win them all, as Lebron James knows ...