Day in Pop for 09/22: Justice Slow in Michael Jackson Homicide Case- America Idol Winner Kris Allen Releases New Song- Blake Lewis Goes Noir and Announces Some Tour Plans and more top pop music news stories of the day

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Full Report for 09/22/2009

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Justice Slow in Michael Jackson Homicide Case

AP reports: It's been almost three months since Michael Jackson's shocking death, and while Los Angeles police are close to wrapping up their investigation, the decision on whether to bring criminal charges is at least weeks and perhaps months away, legal experts say.

Last month the Los Angeles County coroner ruled Jackson's June 25 death a homicide caused primarily by the powerful anesthetic propofol in combination with the sedative lorazepam.

Tracking down where Jackson got drugs, who provided them, how much his prior drug use contributed to his death and lining up experts to distill complex medical information into layman's terms for a jury is time-consuming. - A lot more here

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America Idol Winner Kris Allen Releases New Song

Jive reports: America Idol Season 8 winner Kris Allen is set to release his debut album on 19 Recordings/Jive Records November 17. The highly anticipated first single from the upcoming album "Live like We Are Dying" goes to radio Monday, September 21.

Producers on the forthcoming album include Saalam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas. Leona Lewis), Steve Kipner (Christina Aquilera, David Archuleta ), Andrew Frampton (Kylie Minogue, Natasha Bedingfield) and Toby Gad (Beyonce, Fergie, Jordin Sparks).

His popular victory song "No Boundaries" went to 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart earlier this year. On the eighth season of American Idol, the 23-year old Conway, Arkansas native, who is a pianist and self-taught guitar player, achieved growing popularity and enthusiastic reviews weekly from television viewers and critics alike. - Listen to the single here

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Blake Lewis Goes Noir and Announces Some Tour Plans

PR reports: Gearing up for the release of his forthcoming sophomore album Heartbreak on Vinyl, American Idol alum and beatboxer/singing sensation Blake Lewis will release the music video for his new single "Sad Song," exclusively on MySpace.com on September 22nd, it was announced today. Also in support of the new release, due out October 6th via Tommy Boy Entertainment, Lewis will be performing several shows across the country.

The soon-to-be-released music video is shot as a 1940s film-noir style story about the end of a couple's relationship, highlighted with some 40s-meets-80s style fashion and video editing. The female lead is played by Casey Carlson who was also an American Idol contestant in the recent season 8.

In the upcoming months, Lewis will be making a number of appearances across the country in support of the new release, performing the tracks from his electronic pop/dance album. On September 26th, in Novato, CA, Lewis will perform at the Rockin' Blues by the Lake festival with the B-52s, among others, assisting to raise money for the Novato School District. Next, Lewis will officially launch his album with a club performance at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA on Thursday, October 8th and will then be a performer at the Atlanta Pride festival on November 1st, which is free to the public. - http://www.myspace.com/blakelewis

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Elton John: The Bitch Is Back

PR reports: In a career spanning five decades, Elton John has proved he can do it all in the world of popular music. He is a true legend. Best-selling celebrity biographer MARK BEGO surveys the life and career of the glittering pop star in his 52nd book Elton John: The Bitch Is Back, published by Phoenix Books.

Until now, no book published has successfully captured his passion and outlandishness or the truth behind his complex private life. Previous books have handled his life with kid gloves, nearly making him into a tasteful 21st Century George Gershwin. In reality, Elton's life more closely parallels that of Oscar Wilde. He has been wild, glitzy, boozy, bawdy and unconventional. And it is his big personality and grand gestures, as well as his tremendous talent that mesmerizes his millions of worldwide followers.

According to the author, "I am really excited about this new book, and I know that Elton's fans will be as well." Bego has rounded up a fascinating group of interview subjects for his Elton biography. "I specifically wanted to talk to people who personally know Elton, and who are not usually interviewed for Elton John books," he explains. "These people's insights into Elton make this quite exciting. Researching this book I interviewed Alice Cooper, Billy Wyman of The Rolling Stones, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Angela Bowie, Sarah Dash of LaBelle, Randy Jones of the Village People, Duncan Faure of The Bay City Rollers, and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum. I also received some great stories from Danny Hutton and Jimmy Greenspoon of Three Dog Night. A lot of people don't realize that it was Three Dog Night who recorded the song that became America's first exposure to Elton's music, via their recording of 'Lady Samantha.' One of my most fun interviews was with the totally colorful and outrageous RuPaul. And, those are just some of the rock & roll figures quoted in the book! There are many more." - more on this story

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Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour and Walk of Fame Induction

PR reports: In celebration of the tour's 12th anniversary, this year's Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour will feature a reunion of the original cast. Multi-Grammy nominee and saxophonist extraordinaire Dave Koz will be joined by Rick Braun, David Benoit, Peter White and Brenda Russell on the 21-date holiday outing, which launches November 27th in Mobile, AL and concludes on December 22nd in Mesa, AZ. The quintet will perform hits from their respective catalogues and join together on a variety of holiday favorites - including many from their album, A Smooth Jazz Christmas By Dave Koz & Friends, which was hailed upon release as "contemporary music's premier event for Christmas 2001" by allmusic.com. Koz has also released two other holiday collections, December Makes Me Feel This Way (1997) and Memories of a Winter's Night (2007).

Today Koz will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. at 1750 N. Vine Street (in front of Capitol Records). Capitol released Dave Koz - Greatest Hits, his first-ever retrospective album last September. Packed with Koz classics such as "You Make Me Smile," "Faces of the Heart," "Can't Let You Go (The Sha La Song)" featuring the late Luther Vandross and "Honey Dipped" plus four brand news songs, it bowed at No. 1 on both Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes' Jazz Album chart.

Lead single "Life In The Fast Lane," was No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz chart for seven weeks. It was followed by "Bada Bing," which hit No. 2, and Koz's latest single, "And Then I Knew," which just went to radio. "And Then I Knew" was produced by Rob Cavallo (Dave Matthews Band, Green Day). Although Koz and Cavallo have known each other since second grade, this marks the first time the GRAMMY-winning producer has produced one of Dave's songs - and his first time ever producing an instrumental artist. - more on this story

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Take The Prodigy To The Hospital

PR reports: Having smashed it with their intensity and energy at virtually every major UK festival this year including headline performances at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Download to name a few, The Prodigy release the third single Take Me To The Hospital on October 20th. Still riding high in the UK charts, their album 'Invaders Must Die' is among the top five selling albums of 2009 and has reaffirmed the band's status as true legends of both dance and rock.

Take Me To The Hospital is the exhilarating car crash sound of all three members � a sound so frenetic, unhinged and deeply bass driven it could only come from the minds of Liam, Keith and Maxim. Steeped in the history early 90s rave The Prodigy themselves pioneered but given a suitably awe inspiring 21st century reboot, this ain't no retro banger � it's a future classic.

Remixes include an apocalyptically gnarly remix from Queens Of the Stone Age front-man Josh Homme collaborating with Liam himself. On the dance-floor side there are mixes from Adam F & Horx, Rusko, Losers and drum & bass demons Sub Focus. - more on this story

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Rubblebucket Mini Tour

PR reports: Rubblebucket is excited to announce 15 Eastern US shows on their upcoming fall tour in support of their latest album, Rubblebucket set to release October 13th. The highly anticipated album is a follow-up to the band's debut Rose's Dream, released last year.

With its unique, afro-beat inspired sound, some exciting recent achievements - including being named Best New Band of 2008 (Seven Days Vermont, a title previously held by Phish and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals) and winning Relix Magazine's Jam-Off Competition - and comparisons having been drawn to Talking Heads, Bjork and Fela Kuti, Rubblebucket is clearly poised for big things on their upcoming tour, into 2010 and beyond!

Led by Alex Toth on trumpet and the inspiring vocals of Kalmia Traver, the nine-piece band produces a sound that defies classification. Its one-of-a-kind style contains hints of dance, rock and funk, resulting in catchy rhythms and soulful melodies that are certain to appeal to fans of countless varied genres of music. - more on this story

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Now, Now Every Children Fall Tour Plans

PR reports: Now, Now Every Children are thrilled to be hitting the road this fall and winter. Dates kick off Mid October in the US and wrap up at the end of 2009 with a trip across the Atlantic to back up Paramore (whom have featured NNEC on their site as a Band of The Month) on their jaunt through the UK. The Minneapolis based band is out in support of their acclaimed full-length debut Cars, released this past July on Afternoon Records.

Now, Now Every Children are especially excited to be getting back in the van after being forced to cut their last tour of the US short due to insurmountable car troubles. Not to mention the fact that their first attempt at playing the UK was foiled by a snafu with customs as they tried to leave Calais, France for England earlier this spring. The upcoming dates will be a great way to see the fans they missed before and also make some new ones along the way.

Since the release of Cars, Now, Now Every Children have been steadily gaining praise for their unique brand of lo-fi indie pop. Named a Spin.com "Must-Hear Band" at this year's Bamboozle, they lived up to the recognition. - more on this story

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Metronomy Releasing New Music As They Hit The Road

PR reports: After their recent reincarnation as a fully realised four piece, UK's electro-pop superstars Metronomy are ready to offer up a spread of new music!

The brand new seven song EP, out October 5th, features the equally outstanding "Not Made For Love" and "Do The Right Thing". This is backed by "What Do I Do Now? " and an array of resplendent remixes courtesy of Leo Zero, Wild Geese, Joakim and more.

After a summer of running on the festival front, Joseph Mount and company whipped up a dance storm in tents all over the world, including Summersonic in Japan, Reading, Leeds and Bestival in the UK, Switzerland, France and forthcoming North American tour in October. - more on this story

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Bebel Gilberto Release Shows

PR reports: Brazilian vocalist Bebel Gilberto will appear for special release date performances at New York City's The Box on September 29 at 7:30 P.M. & 9:30 P.M. Gilberto's new recording All In One will be released that day on Verve.

Known worldwide for her ability to connect modern sounds with the heart and soul of Brazilian music, the New York-born Gilberto focuses on the rhythms of her native country, devising a cosmopolitan yet classic sound with the help of a diverse group of collaborators, including Carlinhos Brown (Caetano Veloso), Didi Gutman (Brazilian Girls), Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Daniel Jobim (grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim) and John King (the Dust Brothers).

All In One perfectly expresses Gilberto's interest in making music that feels romantic and fluid. In particular, "Chica Chica Boom Chic" stands out. The Carmen Miranda song is bolstered by Brown's percussive-heavy arrangements, which is a hallmark of traditional Brazilian music. Most of the record is sung in Portuguese, Bebel's native language, and was conceived, developed and recorded in her home studio. Ronson produced the Stevie Wonder-penned "The Real Thing," which was originally recorded by Sergio Mendes. The Dap Kings, the band best known for supporting Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse, join Gilberto for "The Real Thing." The singer performs a duet with Daniel Jobim (the grandson of bossa nova king Antonio Carlos Jobim) on "Bim Bom," a song that was first recorded by her father, bossa nova legend Jo�o Gilberto. - more on this story

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Rupa & the April Fishes Tour

PR reports: Rupa & the April Fishes will perform select shows throughout the US, Canada and Mexico this fall in support of their forthcoming album este mundo, due out on Cumbancha October 27.

The tour kicked off on September 19 at the Tamejavi Festival in Fresno and will continue with performances at The Mezzanine in San Francisco, The Mint in Los Angeles and The Bellhouse in Brooklyn among other cities.

Described as "one of the hottest emerging acts" by Time Out, Rupa & the April Fishes mix in elements of Gypsy swing, Colombian cumbia, French chanson and Indian ragas for a sound that effortlessly blurs the boundaries of genre and geography. - more on this story

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