Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of March 31, 2019

April 8, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of March 31, 2019, the 2019 Billboard Music Awards nominees were announced, and among the honorees are Elton John, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and late Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. The awards ceremonies will air live from Las Vegas May 1 on NBC.

Also that week, Rolling Stone announced that David Crosby will play Dear Abby as this magazine's newest advice columnist and will answer all your life's questions. The worldly rock legend can be reached at askcroz@rolllingstone.com or via Twitter with the hashtag #AskCroz.

Also, a spokesperson for Mick Jagger confirmed that he is doing very well and expected to make a full recovery from his recent heart valve operation. After having had to postpone the North American spring leg of their No Filter tour, The Rolling Stones are expected to resume touring sometime in July. In the meantime, Fleetwood Mac will fill in for the Stones at their previously-scheduled headliner concert taking place May 2, 2019 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Barry Manilow announced an extension of his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate resort and casino's Westgate International Theater into the fall, with new shows scheduled for September 19-21 and 26-28 and October 10-12 and 17-19, 2019. The Eagles will perform their landmark album, "Hotel California," in its entirety, along with a set of the band's greatest hits, during two special shows to take place September 27 and 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Cher added 14 new concert dates to her "Here We Go Again" tour beginning November 19 in Portland, OR and ending December 19 in Dallas, TX, with stops in many states across the country. Also, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues will host the 2020 On the Blue Cruise which sets sail from Miami on April 1. Other featured performers will include Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, Firefall, Focus, Art Garfunkel, Dave Mason, Orleans, Alan Parsons, and Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes.

Also that week, BET announced that "American Soul," a new hit show inspired by the iconic music-dance TV series, "Soul Train," will be coming back for a second season. The Season 1 finale airs on April 2, 2019. Also, Hilton is commemorating the 50th anniversary of John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono's historic Bed-In for Peace protest with a new YouTube video series titled "Room 702." The Bed-In for Peace protest took place March 25-31, 1969 in Room 702 at the Hilton Amsterdam in protest to the Vietnam war.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to rockabilly pioneer Billy Adams (d. March 30, 2019) who passed away at age 79. He wrote and recorded "Rock, Pretty Mama" and other late 1950s rockabilly classics and was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.

(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)