New recording of John Prine song released for pandemic relief
The Recording Academy has released a new recording of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” with proceeds going to support the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Prine died in April at age 73 from complications associated with the coronavirus. A two-time Grammy winner, the Recording Academy announced in December that Prine would be honored with a 2020 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The new recording features artists, musicians and engineers who also are elected leaders in the Recording Academy, including singer-songwriter Christine Albert, Brandon Bush of Sugarland, John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band and Jeff Powell, an acclaimed Memphis engineer/producer.
Tammy Hurt, vice chair of the Recording Academy and one of the contributors on the recording, said in a statement that Prine was known for his giving spirit and the new “Angel From Montgomery” recording is a tribute to honor that spirit.
A Pixar first: A gay main character has finally appeared in a Pixar film. “Out,” a short film released Friday on Disney Plus, follows a man named Greg who struggles to come out to his mom and dad as he gets ready to move to the city with his boyfriend, Manuel. Greg’s inner turmoil rises as his parents surprise him and come to help him pack. In a magical turn of events, Greg switches bodies with his dog, and as he tries to hide evidence of his relationship, he soon realizes he shouldn’t hide who he truly is from his parents. “Out” was directed by Steven Clay Hunter, whose previous Pixar credits include “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E.”
Author DJs radio show: Acclaimed Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, hosting a special radio show from home, painted a brighter side of the world with his favorite music, and said the fight against the coronavirus is a challenge in figuring out ways to help and care for each other. The 71-yearold, known for bestsellers such as “A Wild Sheep Chase” and “Windup Bird Chronicle,” said Friday he hoped the show would “blow away some of the corona-related blues.” Murakami opened the two-hour late-night show “Murakami Radio Stay Home Special” with “Look for the Silver Lining” by the Modern Folk Quartet, followed by 18 other songs, selected from classical to jazz, pop and rock. Their common thread: smile, sunshine, rainbow, birthday memories and other happy sides of life.
May 25 birthdays: Actress Ann Robinson is
91. Country singer Tom T. Hall is 84. Actor Ian McKellen is 81. Director-Muppetteer Frank Oz is 76. Actress Jacki Weaver is 73. Singer-guitarist Paul Weller is 62. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 57. Actress Octavia Spencer is 50. Rapper Daz Dillinger is 47. Actor Cillian Murphy is
44. Actress Lauren Frost is
35. Musician Guy Lawrence is 29.