Modern Music

After their first trip down memory lane with Hip-Hop went viral, singer/actor Justin Timberlake and Late Night host Jimmy Fallon were at it again with a second installment of the comical music montage, History of Rap, Part 2.

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History of Rap features snippets of songs that run the gamut of hip hop history, from Kurtis Blow’s 80’s hit “These are the Brakes” to more current tunes, like “Teach Me how to Dougie”.

Fallon and Timberlake’s duo is fun and spot on. The Roots provide the incredible tunes to go along with the lyrics.

Whether you’re an avid rap fan or you just occasionally mumble along to hits like 50 Cent’s “Go shorty, it’s your birthday” you can surely get a kick out of this Hip-hop rhapsody.

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Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Charlie Taylor (right) and Steve Smith jam together on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in preparation for this weekends Garage Band Woodstock. Taylor will be playing with Chevelle V and Smith will be playing with the Furies.

It started out as a casual jam session a couple of years ago. Just some old-timers getting behind their instruments after stuffing themselves with crawfish.

They were playing out at a ranch owned by Wayland Huey, one of the movers and shakers in Abilene’s ’60s rock scene.

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Jon Farriss chuckles to himself when it’s pointed out that his band INXS has had a tumultuous six years since 2005.

His laugh says, “More than you know, mate,” which is probably true. Who knew where a reality TV show, Rockstar: INXS, would lead a band trying to jump-start a stalled career? Who knew the doubts, or second guessing, or reservations that went on?

For his part, the Rockstar: INXS experience allowed Farriss to step back from the band and alter his priorities. He’d become a father and his children came first.

“Yeah,” he admits. “I’ve had to take a hard look at myself.”

The guy who passed the audition was J.D.

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A sold out music festival is a feat in itself; but to sell out in just 10 minutes is a feat the first ever iHeartRadio Music Festival can boast. The two-day concert, taking place in Las Vegas on Sept. 23 and 24, sold out within the first 10 minutes of being on sale to the general public this past Saturday (July 16).

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STORY: Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler to Headline iHeartRadio Music Festival
 
The festival is the result of the official launch of the new iHeartRadio, Clear Channels digital radio product.
 
 The accomplishment undoubtedly owes its success to the huge amount of star power in its lineup.

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NEW YORK — Jerry Ragovoy, a songwriter credited with songs made famous by the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin and others, has died at the age of 80.

Ragovoy died last week at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Jim Steinblatt, a representative for the performance rights group ASCAP, says he died of complications from a stroke.

Among some of Ragovoy’s most famous tunes were “Time Is On My Side” by the Rolling Stones, “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin and “Pata, Pata” by Miriam Makeba.

Some of his songs were credited to a pseudonym, Norman Meade.

Over the years, his songs were recorded by greats like Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Aretha Franklin.

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