‘Voice’ Star Jamar Rogers Rocks At Yahoo!

Jamar Rogers was one of the breakout stars of "The Voice" Season 2--and if the show rules that later took effect in Season 3 (no team quotas, iTunes sales carrying more weight) had existed that season, there's little doubt that he would've made it to the finale alongside his worthy Team Cee Lo comrade, Juliet Simms. Conspiracy theorists have even suggested that the rule changes of Season 3 were created simply to prevent contestants as talented as Jamar from being robbed in the future. It's not that implausible a theory, really. So, is it too late to demand a Season 2 vote recount?

But anyway, Jamar has kept plenty busy since making "The Voice's" top eight last year--touring, releasing four singles, prepping two EPs, and even playing a music cruise with his pals from his brief stint on "American Idol" Season 8, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. Thankfully, he made time between gigs and recording sessions to stop by Yahoo! Music's HQ, too, to perform some of his new original tunes. Even just in a tiny room, accompanied by a single acoustic guitar, Jamar's amazing (wait for it) voice came shining through:

Jamar also chatted with Reality Rocks about his time on "The Voice," his time on "Idol," what he's been up to since, and how he's using his life experience (as a recovering drug addict living with HIV) to help others. It was one of the most in-depth interviews I've done in a while, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

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‘Voice’ Star Jamar Rogers Rocks At Yahoo!

Jamar Rogers was one of the breakout stars of "The Voice" Season 2--and if the show rules that later took effect in Season 3 (no team quotas, iTunes sales carrying more weight) had existed that season, there's little doubt that he would've made it to the finale alongside his worthy Team Cee Lo comrade, Juliet Simms. Conspiracy theorists have even suggested that the rule changes of Season 3 were created simply to prevent contestants as talented as Jamar from being robbed in the future. It's not that implausible a theory, really. So, is it too late to demand a Season 2 vote recount?

But anyway, Jamar has kept plenty busy since making "The Voice's" top eight last year--touring, releasing four singles, prepping two EPs, and even playing a music cruise with his pals from his brief stint on "American Idol" Season 8, Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. Thankfully, he made time between gigs and recording sessions to stop by Yahoo! Music's HQ, too, to perform some of his new original tunes. Even just in a tiny room, accompanied by a single acoustic guitar, Jamar's amazing (wait for it) voice came shining through:

Jamar also chatted with Reality Rocks about his time on "The Voice," his time on "Idol," what he's been up to since, and how he's using his life experience (as a recovering drug addict living with HIV) to help others. It was one of the most in-depth interviews I've done in a while, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

Related links:

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Amazon

Electronics Review Center

Read more »

Lionel Richie Duets With Kenny Rogers at SXSW

Lionel Richie performs at the Billboard Showcase during SXSW at ACL Live in Austin, Texas.

Lionel Richie may not be a typical SXSW buzz band, but the R&B icon used his set at ACL Live’s Moody Theater – where he anchored Billboard’s showcase – to remind the music industry just exactly who he is and where he’s been. The performance proved he’s still got some of the magic that made him one of the most successful male solo artists of the 1980s, following his stint in one of Motown’s most successful acts, the Commodores.

"Why has it taken me this long to make it to South By Southwest?" he asked at the beginning of his hit-heavy set, before launching into a series of Commodore classics including "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" and, later, "Brick House." Shortly after coming on strong, he told the crowd that he was going to change his set around for an unplanned solo piano segment. "In fact, I think I want the band to leave the stage," he said. "Just me; just you." He then tickled the ivories for a stirring renditions of "Still" and "Oh No."

Other bits of the night appeared to be either spontaneous, or at least unexpected, such as when the band launched into a jam of Van Halen’s "Jump" in the middle of Richie’s own "Dancing on the Ceiling."

But the true highlight came when Richie invited Kenny Rogers to the stage. "I’m about to bring out one of my dearest friends and we made many records together," said Richie. Turning to Rogers, he said, "Kenny, having you up on this stage is about the best thing that could happen to either of us." He then recalled that the first time he met Rogers, he told the music legend that one day he wanted to be as big as him. "I’m still not there," he joked – kinda. The pair performed "Lady," after which they embraced.

Richie has a new album coming out later this month, Tuskegee, but chose to dig deep into his Commodores catalog, as well as pull out crowd pleasers from his solo career including an encore of "All Night Long (All Night)."

Nonetheless, he made his purpose at this relatively intimate show at his first SXSW clear: "We’re about to go on a world tour," he said. "And this is a warm-up to the warm-up to the warm-up."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Lionel Richie Duets With Kenny Rogers at SXSW

Lionel Richie performs at the Billboard Showcase during SXSW at ACL Live in Austin, Texas.

Lionel Richie may not be a typical SXSW buzz band, but the R&B icon used his set at ACL Live’s Moody Theater – where he anchored Billboard’s showcase – to remind the music industry just exactly who he is and where he’s been. The performance proved he’s still got some of the magic that made him one of the most successful male solo artists of the 1980s, following his stint in one of Motown’s most successful acts, the Commodores.

"Why has it taken me this long to make it to South By Southwest?" he asked at the beginning of his hit-heavy set, before launching into a series of Commodore classics including "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" and, later, "Brick House." Shortly after coming on strong, he told the crowd that he was going to change his set around for an unplanned solo piano segment. "In fact, I think I want the band to leave the stage," he said. "Just me; just you." He then tickled the ivories for a stirring renditions of "Still" and "Oh No."

Other bits of the night appeared to be either spontaneous, or at least unexpected, such as when the band launched into a jam of Van Halen’s "Jump" in the middle of Richie’s own "Dancing on the Ceiling."

But the true highlight came when Richie invited Kenny Rogers to the stage. "I’m about to bring out one of my dearest friends and we made many records together," said Richie. Turning to Rogers, he said, "Kenny, having you up on this stage is about the best thing that could happen to either of us." He then recalled that the first time he met Rogers, he told the music legend that one day he wanted to be as big as him. "I’m still not there," he joked – kinda. The pair performed "Lady," after which they embraced.

Richie has a new album coming out later this month, Tuskegee, but chose to dig deep into his Commodores catalog, as well as pull out crowd pleasers from his solo career including an encore of "All Night Long (All Night)."

Nonetheless, he made his purpose at this relatively intimate show at his first SXSW clear: "We’re about to go on a world tour," he said. "And this is a warm-up to the warm-up to the warm-up."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Kenny Rogers Sues Capitol Records Over Royalties

Kenny Rogers performs at Hard Rock Live! in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Kenny Rogers has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Tennessee alleging that Capitol Records has failed to pay him royalties for music sold as digital downloads or ringtones. The suit also alleges that the label has not paid the country star any portion of the monetary awards it has won in piracy lawsuits against companies such as Napster and Kazaa.

Rogers' original recording contract was with United Artists in 1975, but Capitol took it over after an agreement in 1977. According to that contract, royalty rates for all recorded works is set at "one-half of company's net royalties from each source." The singer's suit insists the label's refusal to pay appropriately for digital downloads is "part of a conscious decision by Capitol Records and others in the music business to deprive artists of their proper royalties."

Photos: Random Notes
Rogers is not the first to pursue this sort of lawsuit over a label neglecting to honor a royalty agreement when it comes to digital sales. The outcome of a lawsuit last year on behalf of Eminem set a precedent for establishing digital downloads as a "sale," not differentiated from traditional physical formats. Other artists, including Peter Frampton and Chuck D of Public Enemy, have pursued lawsuits in the wake of that decision.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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