George Jones’ had risen from a talented youngster performing on the street corner with his father to a superstar climbing the Top Ten charts in the 50′s. But soon his personal and professional life took a turn for the worse and was headed to a downward spiral in the 60′s and 70′s. It wasn’t until the 80′s with help from his fourth wife Nancy Sepulvada that Jones got back on track both in his life and with his music.  Remembering George Jones comes to a conclusion with his comeback and final years.

The 80’s

Musically, Jones began making a comeback in 1980 with a Top Ten duet with Tammy Wynette, “Two Story House,” early in the year. However, the song that pushed him back to the top of the charts was the dramatic ballad “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The song hit number one and started a new series of Top Ten hits and number one singles that ran through 1986. They were so successful it rivaled the peak of his popularity in the ’60s. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” was followed by the Top Ten hit “I’m Not Ready Yet” and the album ‘I Am What I Am’ in the fall of the 1980, which became his most successful album, going platinum.

From 1981-83, Jones had eight Top Ten hits. Although he was having hits again, he was still struggling with his personal demons. Jones was going on crazed, intoxicated rampages, which culminated with a televised police chase of Jones, who was driving drunk through the streets of Nashville. With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvada, whom he had married in March 1983, he was able to shake his drug and alcohol addictions. By the end of the year he had completed his rehabilitation.

Jones continued to have hits on the Top Ten regularly until 1987, when the onset of newer artists dominated and kept Jones’ music off the charts. Interestingly, these same artists were heavily influenced by Jones himself. In 1987 Jones and his wife moved back to Nashville where he recorded his final album with Billy Sherrill in 1988 titled ‘One Woman Man’. This album was Jones’ final solo Top Ten hit as well as his last record for Epic Records.

The 90’s

Despite no longer having a huge presence on modern country radio in 1990’s, Jones continued to record and tour. After the release of ‘One Woman Man’, Jones recorded a duet with Randy Travis, “A Few Ole Country Boys,” that was a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1990. Jones had signed with MCA and released his first record for them in 1991 titled ‘And Along Came Jones’. In 1995, he reunited with his ex-wife Wynette to record ‘One’. In April of 1996, Jones published his autobiography, I Lived to Tell It All. In the book, he devoted a full chapter to the changes in the country music scene of the 1990′s. In his later years Jones was also very vocal about his disappointment for the direction country music has taken in the last two decades. In 1998, he released another studio album titled ‘It Don’t Get Any Better Than This’.

Final Years

Following the release of ‘It Don’t Get Any Better Than This’, Jones left MCA and moved to Elektra/Asylum, who signed him on the condition that he would record hardcore country music.

While Jones was completing work for his debut album for the label, he crashed his car into a bridge in Nashville on March 6, 1999. Though he was critically injured, he pulled through and recovered. However, the investigation revealed that Jones had been drinking and driving. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, DWI, and entered a rehab program.  The release of his debut album, ‘Cold Hard Truth’, went on as scheduled in the summer of 1999. He then went on to release the albums ‘The Rock: Stone Cold Country’ in 2001 and in 2005 ‘Hits I Missed…And One I Didn’t', which found Jones looking back over the years and picking songs that he originally declined to record, but were hits for the other artists. On the record, he recorded a duet with Dolly Parton titled “The Blues Man.” In 2006 he released the album ‘God’s Country: George Jones and Friends’. His final album was released by Vanguard Records in 2008 titled ‘Burning Your Playhouse Down’.

Jones has received many honors during his long career, from Most Promising New Country Vocalist in 1956 to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and being named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008. In 2012, he was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. At the ceremony, his longtime friend Merle Haggard paid tribute to him. His many awards include Billboards, Grammys and CMA’s.

In popular view, George Jones was the finest vocalist in the recorded history of country music. He started out as a hardcore honky tonker in the tradition of his idol Hank Williams and developed effective subtle ballad style while staying closer to the roots of hardcore country. Throughout his career, he never left the top of the country charts and overcame his personal struggles. Many others have paid tribute to Jones while expressing their love and respect for his legacy. George was a true country legend who paved the way for many country stars’ success.  He will always be remembered by music fans.

Image credit: George Jones via Facebook

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VH1 is known for music programming and reality television; however, that will soon change as the network makes its bold, first attempt at a scripted film,”Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story.” The long awaited film will take viewers on a ride from the group members’ beginnings, to their meteoric rise to the top of the music charts in the 1990s and beyond.

Hip-hop artist and television personality Lil Mama will have the honor of portraying the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez. Lil Mama emerged onto the scene in 2007 with her infectious hit single “Lip Gloss” from her “VYP: Voice of the Young People” album. The song attained a Gold certification from the RIAA in 2008, while the album went on to sell 19, 000 copies in its first week and 66,000 copies thereafter. Lil Mama then began serving as a judge on MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew“ in 2008 at the age of 19. This will be her first film.

Keke Palmer has been chosen to portray Rozunda “Chili” Thomas. Unlike Lil Mama, Palmer is not new to the film industry. The 19-year-old has appeared in films alongside Laurence Fishburne (‘Akeelah and the Bee’), Tyler Perry (‘Madea’s Family Reunion’), Ice Cube (‘The Longshots’) and Dolly Parton (‘Joyful Noise’), among others. Of her new role, Palmer tells the Daily News, “I’m excited to be a part of this amazing project portraying one of the members of such an iconic group that inspired my passion for music.”

Drew Sidora will round out the cast as Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins. Sidora’s most notable roles are as Lucy Avila in ‘Step Up’, alongside Channing Tatum, and as herself on “The Game”, a television series. When the news first broke of her involvement in the biopic, Sidora took to her twitter account to thank her fans and share a few encouraging words. “Be sure to always believe in yourself. Never give up! Stay optimistic and persistent and amazing things will come into play!”

Though some TLC fans have expressed doubts that the ladies will be able to pull off their portrayals, VH1’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Production is confident that the project will be a success. “With this cast, we are thrilled with the talent assembled both in front of and behind the cameras,” he said. “TLC are truly music pioneers and this movie is a fantastic way to expand our scripted push by combining our audience’s passion for music with their love of story. We know our viewers will be eager to go beyond the headlines and into the surprisingly personal, never before told stories of these groundbreaking women.”

TLC’s surviving members, Thomas and Watkins, will serve as the film’s executive producers.

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Late last year cable giant Lifetime announced that they would be remaking the 1989 classic ‘Steele Magnolias’. As though that news was not shocking enough, the network also disclosed that the new version of the film would have an all-black cast. Starring Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott and Condola Rashad, the film will follow six Louisiana women as they experience the ups and downs of life.

Of the remake, Nancy Dubuc, president and general manager of Lifetime Entertainment stated,

The caliber of talent associated with this film is astounding and falls in line with our strategy to make Lifetime a first stop for the industry’s best both in front of and behind the camera. Queen Latifah, Phylicia, Alfre, Jill, Adepero and Condola are some of the most celebrated women in music, film, television and stage—and we could not be more thrilled and honored for them to bring Robert Harling’s poignant story about the strength of women to a whole new generation.

News of the remake has stirred much debate on the internet. There are those who are thrilled that the film will be told from black women’s perspectives. Then, there are those who are upset that a classic will potentially be ruined.

Adapted from Robert Harling’s stage play of the same name and starring Sally Field and Dolly Parton, ‘Steel Magnolias’ premiered in November 1989. It instantly became a favorite among film lovers and went on to gross more than 95 million dollars at the box office. The film was originally intended to be a short story as Harling attempted to cope with the death of his younger sister, Susan Harling Robinson, a diabetic.

Instead, a full-length play developed. The idea behind the play was to show the strength of women through humor and conversation. Harling wanted to keep the integrity of his family’s ordeal intact, so for the film he cast several of Susan’s actual nurses, doctors and other hospital staff in their real life roles.

The title, ‘Steel Magnolias’, refers to the delicacy of a magnolia flower and the strength of steel. A total oxymoron, it suggests that not all things which are thought to be pretty, but weak, are so. The women in the film prove that when faced with tragedy, they are more than delicate darlings to be admired.

No official release date has been set for the film; however, the network has recently released a trailer to stir excitement among fans.

Image Courtesy of   Jose Gil / Shutterstock.com

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Country music legend Dolly Parton has endorsed the California premiere of 9 To 5: The Musical, for which she wrote the popular score. Nationally celebrated arts organization, CMT Marquee Productions, opens the premiere of the Broadway hit show on April 13.

The show is produced by Marquee Productions, which mounts an annual musical with proceeds benefiting Children’s Musical Theater San Jose. Marquee Productions shows feature adult actors from throughout the South Bay who donate their time to the organization. The musical runs through 22 at downtown San Jose’s historic Montgomery Theater.

The musical is based on the 1980 movie which starred Jane Fonda, Lilly Tomlin and Ms. Parton, herself. The production ran on Broadway in 2009 featuring actress Allison Janney, and was nominated for four Tony Awards and a Grammy Award for best original score.

“Bravo! I am so proud to hear that CMT Marquee Productions has chosen San Jose’s wonderful historic Montgomery Theater to present “9 to 5: The Musical,” says Ms. Parton. “We can’t do enough to give training and performance opportunities to the children and young adults in our communities. Very special thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts, individual donors and local organizations for making this all possible. I truly hope you enjoy my music.”

The Marquee Productions presentation of 9 To 5 is directed and choreographed by Kevin R. Hauge, who has been with the company for seventeen years, and includes prominent Silicon Valley business executive and former San Jose mayoral candidate Michael Mulcahy in a lead role. 9 To 5 marks the second major premiere in one season for Marquee Productions, after having produced the West Coast premiere of Disney’s Tarzan.

About CMT: Children’s Musical Theater celebrates its 44th anniversary as the longest thriving performing arts organization in San Jose. For the past nine years successively, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded CMT grants in recognition of artistic excellence.

One of the nation’s leading theater companies for youth, CMT presents ten full-scale productions each season and provides training and performance opportunities for children and young adults. Ongoing support from individual donors, local organizations and the NEA strengthen the company’s ability to mount productions and serve the regional community. Visit CMTSJ.org for more information.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Back in early 2010 after a huge media backlash, John Mayer seemed to disappear. Now, after almost two years, Mayer has returned in an unexpected way.

John Mayer first came on the music scene with the success of his first album Room for Squares in 2001. Songs such as “No Such Thing,” and “Your Body is a Wonderland” gained popularity and even resulted in a Grammy Award win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Since then, Mayer has been nominated for 18 Grammys and has won seven. He has collaborated with Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Kanye West and other notable celebrities.

Mayer’s accomplishments, however, have often been looked past by his relationships with famous women such as Minka Kelly and Jessica Simpson, among many others. As a result, Hollywood has dubbed him a “womanizer.”

In February 2010, John Mayer’s infamous Playboy interview became a heated topic as he discussed his controversial feelings on race, past relationships with Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Anniston, and homosexuality.  Readers and fans of Mayer found more information than they wanted whereas his toughest critics found more ammunition.

Almost immediately, numerous groups such as GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) called on Mayer to apologize after he used anti-gay slurs. Notable movie critic, Roger Ebert called Mayer out on his twitter,  ”To John Mayer regarding black women: What’s not to like?”, as the musician said he said he wouldn’t open up himself to dating black women.

Many people were offended by Mayer’s remarks and he expressed regret concerning the interview. “Maybe I need to take a break from trying to be clever… I quit the media game. I quit the sound byte game,” Mayer said to a Nashville, TN crowd as he took an emotional break during his concert shortly after the interview was released.

Mayer also took to his Twitter account to apologize for the interview and the actions he has taken in the past few years to his 3.7 million followers. Since then, he has deleted his account and moved to Tumblr. His last tweet, “What does this button do?” was posted in September of 2010.

Since then, Youtube videos have surfaced of Mayer performing surprise concerts at small cafés. His hair is grown out with plenty of facial hair and wearing a fedora, a look that resembles Johnny Depp. Even at the 2011 Grammy Awards where the musician performed a short version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” with Norah Jones and Keith Urban, Kanye West tweeted,“I didn’t know Johnny Depp played guitar.”

Despite all of the heartache, Mayer seems to be coming back in the spotlight. Rollin’ With Zach is a new television show on Oprah Winfrey’s Network, OWN, where John Mayer lends his talents for the show’s opening theme song. Zach Anner, the host of the show, is a stand up comedian with cerebral palsy who travels across the United States to historic cities.

Anner won Winfrey’s competition, Your OWN Show in early 2011 with the help of Mayer. People were able to go online and vote for their favorite contestant. However, Anner was lacking in votes until his favorite musician posted a video encouraging fans to vote for the aspiring television host. A day after the video was posted, Anner was well into the lead and won by a large gap this past January.

Rollin’ With Zach airs every Monday on OWN at 8pm.

“Let the Boy,” the title song for the show’s theme, is the first official song John Mayer has released in over two years.

After the song was recorded, Mayer was diagnosed with granuloma, a serious throat condition in which an enlarged nodule sits just above the vocal cords. The granuloma was taken out in late October, but it hindered his upcoming album being released. “I am now on complete vocal rest for a month or more,” Mayer wrote on his Tumblr and also added, “I stay in at night…dreaming of playing on the big stage.”

The Grammy-winner’s fifth studio album, Born and Raised, is set to be released in early 2012.

Gustavo Miguel Fernandes / Shutterstock.com

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