andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Aretha Franklin is set to sing at the 56th presidential inauguration on January 20. Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma will play and there will also be performances by two San Francisco children’s choirs, according to CBC News.

The full program for the inauguration was released by organizers on Wednesday. Other performers include Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet). John Williams is the composer/arranger.

Elizabeth Alexander, a poet and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, will read a work for the event. Chief Justice John G. Roberts will administer the oath of office to president-elect Barack Obama.

“The President’s Own,” the United States Marine Band and the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus will be there to perform during the inauguration.
The event marks the first time that youth journalists from Children’s network Nickelodeon TV will be covering the event. J.J., a young TV host, and singer Phil Collin’s daughter, Lilly Collins, will represent the network during the inauguration.

Aretha Franklin has claimed the No. 1 spot in a new Rolling Stone poll of the greatest singers in the rock and roll era.

The Queen of Soul beat the likes of Ray Charles and Elvis Presley to top the magazine’s tally of 100 vocalists.

The list was compiled by 179 music industry insiders, including musicians and producers.

Besides Franklin, Bob Dylan (No. 7) and Stevie Wonder (No. 9) are the only two living musicians in the top 10.

Some of the contemporary singers who made the overall list include Christina Aguilera (No. 58) and Thom Yorke (No. 66), while Canadians getting nods include Neil Young (No. 37) and Joni Mitchell (No. 42).

The list appears in the magazine’s December issue hitting stands this week and is accompanied by written testimonials from famous fans.

“Aretha has everything — the power, the technique,” Mary J. Blige writes in her tribute to Franklin.

“When it comes to expressing yourself through song, there is no one who can touch her. She is the reason why women want to sing.”

The top 10 singers were:

1. Aretha Franklin
2. Ray Charles
3. Elvis Presley
4. Sam Cooke
5. John Lennon
6. Marvin Gaye
7. Bob Dylan
8. Otis Redding
9. Stevie Wonder
10. James Brown

Superstar singers are showing their Respect for Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin as she readies her new album. “Aretha: Falling Out Of Love” is expected to hit store shelves in early 2007 and will feature guest appearances by gospel stars Shirley Ceasar, Karen Clark-Sheard and the Clark Sisters, and country diva Faith Hill.

Franklin says the new album is “the real deal.” She co-produced it with Michael Powell, who has worked with the singing legend before. They co-wrote the songs on the new album along with songwriters Gordon Chambers and Troy Taylor.

Although Hill recorded her parts for the record separately, Franklin had nothing but great things to say about the blonde bombshell. She told Billboard.com that Hill “was fabulous, just fabulous. She’s a very nice lady.”

Franklin’s duet with Mary J. Blige “Never Gonna Break My Faith” is currently up for a Golden Globe for best original song in a motion picture. Co-written by Bryan Adams, the song is featured on the soundtrack for the Miramax film “Bobby.”

R&B’s biggest stars came together yesterday to pay their final respects to eight-time Grammy winner Luther Vandross.

Family, friends, and fans of the legendary singer gathered at the Riverside Church for a stunning memorial service that concluded in an all-star performance of Vandross’ hit single, “Power of Love/Love Power.”

The mourners seated in the first few rows of the church read like a list of who’s who in the music business: current stars such as Alicia Keys and Usher were mere feet away from those who inspired them, like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle.

All were present to remember the 54-year-old Vandross, who died July 1 at a New Jersey hospital, two years after he suffered a debilitating stroke. The soul singer had sold more than 25 million records throughout his illustrious career.

Vandross’ gold coffin sat at the foot of the altar, where a single, simple floral arrangement ? white lilies mingling with white and yellow roses ? had been laid. Seated in the front row was Vandross’ mother, Mary Ida, who was surrounded by the R&B icon’s nine nieces and their 11 children. LaBelle, a long-time friend, read a poem written by Ida, and said, “There are no sad faces here today. It’s not a mournful service. I’m celebrating because Luther would want us to.”

Despite heavy rains, mourners lined up for two city blocks before the church opened, but once inside, stirring musical tributes by Wonder, Franklin, and Cissy Houston made it all worthwhile.

Houston sang the gospel standard “Deep River,” while Wonder performed a moving rendition of gospel song “I Won’t Complain.” Franklin fought back a sore throat to bring the choir and clergy to their feet with “Amazing Grace.”

Before the funeral service, Vandross, a New York native, got to take one final tour through Harlem. A hearse carrying the singer’s remains made a stop outside the Apollo Theater, where Vandross first got his start.