andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Madonna, Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Robbie Williams are just a few of the superstars planning to record numbers for an upcoming Michael Jackson tribute album, reports the Daily Star. Whitney Houston, Usher and 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi of Britain’s Got Talent will also reportedly be featured alongside legends like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.

“The idea came from the memorial concert,” said a source. “Many fans asked if cover versions would be released and it seemed a wonderful idea. Some of the biggest stars in the world have indicated they’d like to take part to pay their own respects and tribute to the King of Pop. This cover album is sure to be a massive worldwide hit with fans and could raise a fortune for Michael’s favourite charities.”

Jafargholi, who performed “Who’s Loving You” at the memorial held for Jackson in Los Angeles, will record that track, as well as the song “Ben.” Carey will be singing “I’ll Be There,” while Williams will perform “Man in the Mirror.”

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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will host a concert at the White House later this month to honour Stevie Wonder.

The Motown legend is set to receive a Gershwin Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress at the Feb. 25 celebration.

The concert will be shown on PBS the next day as part of the network’s “In Performance at the White House” series.

Wonder’s classics “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” and “Higher Ground” were mainstays of Obama’s presidential campaign soundtrack.

The musician also performed at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, when Obama accepted his party’s nomination, and at a concert during the week of Obama’s inauguration.

Wonder has sold more than 70 million albums and was awarded a lifetime achievement Grammy in 1996.

John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Kanye West and Adam Levine are among the artists who have contributed songs to a compilation benefit album for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama.

“Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement” features 18 tracks, including the classic Wonder song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” a cover of U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by Legend and a new collaboration between West, Maroon 5’s Levine and spoken word poet Malik Yusef titled “Promised Land.”

Speech excerpts from the Democratic nominee are also embedded throughout the project.

The disc, issued by Hidden Beach Recordings, is now available on the Obama campaign’s official website as both a digital download and a physical CD, with all proceeds benefiting the campaign.

A statement on the website reads: “Through their musical contributions, the artists seek to mobilize voters in the final stretch before the November election. Many of the artists involved will also be volunteering their time to promote voter registration. For more information on registering to vote or requesting an absentee ballot, go to: www.VoteforChange.com.”

The album will be released into the general marketplace following the election on Nov. 4.

Here is the tracklisting on “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement:”

1. Eternity – Lionel Richie
2. Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
3. Waiting On The World To Change – John Mayer
4. American Prayer – Dave Stewart
5. Battle Cry – Shontelle
6. Make It Better – Los Lonely Boys
7. Pride In The Name Of Love – John Legend
8. I Have A Dream – BeBe Winans
9. Am I All Alone – Suai
10. One Is The Magic # – Jill Scott
11. Love & Hope – Ozomatli
12. Looking East – Jackson Browne
13. Out of Our heads – Sheryl Crow
14. Promised Land – Malik Yusef with Kanye West and Adam Levine of Maroon 5
15. Hold On – Yolanda Adams
16. America The Beautiful – Keb’ Mo’
17. America – Ken Stacey
18. Wide River – Buddy Miller

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.