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Buddy DeFranco, one of the world's greatest jazz clarinetists, died Wednesday, Dec. 24. He leaves behind a musical legacy that lasted more than 70 years, playing in bands led by Tommy Dorsey and Count Basie in addition to performing with Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. DeFranco was 91.The musician got his start in the late 1930s, bouncing around from band to band, NPR noted. He hooked up with Dorsey in 1944. DeFranco played with the band for four years before he decided to break out of swing music, opting instead for bebop, a difficult genre for a clarinetist to shine in. He toured with Basie to finish out the 1940s.DeFranco formed his own band in the '50s before joining Holiday for a European jaunt. As rock 'n' roll started gaining momentum, the musician did work for TV and film until he landed a gig fronting the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1966. He continued to play well into his 80s. According to "The Washington Post," DeFranco played on more than 160 albums. -
Dierks Bentley Says Fans "Crying" and "Getting Emotional" at Shows is Distracting
Dierks Bentley is a dude with a lot of emotion and his passion often comes out in the songs he writes and performs. He recently suggested that he's been close to breaking down in tears onstage during specific tunes when he sees fans getting emotional. -
Taylor Swift First Artist to be Number One on Billboard's Artist 100 List for 10 Consecutive Weeks
Taylor Swift is the first artist to be on top of the Billboard Artist 100 list for 10 weeks straight. The chart, which was introduced in July, tracks data from other Billboard lists like the Hot 100, Top Albums Sales and Social 50, all of which Swift has dominated with her new release, '1989.' Her record will be a tough one to break considering Sam Smith only topped it for three weeks straight and Ariana Grande only clocked in two. -
Adam Sandler Most Overpaid Actor of 2014 for Second Year in a Row, Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck Included
Forbes released its year-end list of the Most Overpaid Actors and Adam Sandler is number one for the second year in a row. The Sandman made $3.20 for every $1 the studios paid him which is down from 2013 ($3.40). Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp and Ben Affleck also made the list. Unfortunately for Sandler, his last three movies, which included the critically destroyed "Blended," did not return Sony's investment on the actor. -
Kesha Thanks Fans for Their Support During Crazy Year that Included Rehab and Lawsuit Against Dr. Luke
Kesha has had a very trying year. She spent a few days in rehab for an eating disorder before ditching the dollar sign that use to be in her name. Then there's the whole Dr. Luke lawsuit in which Kesha alleges the producer abused her sexually and emotionally. Dr. Luke has since counter sued for defamation. The "We R Who We R" singer took to Twitter over the holiday to thank fans for sticking by her through it all -
'American Idol' Champ Phillip Phillips Gets Engaged to Longtime Girlfriend Hannah Blackwell on Christmas
Phillip Phillips got engaged to longtime girlfriend Hannah Blackwell on Christmas. The American Idol champion popped the question over the holiday and Blackwell said "yes." The pair took to social media to share their excitement with fans. -
Queen's Brian May Protests UK Government: 'We Will All Slit Our Wrists'
The British government is taking more heat from famous U.K.-born musicians, with Queen's Brian May piling on in a recent interview with The Guardian. -
Ringo Starr's New Album is Finished, Beatles Drummer Hints at Spring Tour [WATCH]
Ringo Starr announced that his new LP, which is currently untitled, is complete. The former Beatle posted a video update to his website recently to let fans know what to expect in 2015. Starr will be a busy guy next year since he's going to be inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Joan Jett, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Green Day. -
Ludacris Proposes to Girlfriend Eudoxie Agnan on a Plane with a Grand Gesture [PHOTOS]
Ludacris went all out for his recent proposal to girlfriend Eudoxie Agnan. The couple was on a jet heading for a vacation spot for the holidays when Luda popped the question. He did so in grandoise fashion, though, writing "Eudoxie Will You Marry Me" with flowers in a field for his bride-to-be. The #MileHighProposal was a success. -
Garth Brooks Tops Billboard's Country Albums Chart with 'Man Against Machine' Moving Carrie Underwood to No. 2
Garth Brooks returned to the recording scene with "Man Against Machine" in November and his legions of devoted fans couldn't be happier. The album took over the top spot on Billboard's country charts recently. It's the artist's ninth studio effort and his first in 13 years. It dethroned Carrie Underwood's greatest hits collection, which is now at the No. 2 spot. -
Dustin Lynch Covers Drake's 'Hold On, We're Going Home,' Country Artist Adds Some Soul to the Rap Tune [LISTEN]
Dustin Lynch is a firm believer that a good song is a good song regardless of the genre. The country star likes to incorporate Drake's 2013 tune "Hold On, We're Going Home" into his live shows. He recently played his version for Taste of Country and it's surprisingly soulful, sounding more like a pop hit than country ballad. -
Beyoncé's Father Mathew Knowles Sold Some of Her Stuff at a Garage Sale for $2,000 [WATCH]
Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, sold a bunch of the pop star's memorabilia Wednesday (Dec. 24) from different stages of her career. He even offered some of Solange's work. Knowles expected to make about $2,000 from the sale, which he said was not held because he needed the money. He simply wanted to make some space at his Houston studios.
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