Beyonce’

She was photographed for her House of Dereon’s sportswear and high fashion lines, in two distinctly different modes.  For high fashion, she poses as a glammed-up singer from the 30s or 40s, in a strapless gown and vintage hairdo.  But its the sportswear look that has people talking: as a blonde biker chick, splayed on a motorcycle, with tattoos on her leg and back.

The singer’s mother (and business partner) Tina Knowles told People magazine,” (The two campaigns) are so different in mood and creative direction reflecting the distinction between the two brands.”  House of Dereon was launched in 2004 and is named after Beyonce’s grandmother.

The sizzling shots will be unveiled in the September issues of various fashion magazines.  Catch a sneak peek at the website, www.houseofdereon.com.

Classical music is an area where Antoine is extremely comfortable:  he began his formal training at the Conservatoire de Paris, drawing inspiration from masters like Andres Segovia.  The  guitarist credits his versatility with this early exposure to the classics.  After moving to L.A., he quickly became a favorite session player for artists including Celine Dion, Cher, Queen Latifah, Sting and George Benson.

As to the seemingly unusual choice to do an entire album of classically-inspired music, Antoine sums it up this way: ”So now I am a smooth jazz artist, but I don’t consider myself being a smooth jazz artist because I am a musician and I think I’m mixing a lot of things in my music.”

Norah Jones

Jones has been a longtime fan of one of the show’s founders, Willie Nelson, and has collaborated with him in the past.  She has expressed an interest in doing an entire album with him someday.

The concert will be broadcast live on DirectTV, beginning at 5PM CST.  For more info, visit http://www.farmaid.org.

Bernie Scott, president of Scott & Co. Music Group who’s helming the event, noted, “We have artists coming…from all over the globe, and they’re really not familiar with Michigan City. With it being an awards show of this caliber, it really needs to have a big city name with it.”  He added,  “Our artists are happier it’s there. They are more familiar with Chicago, and it’s easier with their flights. I really wanted it to work in Michigan City, but I think it’s evident that it would not, which is really a tragedy for our community. It just makes more sense to have it in Chicago.”

This first-ever event is attracting artists from Europe and Canada as well as the U.S.  Among those scheduled to perform are Nick Colionne (pictured above), Peter White, Oli Silk, Marc Antoine, Richard Elliot, the Sax Pack, Four 80 East and Darren Rahn, among others.

Refunds will be offered to those holding tickets for the Michigan City event, with instructions on getting preferred seating at the new location.  Tickets go on sale to the general public starting next week.   Complete, up-to-date information can be found at www.americansmoothjazzawards.com.

Buble’ popped the question in 2009, just a year after meeting that country’s popular TV actress.  He followed tradition by proposing in front of her family, offering a ring he had designed himself.  The couple expect to wed sometime next year.

He will have to sit out the rest of the band’s August dates, but is expected to be back performing with them by September.  In the meantime, Dr. Abraham Laboriel Sr., a friend of the band and one of East’s mentors, will be filling in for him.

Throughout the late 60s and 70s, Austin was in-demand as a session and jingle singer.  In 1982, she and James Ingram partnered on “Baby Come to Me” which became a huge hit, thanks to it being featured on the soap opera, General Hospital.  Other duet partners include Michael Jackson, George Benson and Luther Vandross.

Austin has done tributes to the music of Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald; in 2008, she won her first Grammy for Avant Gershwin.  She releases her next project, Sound Advice [Shanachie Entertainment] on Aug. 31.

In a statement, Duke said, “The whole idea behind Déjà Vu was to take a look back at some of the stuff I used to do that was a little more musically challenging. In some way or another, whatever happened before always comes around again. It may be a little different, but it will resurface. That’s kind of what this album is – a resurfacing of some ideas I had back in the ‘70s when I recorded albums with a lot of synthesizers, like Feel and The Aura Will Prevail.”

The artist added that he used some vintage analog synthesizers for the album, along with more current digital technology.  Guest players include saxophonists Everette Harp and Bob Sheppard, flutist Hubert Laws and trumpeter Nicholas Payton.

Duke is scheduled to perform this weekend [Aug. 15] at the Long Beach Jazz Festival with longtime collaborator Al Jarreau.

“We were thrilled and delighted to be able to tell Alastair that he was going to be the big brother to a little baby, expected just before Mummy’s 40th birthday.”

Stewart also has four other children from previous relationships.