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GREAT WHITE APOLOGIZES FOR MASK-LESS CONCERT
DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — Metal band Great White has apologized for performing at an outdoor North Dakota concert where the crowd didn’t wear masks, despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. The band drew criticism on social media after the performance Thursday night as part of the “First on First: Dickinson Summer Nights” concert series in Dickinson, a town in the southwest of the state. Spin magazine posted video showing the crowd packed in and not wearing face masks. In a statement, the band says, “We have had the luxury of hindsight and we would like to apologize to those who disagreed with our decision to fulfill our contractual agreement. The Promoter and staff were nothing but professional and assured us of the safety precautions." Although North Dakota health officials recommend social distancing and wearing masks when possible, there's no legal requirement to do so — and Great White said the band was “not in a position to enforce the laws.”
RAPPER DIES IN SHOOTING
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta-based rap artist known as Lil Marlo is dead. His record label announced the death of Rudolph “Marlo” Johnson in a social media post, saying he will be remembered as “a man of great talent who feared nothing.” The Atlanta Police Department says a man named Rudolph Johnson was killed late Saturday in what investigators believe was a targeted shooting. A statement from the department says officers responded to a single-car wreck on I-285 in Atlanta late Saturday night and found the driver, later identified as Johnson, dead inside the car. Investigators believe Johnson was shot while driving and was the intended target. Johnson emerged in 2017, teaming up with fellow rapper and friend Lil Baby on “2 The Hard Way.” Earlier this year, he released the project “1st & 3rd” featuring Future, Gucci Mane and Lil Baby.
ANITA WHITE SAYS LADY A LAWSUIT A CASE OF “WHITE PRIVILEGE”
UNDATED (AP) — Singer Anita White, who's being sued over the use of the name Lady A, says the group is using white privilege against her. The band, previously known as Lady Antebellum, filed suit in federal court last week, seeking a ruling that their use of the trademark “Lady A” doesn't infringe on White’s using the name. White, who is Black, tells Rolling Stone she feels like she is being erased. She notes she's been performing as Lady A for more than 20 years — and feels that Lady A, quoting White here, “claim to be allies and that they wanted to change their name out of the racist connotation, and then they sue a Black woman for the new name.” The members of Lady A — the country band — are white. The group changed its name last month because the word ”Antebellum" is associated with slavery.
“ROCKY” COMPOSER GIVING ORIGINAL SCORES TO LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Oscar- and Emmy Award-winning composer who wrote scores for movies including “Rocky,” “The Right Stuff” and “The Karate Kid” is giving the scores to Louisiana State University. Bill Conti and his wife, Shelby Cox Conti, are donating a lifetime of original scores to LSU, where they met as students. The William and Shelby Conti Papers are expected to arrive in the fall. A library rep says the school is “proud to be stewards of the life’s work of one of our own graduates."
ELVIS PRESLEY'S GRANDSON, BENJAMIN KEOUGH, DIES
UNDATED (AP) — One of Elvis Presley's grandsons has died. Benjamin Keough was the son of Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. Her rep says Presley is “heartbroken” over the news. TMZ reports Keough died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Calabasas, California yesterday. He was 27.
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