ENTERTAINMENT
June 21, 1998 | Connie Johnson
Sparkle is similar to Aaliyah, R. Kelly's last protege. Her youthful, urban-angel style is innocently wistful but worldly-wise. A seething, resentful duet with Kelly on "Be Careful" is sweetly balanced by her version of Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You." It lacks the original's sultry playfulness, but Sparkle hits those high notes in just as thrilling a fashion. She's a major '98 contender.
HEALTH
September 17, 2007
I was shocked at the omission of singer Karen Carpenter, who died at 32 of the diet disease anorexia, from your otherwise excellent piece on the health and premature deaths of rock and pop stars ["Final Note Comes Early for Rockers," Sept 10]. Jon Konjoyan Toluca Lake -- Great piece. It drove me, a lifelong pop/rock/folk fan, to come up with more sad names (maybe I should get a life?).
ENTERTAINMENT
June 26, 1993 | DENNIS HUNT
Early in her show at the Henry Fonda Theatre on Thursday, pop-R&B singer Chante Moore was faring better as a comedian than a singer. Backed into doing comedy by sound problems that kept her from doing songs, she turned the first part of her set into a laugh riot. Unfazed by the breakdowns, Moore, a chatterbox well-versed in hip lingo, cracked joke after joke. Though it was sometimes hard to tell Thursday, Moore really can sing.
ENTERTAINMENT
October 23, 1992 | DENNIS HUNT
Rachelle Ferrell, an extraordinary jazz/R&B singer who's been building a strong national following in the last few months, showed off her talents to an awe-struck Roxy audience on Wednesday. Essentially she's a jazz singer who incorporates elements of pop, R&B and gospel into her style, which falls somewhere between Al Jarreau and Anita Baker.
ENTERTAINMENT
October 1, 1995 | Cheo H. Coker
Mariah Carey seemingly makes the same best-selling album every year--radio-friendly, bubblegum-flavored dance-floor smashes and intricately arranged, over-the-top ballads, all delivered by a sweet but powerful voice sharp enough to shatter a shot-glass. But despite the stupendous sales, Carey lacks the critical respect of a Whitney Houston or a Janet Jackson.
ENTERTAINMENT
September 2, 1985 | PAUL GREIN
Jeffrey Osborne has long been one of the most appealing figures in black pop, but he has continually been overshadowed by other artists--Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and the Pointer Sisters among them. As a result, he's learned a thing or two about sharing the spotlight. Still, Osborne couldn't have counted on being upstaged twice in his weekend shows at the Greek Theatre--by his opening act and by one of his backup singers.