• Only a few days after Elton John announced he will retire from touring, another venerable music figure is throwing in the touring towel -- Paul Simon. On Monday, Simon, 76, took to social media to say his upcoming tour will be his last, citing the personal toll of touring and the death of his lead guitarist, Vincent N'guini. "I feel the travel and time away from my wife and family takes a toll that detracts from the joy of playing," he wrote. Retiring from the road "feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating, and something of a relief." Tickets for his Homeward Bound -- The Farewell Tour will go on sale Feb. 8. It kicks off in May in Vancouver, Canada, and will take him across North America and Europe. His last date is July 15 in London with James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt as special guests. Simon's best-known songs include "The Sound of Silence."
• Singer Kelly Clarkson said Lorde should have been able to perform at the Grammys because she was nominated for album of the year. "I did think it was weird. Lorde didn't get a performance slot, but I don't know the backstory of that," Clarkson said Sunday. "I hope there was a real, valid reason." The Recording Academy is being criticized for not letting Lorde perform at its 60th show on Jan. 28. The organization was also criticized because only two female performers won awards during the live telecast and, when asked about the lack of female winners backstage, Neil Portnow, chief executive of the Grammys, said women need to "step up." Clarkson described Portnow as "Confused. Poor soul. Yup." Portnow later said his words were taken out of context and he now understands the pain his "poor choice of words" has caused.
A Section on 02/06/2018