Back For More: Singer Sade Readies New Music

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SadeReclusive vocalist Sade is preparing a new CD and her record company anticipates the disc hitting stores by the year's end.

BV Buzz reported in Aug. 2007 that the sultry soul singer, known for her über-extended hiatuses, was spotted leaving the Sony Music building in New York City where she had just come from meeting with executives at Epic Records, the label she's been signed to as a solo artist since 1983.

Billboard.com is now reporting that Sade (full name Helen Folasade Adu) has reunited with her former band members and will be in the studio cutting new tracks until the end of June. A fan site for the 50-year-old Grammy winner, www.Sade2009.com has a message in its introduction that reads: "The most anticipated music, by the most soulful artist, just in time for the holidays."

That site is what generated speculation into the current status of the Nigerian-born singer's recording endeavors and caused Billboard to probe for answers.

Sade's longtime band member Stuart Matthewman, also known as Cottonbelly, confirmed to the trade publication that new material is being recorded.

Matthewman claimed that the process was still in its "early days" and won't be close to being finished until "later in the year."

Nonetheless, news of new music has excited Sade fans, who haven't had a new release from the singer since 2000's 'Lovers Rock,' which sold 3.8 million copies in the U.S.

Black Music Notes Mar. 19

    3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
    Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.

    Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

    3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
    Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'

    Getty Images

    3/19/09: The Miracles
    Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Chester Gregory
    After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'

    Jemal Countess, WireImage

    3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
    Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.

    Evening Standard / Getty Images

    3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
    Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.

    Santiago Llanquin / AP

    3/19/09: Kim Burrell
    Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.

    Zomba

    3/19/09: Mike Jones
    Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.

    Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic

    3/19/09: Prince
    With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'

    Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images



Celebrity Look Alikes Vol. 5

    Karrine Steffans
    This 30-year-old New York Times best-selling author made a name for herself in the music industry as a music video model. After intimate relations with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Jay-Z, Ja Rule and Method Man, Steffans became known as "Superhead." The former adult-film star is currently working on her third book 'The Vixen Manuel: How To Find, Seduce & Keep The Man You Want.' You wouldn't believe which high-ranking officer of the court we think Steffans resembles.

    Judge Glenda Hatchett
    Judge Glenda Hatchett has starred on her own court television show for the past eight years. The Emory University School of Law grad also released a book 'Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say.' Before heading to television, Hatchett was a senior attorney at Delta Air Lines and the highest-ranking African American woman at the company. She also has the distinction of being Georgia's first African American chief presiding judge of a state court.

    Karrine Steffans / Judge Glenda Hatchett
    True, Judge Hatchett is a bit mature to pass for Steffan's sister, but they surely could be mistaken for mother and daughter. With their fair complexions, dark-brown hair, wide smiles and noses, they definitely resemble each other.

    Ciara
    These days, 23-year-old Ciara Princess Harris simply goes by Ciara. Raised in Atlanta, this R&B chart-topper, who once dated pint-size rapper Bow Wow, burst on the music scene in 2004 with 'Goodies.' Both her debut single and its follow-up 'Ciara: The Evolution' were platinum hits. She's currently wrapping up her new album 'Fantasy Ride' and will star in the upcoming film 'Mama, I Want to Sing.' But many have said she looks like a popular comedienne. Guess who?

    Wanda Sykes
    Comedienne and actress Wanda Sykes got her start as a writer for 'The Chris Rock Show.' And, though her two short-lived shows 'Wanda at Large' and 'Wanda Does It' haven't made her a television star, her more recent stint on the CBS sitcom 'The New Adventures of Old Christine' has been steady. In 2008, the stand-up comic "came out" as at a pro-gay marriage rally in Las Vegas.

    Ciara / Wanda Sykes
    They're not identical by any means, but Ciara and Wanda Sykes definitely favor one another. We aren't holding our breaths to see Wanda sport a dolled-up look like Ci-Ci, but with their similar noses and big brown eyes, the two ladies remind us of each other.

    Iman Crosson
    This 26-year-old Ohio native received a great deal of attention with his parody of President Barack Obama doing Beyonce's 'Single Ladies.' The YouTube clip 'If You Voted for Me' has scored nearly 2 million hits and landed Crosson an appearance on Entertainment Tonight. There's a certain banker who looks like the Dancing Obama. Can you take a guess?

    Al Reynolds
    Virginia native Al Reynolds is mostly known as the ex-husband of former plus-size talk show personality Star Jones. Their nuptials are rumored to have cost upward of $1 million dollars and became a public relations nightmare for 'The View.' Sadly, their union didn't last long. Jones filed for divorce in 2008. The former investment banker is currently finishing up his doctorate in organizational leadership and teaching at Florida Memorial University.

    Iman Crosson / Al Reynolds
    Talk about splitting image. It's easy to see how Iman Crosson might be mistaken for Al Reynolds over our President Barack Obama. The two light-skinned, handsome brothers both know how to hang a suit. And with such distinguished looks, if they can't pass for each other, they can pass for brothers.

    Kathie Lee Gifford
    Kathie Lee Gifford is best known for co-hosting the talk show 'Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,' alongside Regis Philbin for 15 years. In 2008, she returned to the small screen to host the fourth hour of NBC's 'Today' show.

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