Lionel Richie is a man who can’t slow down. In addition to his upcoming appearance on Dick Clark’s ABC special, “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” the singer/songwriter is shifting into promotion mode for his next studio album, “Just Go.”

Set for release February 17th, the album is currently represented by the single “Good Morning.” The mid-tempo song stands at No. 35 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart after three weeks.

“Lionel Richie 2009 … What does he sound like? That’s the question I asked everyone,” says Richie of working with several of the hottest names in contemporary R&B/hip-hop. “Some of these guys don’t always necessarily deal with true melody. But we were committed to melody from beginning to end. They knew I wasn’t going to break into a rap,” he adds with a laugh.

The resulting album picks up where 2006’s “Coming Home” left off, with Richie describing “Just Go” as a “little more pop with a fabulous R&B foundation.”

Richie’s musical handiwork also appears on the current compilation “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement.” Inspired by president-elect Barack Obama’s campaign, the set includes songs by Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and Kanye West. Richie contributed the original song “Eternity,” which also includes Obama speech excerpts.

“There are very few chances to write a song that marks a moment in history,” says Richie who, with Michael Jackson, co-wrote the 1985 benefit anthem, “We Are the World.”

“Being able to use Obama’s voice gave me the weight I needed to say everything I wanted to.”

This is an edited version of an article written by Gail Mitchell for Billboard. For more information on Lionel Richie you can visit his website, lionelrichie.com.

Smooth jazz guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne will headline the Grand Opening of the Burnsville, Minnesota Performing Arts Center on January 24th, 2009. The event will be hosted in the state-of-the-art one-thousand seat theater of the new $20 million dollar multi-function facility.

According to Dan Gustafson, Executive Producer of Art and All That Jazz, “Nick was the obvious choice to be our Inaugural Act at the new Burnsville Performing Arts Center after his two hugely successful appearances at our Art and All That Jazz Festivals in 2005 and 2006. Everyone is very excited that he’s coming back for this gala event.”

In addition to the Inaugural show at the PAC, Colionne will be coming in a day early to give a clinic at The Garage, the nationally acclaimed youth center in Burnsville.

“I am thrilled to be opening this fantastic new Performing Arts Center,” said Colionne, “and even happier to return to Burnsville where I have made so many friends over the last few years performing at their summer events. Now that the new PAC will be bringing live entertainment to the area all year long I hope to return soon.

“I am really looking forward to meeting the kids and speaking with them. Youth clinics are a privilege for me to do and I’m delighted to be doing one in Burnsville in association with the opening of this beautiful facility.”

Colionne joined the ranks of today’s premier jazz artists with his Top Ten 2003 Album “Just Come On In” that included the hits “High Flyin” and “It’s Been Too Long”. His 2006 release “Keepin’ It Cool” propelled him to the top of the charts once again with the Top Ten hit singles “Always Thinking of You” (which stayed on the R&R charts for an incredible 45 weeks), “Keepin’ It Cool” and “If You Ask Me”. “Keepin’ It Cool” was also named Top Ten CD of the Year for 2006.

His newest album “No Limits” was released in July 2008, with the first single, the title track “No Limits”, still rising on the charts.

As a guitarist and vocalist, Colionne’s live performances defy categorization. His shows incorporate all the music he loves best and the influences he’s had throughout his career. You are as likely to hear Nick sing the blues or some heartfelt R&B as you are to hear his blazing jazz licks, or even the hint of metal, recalling the beginning of his career as a heavy metal guitarist.

From that diverse musicality comes an incredible live performance that showcases the talent, vocal ability and yes, comedic timing, of this charismatic entertainer. For more information you can visit Nick’s website, nickcolionne.com.

Authentic soul music and superstar musical performances are the consistent theme and backdrop for Soul Men, the comedic film directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film was released nationwide on November 7th and the soundtrack, which showcases the aforementioned music, is in stores now.

The film stars entertainment icons Bernie Mac, who passed away on August 9th, award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson, and includes a cameo appearance by Isaac Hayes who died the day after Mac in unrelated circumstances.

In his last movie performance, popular comedian Mac, Jackson and Grammy winner John Legend (who makes a special appearance in the movie) play members of a fictitious group, The Real Deal.

More than providing the musical narrative for the movie, the soundtrack for Soul Men stands alone as a solid album that faithfully recreates the legendary sound and flavor associated with Stax Records at the height of its popularity in the late 60s through the mid-70s.

With a slate of top contemporary artists including Grammy winner John Legend, neo-soul stars Anthony Hamilton, Leela James and Ryan Shaw, cult favorites Sharon Jones with her band The Dap Kings and Me’Shell Ndegeocello among others, the Soul Men soundtrack focuses on some of the greatest music classics from the Stax catalog.

For more information on the film and a sampling of the soundtrack you can visit the official website, soulmen-movie.com.