Happy Birthday, Annie Leibovitz!

Annie Leibovitz, photographer of the stars, turns 63 today. In 1970, she started her career as staff photographer for Rolling Stone magazine, just getting off the ground. Three years from that, publisher Stone's Jann Wenner promoted her to Chief Photographer.

At one point, 1989, Leibovitz was in a relationship with the late Susan Sontag, the brilliant essayist. She considers Sontag a mentor.

Glenn Close famously satirized Leibovitz on tv's "Will & Grace," albeit as a fictitious character based on the famed photographer.



Here are just a few iconic images taken by the grande diva of portraits:

R.I.P., Peter Rauhofer

Peter Rauhofer received tribute from his peers in the dance-music industry today after it was announced the famed and acclaimed music producer had died.  It was less than a month ago that I first heard the news he'd been hospitalized with a massive brain tumor, and I hopefully wished the best for him at that time. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/04/peter-rauhofer.html

"Shocked at the death of Peter Rauhofer," producer/ remixer/ dj Chris Cox wrote on Facebook. "We didn't always see eye to eye, but I always respected his music. R.I.P."   

Producer Tony Moran noted: "A short while ago I heard that one of our music heroes past away. I was shocked, hurt and angry that someone who I am certain had so much left to offer is gone. Condolences to his family and friends and I am now moving my energy to all the contributions that Peter has made. I will miss you, Tony."

Diva Kristine W wrote: "I am very sad about the news of Peter Rauhofer, I have meet him several times and enjoyed talking to him at various events and privately in conversation. I will miss this Dance Music Legend and I am sure he has a packed dance floor in heaven. He was a great talent. I will always cherish the amazing remix he did for me on my single 'Some Lovin'." 

And Rolling Stone reported: "Pioneering DJ, producer and remixer Peter Rauhofer died today after a long battle with brain cancer, according to a note from friend and manager Angelo Russo.... He was 48." Rauhofer remixed all the major disco divas of the day (Cher, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Yoko, Adele, Toni Braxton) and was a major influence in the dance-music world since the 1990s. He received a Grammy for remixing Cher's "Believe" in 1999.

Peter, thank you for the joy all your music brought us. You are missed in clubs and dance floors around the world. He will be buried in his native Austria.

Adam Lambert Gives Us His Trespassing

Adam Lambert's hot, new album, Trespassing, dropped in time to make a big splash for June, Gay Pride month (officially declared by the President of the United States this year). Lambert historically became the first out gay singer (emphasis on "out") to have a #1 album on the US Billboard and in Canada.

This album is nothing short of fabulous with a heavy emphasis on dance and techno, all expertly produced by our hot Idol exec producer and principal writer.

"Outlaws of Love," the song that concludes the 12-track set (a deluxe edition includes three bonus tracks), is a sensitive ballad magnificently sung with the right mix of bravado and subtlety, and a touch of Ray Orbison. Every gay person will relate to this number as will most anyone who feels like an outsider. Can we forgive those who trespass against us?

"Better than I Know Myself," the first single (with remixes) pretty much tanked commercially. Though I rather liked some of the mixes, I think it was an odd choice as a debut single. A ballad on the album, it is certainly not one of the strongest tracks. The mixes of the second single being fired off Trespassing, "Never Close Our Eyes" (written by Bruno Mars) are much more robust, particularly the Almighty (UK) club mix. You can give it a listen:

The title song that opens the album has a hot, urban, techno quality to it with echos of Michael Jackson, as does the second track, "Cukoo." But dig the '70s funk of "Shady" with classic disco-era producer Nile Rogers (Chic, Diana Ross). A masterpiece! "Kickin' In" has an '80s Prince quality to it, meanwhile. And all this is a testimony to the star's vocal versatility and incredible range.

One of my personal favorites on Trespassing is "Pop That Lock," displaying Adam's upper range beautifully. It shouldn't be ignored as a floor-filler, remixed or as is.

Highly recommended album; a future classic I'm predicting. Put it in your collection; it will sound great generations from now!

(Meanwhile, our American Idol is off, filling Freddie Mercury's shoes as part of the new Queen tour. Only he could tackle this credibly. They've already started performing in Eastern Europe. Any feedback from you guys? Please reply to this blog.)

But don't just trust me regarding Trespassing. Here's what Rolling Stone raved:

"So here's the great pop album everybody was hoping Adam Lambert would make, ever since he ran wild on American Idol three years ago. It wasn't just Glambert's dynamite-with-a-laser-beam voice that got him into our national knickers: It was his warmth, his humor, his burlesque bravado. His 2010 debut, For Your Entertainment, was a typical Idol quickie – decent, but it needed more personality. Trespassing delivers, with a mix of tinsel disco-club sleaze and leather-boy love ballads. While he excels in a radio cheddar bomb like "Naked Love," he gets deeper in slow jams like "Underneath" and "Outlaws of Love." But all over Trespassing, Glambert sings everything like Zeus in a thong."

Zeus in a thong! Now that's a tasty little thought!

The Wild, Wild World of Whitney

"Grave Robbers Target Whitney!" claims the Globe (US gossip tabloid) and, truly, in these weeks after Ms Houston's death, isn't all the press grave robbing in a sense? It's not just the gossip rags, it's reputable press like Rolling Stone, with its famously discriminating fact checkers.

As far as the Globe headline goes, however, given all the promotion Whitney's family gave to her $500,000 worth of jewelry and designer burial duds, I am not surprised to read this. Globe goes so far to mention that an "insider" reports, "Whitney died owing drug dealers more than $1.5 million," so there is also the alert that her body might be snatched as ransom. Whitney Babylon!

In the article, "Whitney's Shocking Secrets," Globe references Kevin Ammons' blockbuster 1996 tell-all, Good Girl/Bad Girl. Ammons was the boyfriend of Regina Brown, Whitney's publicist. He was probably the first source to detail Whitney's lesbian relationships. Surprisingly, the latest issue of Rolling Stone dabbles in the same behind-the-scenes secrets in its cover article, "The Diva and Her Dark Side."

Afraid a lesbian "scandal" would ruin Whitney's career, her mom, Cissy, pushed her into relationships with men (Darryl Stawberry, Arsenio Hall, Prince). (Arsenio? Prince?) Apparently, this caused a great deal of animosity, on Whitney's part, toward her mother.

However, Whitney may also have had other reasons to resent Mama. Darlene Love says, in the Rolling Stone article, that Cissy brought her teen daughter aboard as a back-up singer and generously gave her a solo spot.

But godmother Darlene continues, "It was 'OK, now, go on back in the background -- this is Mommy's show. Ok, go sit down now. Don't be tryin' to take over.'" (Mama's doin' fine, Mama's gettin' hot!)

The Rolling Stone cover story talks about Whitney's relationship with one Robyn Crawford, since their teenaged years. Robyn became Whitney's assistant. According to Bobby Brown: "I believe [Whitney's] agenda in marrying me was to clean up her image.... The media was accusing Whitney of having a bisexual relationship with her assistant.... That would kill all speculation, whether it was true or not."

Globe says Whitney had at least two other serious, ongoing relationships with women during her lifetime.

In the official video for "I Will Always Love You," a strikingly butch Whitney conveys the song, perhaps with Robyn more in mind than Bobby (or Kevin Costner, whom the Globe says she despised). Note Whitney's look and posture, especially near end, and very much in contrast to her feminine side in the promotional "Bodyguard" clips seen in the video.

A DVD I bought this week, entitled Whitney: Greatest Hits includes 23 music videos and special features like Whitney on Merv Griffin and live at previous Grammy nights. Available from Arista. I hope to exorcise the whole Whitney feeding frenzy through it, and finally blast off Whitney World. At least for this voyage.

Meanwhile, here's a musical rarity for you: 15-year-old Whitney doing the solo diva vocals on Michael Zager Band's disco classic, "Life's a Party."