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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

People: Carey off to Vegas for run at Caesars

Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes performs in 2005. (Associated Press)
From Wire Reports

Mariah Carey is coming to Las Vegas. The singer has announced a headlining residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Carey’s production will launch in May, according to Caesars Entertainment.

Inspired by her greatest hits album, “Number 1’s,” the show will package all the pop diva’s smash hits – all 18 No. 1s are included – along with fan favorites and songs she has yet to perform live.

Rumors recently surfaced that Carey was among the names being courted by Caesars to fill in for Celine Dion, who is taking a leave from her massive production to care for her ailing husband.

The news of a Vegas show comes at a strange time for the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer.

Carey’s live offerings, especially as of late, have been incredibly shaky. Her vocal performances on a recent Asian leg of her tour were heavily scrutinized and her showing on the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special went viral for all the wrong reasons.

And then there’s the music. Her last album, “Me. I am Mariah … the Elusive Chanteuse,” was hampered by numerous stalled singles and delays and ultimately opened with weak sales.

Robinson says Black Crowes are done

The blues-rock band the Black Crowes are fading to black. Founding member Rich Robinson announced Thursday the group is disbanding after 24 years.

In a statement, he alluded to internal issues between his brother and the band.

“I love my brother and respect his talent but his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to,” Robinson said in the statement.

Robinson, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, founded the group with his brother and lead singer, Chris Robinson. An email seeking comment from Chris Robinson wasn’t immediately returned. He also fronts the band Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

The Black Crowes released its debut album, “Shake Your Money Maker,” in 1990. It went on to sell 5 million albums and featured the hits “She Talks to Angels” and “Hard to Handle.” The band also had success with the follow-up albums “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” and “Amorica,” but started to fade in the late ’90s.

Besides the Robinsons and Gorman, the Black Crowes included bassist Sven Pipien, keyboardist Adam MacDougall and guitarist Jackie Greene.

The birthday bunch

Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 81. Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 72. Country singer Jim Stafford is 71. Talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is 68. Actress-dancer-choreographer Debbie Allen is 65. Singer Sade is 56. Rhythm-and-blues singer Maxine Jones (En Vogue) is 49. Model Kate Moss is 41.