Dr. Conrad Murray is led into the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse by L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies. (AP)

See the criminal complaint against Dr. Conrad Murray

Michael Jackson’s doctor pleaded not guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop star at a brief hearing that had all the trappings of another sensational celebrity courtroom drama.

Dr. Conrad Murray appeared in court in a gray suit as Jackson’s father Joe, mother Katherine, and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy watched from courtroom seats behind prosecutors.

Neither Murray nor the Jacksons showed much emotion as Murray entered his plea through his attorney Ed Chernoff.

“We need justice,” Joe Jackson said outside court.
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April is shaping up to be a busy month for concerts, especially for the Fillmore Miami Beach.

British rockers Arctic Monkeys lead off the month with a show at the South Beach venue on April 1, while psychedelic/glam band Of Montreal come in on April 9, blues pounders Black Keys arrive on April 18 and indie heroes Band of Horses play on Aug. 28.
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Tim McGraw kicks off the Country MegaTicket at Cruzan Amphitheatre on May 8.

Following some incredibly satisfying entertainment at the South Florida Fair — I saw Luke Bryan, David Nail and Chris Young — we have a brand new festival at Cruzan and the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The first- even WIRK Rib Round-Up kicks off the season on March 6, promising sweet and spicy ribs and extra-tasty entertainment.

Billy Currington is the biggest name on the bill. His second Billboard No. 1, People Are Crazy, topped the chart last summer. Also performing: Vero Beach’s Jake Owen, Darryl Worley, American Idol’s Josh Gracin and newcomer Josh Thompson.
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For Grateful Dead fans too young to see Jerry Garcia in person, and long-time Deadheads might be a bit dismayed to realize that’s almost anyone under 30, Furthur’s done the unthinkable by channeling Jerry in an uncanny way.

For the rest of the folks, who followed the Dead and have unsuccessfully tried to fill that small void in their life for the last 15 years, the party ain’t over yet.

No one will ever replace Jerry, but by bringing John Kadlecik to the mix, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir have added the missing link – the man who sounds so much like Jerry in every way.

Furthur, the new incarnation of the Dead starts with Phil and Bobby, but it’s Kadlecik that could make this the best post-Jerry experience.
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Pete Townshend is used to playing in front of stadiums filled with rabid fans who know every note of The Who’s songs. He didn’t get that at the band’s Super Bowl halftime performance, but he’s OK with that too.

Townshend and bandmate Roger Daltrey performed a medley of some of their most famous songs on entertainment’s biggest stage Sunday, including “Won’t Get Fooled Again” during a 12-minute set that included a laser-lit stage and plenty of fireworks.

While the crowd was involved, and some held up their cell phones to illuminate the night as instructed by the stadium announcers, they were somewhat subdued, and was clear it was not a Who event. Read the full story

By JOSEPH YOUNGBLOOD

Anyone who harbors any doubts about the future of bravura pianism should have been in the DeSantis Family Chapel of Palm Beach Atlantic University on Thursday evening. Three young pianists gave stunning performances of three piano concertos: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E Flat, K. 271 by W.A. Mozart, Piano Concerto in A Minor, Opus 16 by Edvard Grieg and Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Flat by Franz Liszt. These were not tentative, youthful performances but mature, intelligent and artistic.

The pianists were accompanied by the Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra; Philippe Entremont conducted the Mozart concerto, and David Jacobs conducted those by Grieg and Liszt. Because the space available in the chapel for the orchestra is limited, the number of strings was reduced. This put the strings at a disadvantage when trying to balance with the winds, especially when the horns were playing out. This issue aside, the orchestra was well disciplined and provided a sensitive accompaniment.

Click here for more about the concert.

Grammy-winner Jose Feliciano has filed a report with authorities in southwest Florida stating he and a caregiver have received a series of harassing phone calls.

Feliciano, who composed the popular Christmas song “Feliz Navidad,” met with a deputy from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. According to an incident report, Feliciano said he had received two calls on his cell phone in which a muffled male voice told the singer he had to “get out.”

The caregiver also reported receiving similar calls directed toward Feliciano.

No arrest has been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Born in Lares, Puerto Rico, in 1945, Feliciano was raised in New York City and wrote “Feliz Navidad” in 1970. It is one of the most popular Christmas songs in the world.

The artist: Sade

The album: Soldier of Love (Sony)

The spin: Like a long-ago lover not quite forgotten, Sade has returned to steal our hearts with more beautiful, uncategorizable music.

It’s been 10 years since her last album, a fatal hiatus for almost any other artist, but just another hibernation for a woman whose disdain for fame only deepens our fascination. Sade’s voice sounds unchanged, a unique emotional instrument that conjures visions of rain-streaked windows and windblown streets. Her topics — love, loss, sorrow, strength — remain the same. But her music has still moved forward.
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By SALVATORE FAZIO and ADRIANA GALINDO

Bill Cooley hands a female fan his scarf as he plays his part in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Tour, during its stint at Sunrise's BankAtlantic Center. (Chris Cutro / For the Miami Herald)

While growing up in Collinsville, Ill., in the 1970s, Bill Cherry listened to Elvis Presley, watched him on TV and sung Presley’s songs in the bedroom.

For him, portraying the king of rock ‘n’ roll for thousands of fans in the first Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Tour has been a childhood fantasy come true.

“When you’re a kid, you tie a towel around your neck, run around the living room and play like Superman,’’ said Cherry, 45, a welder by trade. “In a way it’s like that for me: I get to put on a suit and a cape, run around the stage and play my hero while everyone plays along. It’s a time capsule.’’

To commemorate 75 years of Elvis Presley, Onstage Entertainment and Elvis Presley Enterprises launched a 25-city tribute concert tour that landed at Coral Gables’ BankUnited Center.
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Let’s be honest – the report by a “source” that Howard Stern is in talks to replace the departing Simon Cowell on “American Idol” is intriguing. I mean, on the surface, it’s a great idea only for the notoriety and at least initial hype and curiousity it might bring, and for how that could translate into ratings, but a horrific idea for all the other reasons that people watch “American Idol” – it’s supposed to be a family show, it’s supposed to be about singing and not about how many ways Howard can insult people, and if he had a toxic, “It’s all about me” attitude and tried to muscle out the other judges, it’d be a nightmare. And if some woman walked in, like Bikini Girl, and flashed her assests? He would never let that go. In very graphic terms.

Then again…

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