On March 19, Quincy Jones will deliver the music keynote at SXSW 2009. Jones, who has spent over five decades in the music business, is a legendary impresario, conductor, record producer, musical arranger, film composer and trumpeter. Though he's best known for producing Michael Jackson's Thriller, he's also won 27 Grammys, was the first African American nominated for an Academy award in 1968, and conductor of "We Are the World." Jones is expected to discuss music's power to build bridges and and create positive change in the world. more ›

LAist is flashing a sad peace out to their editor Carolyn Kellogg with one hand and bumping knuckles with their new head typist L.A. blogger king Tony Pierce with the other. Where do ist editors go when they hang up the 'editorial we'? They take on MySpace, apparently. At least Ben Brown does. Austinist reminds us of the just rewards of less savory careers this week and then they witness the Arctic Monkeys and We... more ›

We've just come across the incredibly sad news that Houston native Billy Preston has died of hypertension and kidney failure this morning in Arizona. Widely known as the "fifth Beatle" due to his fantastic organ parts on Abbey Road and Let It Be, Preston maintained a lifelong friendship with the Beatles, collaborating with John, Ringo, and George on 70's solo projects as well. Preston's resume is staggering: he played in the touring bands of... more ›