British singers Estelle and Leona Lewis were big winners Wednesday night at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in London.
London R&B singer Estelle, who went into the awards with five nominations, won best U.K. female award and best song for her hit American Boy.
Estelle said she believed British black music was on an upswing.
"The MOBO is a great award, recognized by the kids and the people who understand my music, and who get the music that we do," she told BBC News.
Lewis, a singer-songwriter who emerged out of the talent show The X Factor, was also a double winner for best album and video. Her 2007 debut album, Spirit, was the fastest selling debut album ever in the U.K. and earned her an international following.
But the 23-year-old earned boos from the audience for failing to attend the awards in person.
Rufus Wainwright pens debut opera
Montreal-bred Rufus Wainwright has been commissioned to compose his first opera, to be staged at the Manchester International Festival in 2009.
Merl Saunders, keyboardist to Sinatra and Miles Davis, dies
Jazz and rock keyboardist Merl Saunders, who collaborated with many iconic acts such as Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and the Grateful Dead, has died at age 74. Saunders passed away Friday at a hospital in San Francisco from complications due to a stroke.
Miffed by marketing, Russian conductor leaves BSO
Russian conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky says he pulled out of a concert series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra because he was upset by the way his appearances were marketed. The 77-year-old maestro left Boston and returned to Russia over the weekend,
Contact Us About Us HomeMonday, January 5th, 2009