Jacksons to Be Honored by BMI, Shaw Does Some Trimming, more

The Jacksons will be honored with the BMI Icons award at the organization's eighth annual Urban Awards on September 4 in Los Angeles. The award is given to performers and songwriters who have had “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.”

Already confirmed for the ceremony are Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Randy Jackson with Michael being the loan hold-out at this point. A number of performers will salute the group on the night of the performance.

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Tommy Shaw of Styx and his wife have angered a number of their neighbors in Los Angeles. The Shaws hired workers to "trim" (more like decimate) a row of Aleppo trees along Mulholland Highway to improve the view from their house.

Now it appears that some of the trees are dieing and the city of Los Angeles has stepped in to referee. There is a supposed agreement for the Shaw's to plant new Sycamoures but, in the Los Angeles Times, Jeanne Shaw said, "We're looking for a good replacement. The one thing we care about is when it is finished it looks good. People from the whole world come up here to look at the Hollywood sign."

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Suggs, the frontman for Madness, will be part of an event next month in the U.K. against cancer. Busking Cancer will see musicians and street performers at various locations around the country the second week in September to raise money for cancer research.

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Reba McEntire has been signed to host the new PBS children's show Toddling Towards Reading.