Morning Report - News from Aug. 27, 2002

POP/ROCK

Another Hit Record

for the Late Eva Cassidy

The bittersweet success of Eva Cassidy’s music continues.

The Maryland singer, whose music ranges from standards and pop to jazz and folk, was a relative unknown when she died in 1996 at age 33, but her music has found a widening audience in subsequent years, largely through word of mouth. On Monday, “Imagine,” a new set of 10 previously unreleased tracks, debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart, marking the second time one of her posthumous releases has topped that list.

Cassidy’s success in England has been considerable--her music is a staple request of BBC listeners, who also voted her version of “Over the Rainbow” as one of the 100 best musical performances of the 20th century.

“Imagine” debuts on the U.S. chart Wednesday but is not expected to crack the top 10. Her other titles, including “Songbird” and “Time After Time,” also still sell well--last week alone they sold 22,000 copies in the U.S., and her career U.S. total to date is 1.2 million.

Cassidy’s first solo album, “Live at Blues Alley,” was released in June 1996. Two months later, her melanoma was diagnosed and she died by year’s end. Her life is now the subject of a coffee-table book by two British writers, and there has been talk of a film version.

*

Patti LaBelle: Ashanti

Is ‘Extremely Deserving’

Ashanti didn’t directly mention the controversy surrounding her special award at the eighth annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards over the weekend, but she got support from Patti LaBelle, who presented the entertainer of the year honor to the 21-year-old newcomer.

Ashanti is “extremely deserving of this wonderful recognition,” LaBelle said, adding “her overall success of the past year exceeds those of all other female solo artists or groups.”

More than 28,000 signatures had been gathered on an Internet petition saying Ashanti didn’t deserve the award.

In ceremonies at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Saturday, Ashanti also was selected as best new solo artist. Other winners included the late singer Aaliyah, whose single “Rock the Boat” was named best R&B; solo single and song of the year, and Destiny’s Child, which won best R&B;/soul album of the year for “Survivor” and best R&B; single for “Emotion.”

THE ARTS

A Rare Budget Deficit

for Cleveland Orchestra

The Cleveland Orchestra, still considered by many the nation’s finest, has announced its first substantial budget deficit in almost a decade: $1.3 million for the fiscal year that ended May 31.

During the 2001-02 season, when the orchestra’s budget was $34.6 million, its income fell $2.7 million short of its goal. That deficit was reduced to $1.3 million by cutting planned operating expenses.

The orchestra’s executive director, Thomas Morris, blamed the bad news on an ailing stock market and a 29% decline in corporate contributions. The value of the orchestra’s endowment, one of the largest for U.S. orchestras, fell from $155 million in 2000 to $105 million this month, primarily due to stock market losses.

In the 2002-03 season, the orchestra will cut its expenses, including some radio broadcasts and benefits for employees, but will not substantially reduce its core programs. It has canceled a taping of a Sept. 14 gala concert marking the debut of the orchestra’s new music director, Franz Welser-Most, and a tour to Carnegie Hall scheduled for this season.

*

Denver Art Museum Making Do With Less

The Denver Art Museum will proceed with an ambitious exhibition schedule as well as construction of a new wing despite revenue shortfalls that have forced it to cut 10% of the full-time staff.

The museum also will rotate the permanent exhibitions it keeps open late Wednesday nights instead of having them all open. The goal is to cut $1 million from its $14-million budget.

“This will not impact the special exhibition program or other programs and services,” museum director Lewis Sharpe said. “We are going forward with probably our most ambitious exhibition ever from the Phillips Impressionist collection in Washington.” The exhibition is scheduled to open Oct. 4, 2003.

Nor will the budget cuts affect the ongoing construction of a $62.5-million wing designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, to be funded by voter-approved bonds.

The cuts become effective Oct. 1, the start of the 2002-03 fiscal year. The full-time staff will drop from 164 to 148 people.

*

QUICK TAKES

Christopher Nance, KNBC-TV’s morning weathercaster, is on an indefinite paid leave of absence pending an investigation into a personnel matter. Station executives refused to comment about the inquiry. John Stehlin will fill in during Nance’s absence.... Singer Joey McIntyre, a former member of the group New Kids on the Block, will join the Fox series “Boston Public” this season, playing a new member of the faculty.... Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives will perform on the third annual Latin Grammy Awards telecast on CBS Sept. 18.