Aaron Neville, who had a one of his most successful years yet in 1989, will kick off 1990 with the honor of singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXIV on Sunday, Jan. 28, in the Superdome in his native New Orleans.
Neville, who had a No. 2 pop hit in 1967 with "Tell It Like It Is," matched that in December with the duet "Don't Know Much" with Linda Ronstadt, which also peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's record charts. The Neville Brothers' most recent album, "Yellow Moon," with his siblings, was also critically acclaimed last year.-The Commodores have become the first international rock act booked into the new country of Namibia, formerly South-West Africa. The group will also perform in Botswana, Zambia and Lesotho in a Red Cross benefit tour.
-Several rock stars are using a remake of Rod Stewart's "Sailing" to protest the British government's attempt at forced repatriation of Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong.
Guitarist Steve Hackett is coordinating the recording with Brian May of Queen, Bonnie Tyler, Curt Smith, Mike Rutherford, Jack Bruce and the Sutherland Brothers.
"This will be a protest song, not a charity record," said Hackett. But all proceeds will go to refugee causes, he adds.