The image was taken in 1939 during depression-era in the Harlem area of New York City and it was re-discovered this week by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which forms part of the New York Public Library.

The Center shared the snap and accompanied it with the caption: "Does the man on the right remind you of someone? Perhaps it was his great-grandfather taking a break in Harlem in 1939."

Several pictures have been publicised lately that show people from generations gone by looking like today's stars and one of the most shared photographs is of a man that looks almost identical to Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage although it was taken in 1870 (shown below).

Listen to Jay-Z's 'Open Letter' here:

Nordoff Robbins have today announced that singer, songwriter and producer Labrinth will be awarded the American Express Innovation Award at this year’s 38th Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards and Lunch. 

This star-studded event, in aid of music charity Nordoff Robbins, the chosen charity of the music industry, will take place on Friday 28 June 2013 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. 

In just a short period of time, Labrinth has become one of the biggest names on the British music scene and the pioneer of the now hugely popular electro-pop-grime sound. Collaborations with Tinie Tempah (‘Pass Out’) and Emeli Sandé (‘Beneath Your Beautiful’), the two previous winners of the Nordoff Robbins American Express Innovation Award, have earned him two No. 1 singles and his debut solo album, ‘Electronic Earth’, was released last year and entered the UK charts at No. 2. ‘Pass Out’, which he co-wrote with Tinie Tempah when he was just 21, won Best British Single at the 2011 BRIT Awards and Best Contemporary Song at the 2011 Ivor Novello Awards. He has also written material for high-profile artists including Professor Green. 

Labrinth says,“It’s amazing to be awarded the American Express Innovation Award. Especially when my pal Emeli Sande won it the year before. I’m always looking for new ideas and inspiration for my music and it’s great to be recognised by Nordoff Robbins. Music is my life, so to see how it can help so many people through music therapy is really cool.”

David Munns, Nordoff Robbins Chairman, said, “It’s like this Innovation Award category was created for Labrinth. Simon Cowell saw his potential early on and signed him to Syco and Labrinth’s many collaborations mean that he is well-known, successful and well-liked by both fans and the music industry, yet he continues to have his own hugely successful solo career at the same time. It’s amazing when you consider what he has achieved at just 24 years old - the future can only hold more success for him.”

“As an event that recognises true talent in the music industry, Nordoff Robbins is delighted to have Labrinth - one of the biggest names in British music - to support the vital work that we do. 

“Our work at Nordoff Robbins is life changing. Since the Silver Clef Awards began 38 years ago, they have raised over £8 million for Nordoff Robbins, allowing us to transform the lives of many thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable people with music therapy. But we still have a long way to go to ensure we can deliver our music services to all those who need them. This year, we hope to raise £500,000 from the Awards to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.”
 
Lisa Gregg, Head of International Card Products and Experiences at American Express said:
“We would like to congratulate Labrinth on winning the Innovation Award. As a company, American Express prides itself on encouraging people to realise their dreams and aspirations and, as such, we are a longtime supporter of the work done by Nordoff Robbins and a proud sponsor at the Silver Clef Awards.”

Overall 10 awards will be presented at the 2013 O2 Silver Clef Awards. Labrinth is the first winner to be announced. 
Shadi Halliwell, Head of Brand, O2 said:"We’ve worked with Nordoff Robbins for over 10 years and we're as enthusiastic about our partnership now as we were on that very first day. We believe that music can make a difference and so we are proud to be associated with such invaluable work. The commitment and energy that Nordoff Robbins put into improving the lives of others is inspirational and we're delighted to support an event that helps to celebrate that.” 

Music charity Nordoff Robbins uses music to transform the lives of people of all ages all over the UK. Supported heavily by the music industry, where they are the charity of choice at the BRITs and the MITs, Nordoff Robbins provide over 50,000 music therapy sessions annually in a variety of settings across the UK including schools, day centres, hospitals, care homes, in addition to their main centre and units.

The annual Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards Lunch, which began in 1976, is now the jewel in the charity’s fundraising crown and a highlight of the UK music industry’s calendar. Sponsored by O2 for the past 10 years, and now in its 38th year, the event has raised over £8 million for Nordoff Robbins since its inception. Last year’s winners included Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Michael Buble, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Conor Maynard, Fatboy Slim  and Laura Wright and honourees in previous years include The Who (awarded the very first Silver Clef Award in 1976), Elton John, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Take That, Muse and many more .
The event is a highlight in the music industry calendar, recognised for its a-list attendees and impressive auction prizes up for grabs at the lunch. 

The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2013 event is hoping to raise £500,000 to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.

http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk <http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/> 

ENDS.

For further information please contact:

  DawBell PR   020 3327 7159   
  Maria Barham maria.barham@dawbell.com <mailto:maria.barham@dawbell.com>   Claire Walley claire.walley@dawbell.com <mailto:claire.walley@dawbell.com>   
  Nordoff Robbins PR      
  Lucy Jackson lucy.jackson@nordoff-robbins.org.uk <mailto:lucy.jackson@nordoff-robbins.org.uk>   020 7428 0061 / 07872 970636   Liam McMahon liam.mcmahon@nordoff-robbins.org.uk<mailto:liam.mcmahon@nordoff-robbins.org.uk> 0207 428 2758  

About Nordoff Robbins 
Nordoff Robbins is a music therapy charity, dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults. They deliver over 50,000 music therapy sessions every year to people with a range of challenges such as autism, dementia, depression and physical and learning disabilities. 

Music therapy is a specialist use of music to help people in many different ways – for some it has physical benefits, for others emotional or social ones and helps many to communicate where they’ve struggled to do so previously. 
They carry out their work in their own music therapy centre and units, in schools, day centres, hospitals and care homes. They also train music therapists to Masters level.

Nordoff Robbins receives no government funding. They derive a significant amount of their income from individual sponsors and events such as the Silver Clef Awards and the Music Industry Trust Awards, which enable them to continue to build awareness of their services and transform lives.

The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards, held annually at the London Hilton on Park Lane, honours artists from across the music industry, whilst raising much-needed funds for Nordoff Robbins. The event, which has raised £8 million for Nordoff Robbins since its inception in 1976, is a chance for the charity to give something back to the music industry, from which they receive significant support throughout the year.

The event is attended by artists, celebrities and the great and the good of the music industry.
Last year’s winners include Michale Bublé, Kylie Minogue, Emeli Sande and Andrew Lloyd Webber and winners in other years include Muse, The Who (who won the first Silver Clef Award in 1976), Elton John, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Take That and many more. 

The Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2013 event is hoping to raise £500,000 to fund 20,000 life-transforming music therapy sessions for children and adults across the UK.

Speaking to The Mirror newspaper about having her two sons, Leighton and Zachary, at a young age, Solomon explained that she felt like her "dreams had been shattered":

"I was 18 and I didn't want to be a mum. I still feel guilty that I didn't get this burst of excitement and happiness. I started thinking I've got to just be a mum for ever, I can't be anything else. I can't have a career, I can't go to college and have a social life. It felt like all my dreams had been shattered."

"I didn't feel any kind of bond with my baby. It felt like everything I did was wrong and all I could do was cry. I wanted help, but I struggled to admit that's how I felt because of the stigma."

She added that after experiencing it first hand, she wants to raise awareness and for there to be more support available: "I just feel like there's definitely got to be more help out there. There are not enough groups and there's not enough support. I feel really lucky that I didn't get postnatal depression the second time around. This time I've got a career, a house, and my partner Aaron to help me."

Her programme, 'Stacey Solomon: Depression, Teen Mums & Me', will air tonight at 9pm in the UK on BBC1.

Watch an interview with Solomon from late last year here:

The X Factor 2012 winner told The Sun that he was previously diagnosed with the mental health issues.

The singer has teamed up with depression charity STAMP Revisited ahead of this year's Red Nose Day tonight (March 15).

Arthur, however, said that he still gets pangs of anxiety, admitting that he's had a number of "low points" in his life. The reality TV star said:

"Sometimes I can't sleep, I've got that many creative ideas going round my head. I get the guitar out and start singing at the top of my voice until I feel any anxiety draining away. Music is my coping mechanism. Singing something passionately releases that energy."

He added: "In my life I've had some low points, so now it's really important to give something back because I'm really passionate about changing people's perceptions about mental health."

The X Factor 2012 winner told The Sun that he was previously diagnosed with the mental health issues.

The singer has teamed up with depression charity STAMP Revisited ahead of this year's Red Nose Day tonight (March 15).

Arthur, however, said that he still gets pangs of anxiety, admitting that he's had a number of "low points" in his life. The reality TV star said:

"Sometimes I can't sleep, I've got that many creative ideas going round my head. I get the guitar out and start singing at the top of my voice until I feel any anxiety draining away. Music is my coping mechanism. Singing something passionately releases that energy."

He added: "In my life I've had some low points, so now it's really important to give something back because I'm really passionate about changing people's perceptions about mental health."

The girls have reunited for a new album, which features a brand new song entitled 'Nuclear', and Williams explained to MTV that recording with them again just felt right:

"It was a bunch of fun. It was just picking up right where we left off. The harmonies and just us stacking [vocals]. Beyonce laid hers first, then I'd go and lay another note to the bottom, and I'm like, 'Wow, this is dope.'"

"I literally got goose bumps. [After hearing it,] Beyonce sent an email like, 'Man, we sound good together!' I'm like, 'Duh, that's what we do, boo! That's what we do!'"

She added that 'Love Songs' might be a new album, but she doesn't want fans to get their expectations up and hope for a tour because nothing is set in stone regarding Destiny's Child's future:

"We're not promising anything, but we just wanted to say, 'Hey, we still got it,' and we just wanted to give fans something just to say thank you and that we really love you."

'Love Songs' will be released on January 29 and you can listen to 'Nuclear' here:

She was recently named as the organisation's youngest ever spokesperson and was invited to the role after she publicly opened up about her battles with depression last year.

Speaking about representing Mind, 24-year-old Sandford explained that it's important to try and eradicate the stigma that comes with admitting to dealing with mental health issues:

"Mind is a fantastic charity that does so much to support anyone living with a mental health problem. I have got to know the charity over the last few months and am really pleased and proud to have been invited to be an ambassador."

"There is still so much stigma and fear around mental health and I hope that by being an ambassador for Mind I can help raise awareness and get people talking about something that affects one in four of us."

She is also offering one lucky fan the chance to enjoy a trip to Alton Towers with her, in order to raise money for the charity, and added: "I'm going to be giving one of you and three of your friends the chance to come to one of my favourite places in the country, Alton Towers. But, I'm a little bit of a wimp, so you're gonna have to persuade me to get on these rides!"

Watch a new interview with The Saturdays below:

During an interview with the Associated Press, the singer, who recently signed up to be a new cast member in the stage musical 'Fela!', explained that she often finds it hard to get out of bed and wants to speak about it to encourage other sufferers to get the help they need:

"I had to choose to get out of bed and do whatever I needed to do to be happy. We're taught, 'Just go to church and pray about it. The Lord is going to heal you.'"

Referring to the stigma attached to discussing mental health, she urged people to seak and accept treatment because it's such a tough thing to face alone and silently:

"Well, in the meantime, I believe God-gifted people, physicians, doctors, therapists — that's your healing. Take advantage of it. Go see a professional so that they can assess you. It's OK if you're going through something. Depression is not OK, but it is OK to go get help.”

Listen to Destiny's Child's brand new song, 'Nuclear', below:

The 24-year-old made the revelation in an interview with Look, and said that he had suffered from suicidal thoughts and become dependent on alcohol as a result.

Arthur said: "This time last year was the darkest point in my life. I wanted to be making music and I wasn't, so I cut myself off from everyone and I was in a bad place.

"I'd stay in my bedsit on my own or get obliterated [on drink] to try to forget about it. I felt ready to give up on life. I didn't want to jump off a building, but who knows how bad it could have got?"

However, the singer credits the reality show with giving him renewed faith in life, adding: "I've got my confidence back. My attitude's been rejuvenated.

"The X Factor saved me. It's helped me beat my demons, and I know I'll never let that happen again."

James Arthur will battle it out with Jahmene Douglas and Christopher Maloney to be crowned the winner of The X Factor 2012 this weekend.

Watch James Arthur perform Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' on The X Factor below: 

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/DemiLovato/view/58118/ Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:22:29 +0100 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/DemiLovato/view/58118/ 'Skyscraper' songstress Demi Lovato has admitted that she first felt conscious of her body at the age of 3.

The star, who is currently working as a judge on X Factor USA, sat down for a personal interview with Katie Couric and revealed that she wanted a flat stomach as a toddler after noticing how her stomach stuck out while wearing a diaper:

"I remember being 3 years old in a diaper and rubbing my hand over my stomach, and I remember thinking in my head ‘I wonder if one day this will ever be flat?’"

She added that her experience of being bullied as a child has had a significant impact on her life ever since and it was the verbal abuse that really took its toll:

"I’ve always said I wished that they had just hit me in the face and gotten it over with because what they said to me sticks to me to this day and it [turned] me into the person I am today."

When asked by Couric about the '09 incident that saw her hit one of her backing dancers in the face, Lovato explained: "I wasn’t really in control of my emotions at the time. I was just out of control and there’s no excuse for it but it definitely showed everyone I needed to get help and I think two days later I was checking into rehab."

The full interview will air on 'Katie' next Monday, September 24. Watch her discuss Niall Horan with Simon Cowell here:

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/saturdays/view/46877/ Wed, 16 May 2012 17:33:50 +0100 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/saturdays/view/46877/ Popular girl group The Saturdays have the highest new entry in the midweek singles chart update with their new offering, '30 Days'.

Although the talented singers entered at No.2 this afternoon (May 16), they were unable to knock Rita Ora from the top spot with her smash hit 'R.I.P.', which also features UK rapper Tinie Tempah.

Carly-Rae Jepsen is close behind at No.3 with 'Call Me Maybe' and The Official Charts Company reports that there are "less than 5,000 copies separating all three acts".

fun.'s 'We Are Young' has moved up one place to No.4 following their headlining concert at London's XOYO earlier this week, Rihanna's 'Where Have You Been' is up 1 at No.7 and Scissor Sisters have entered the chart at No.10 with 'Only The Horses'.

Meanwhile, Labrinth's 'Express Yourself' has shot up an impressive 18 places and is now at No.16.

The 'Notorious' beauty took to her official Twitter page earlier this evening (April 24) and spent time answering questions sent into her by fans. During the session, she explained that she needed to clear up the claims and admitted they are not romantically involved:

"Guys I'm getting lots of tweets about Prince Harry but as i said last wk, i'm not dating him & we're not in a relationship. We're just friends."

She also answered several other of her followers' personal questions and revealed that the best piece of advice she has ever been given was by Emma Bunton, who told her "to take in every moment", and that her favourite Saturdays music video is either 'Notorious' or 'Higher'.

King also confessed that her favourite brand of make up is Rimmel, her style icon is Brigitte Bardot and she works out at Bodyism, which is "a blueprint for a long, lean, healthy body" according to its official website. 

The stunning brunette singer spoke exclusively to Glamour magazine about her battle with the condition and explained that it's something that's plagued her for years. She took to thesaturdays.co.uk to personally extend her gratitude to the group's followers for understanding and sticking by her during the difficult time:

"I just wanted to write you a personal note about the recent interview I did for this month’s issue of Glamour magazine, which focuses on my experience with depression. Opening up and talking about something so personal wasn’t easy, but I wanted to set the record straight and share my story in the hope that it will encourage other people suffering from the condition to get help."

She continued by explaining that she has signed up to front a campaign for the MIND organisation, adding:

"I’m now proud to front the MIND campaign for better mental health. If you or someone you care about is suffering from depression and you would like to get help or advice, then visit the website at www.mind.org.uk/campaigns."

"For the record, I want you all to know how much your love and support has meant to me. Saturdays fans rock! :)"

Watch the girls of The Saturdays talk about their individual personalities within the group here:

In a new and very honest interview with Glamour magazine, the stunning brunette revealed that the condition made her feel "worthless" and "ugly", and she knew that she had to seek treatment for it because it began when she was 15 and often resurfaced:

"I got upset because Wayne hadn't bought the right yogurts; I managed to convince myself he didn't know me at all."

"It set off this spiral of negative thinking - if I disappeared, it wouldn't matter to anyone. In fact, it would make everybody's life easier. I felt that I was worthless, that I was ugly, that I didn't deserve anything. I had some counselling which helped for a while but then I stopped going when I felt better."

She also confessed that she is now on medication and feels it's important to speak out about depression because she managed to convince herself that she wasn't ill and that she was just being selfish:

"There was a part of me thinking I was putting it on, that I wasn't properly sick, and only sick people should be in hospital."

"I thought that since mine was only a mind thing, I should snap out of it. I got so good at covering it up, I didn't confide in anyone."

"I thought I was selfish, miserable and ungrateful. I'd been given this amazing life, but I wasn't happy."

Watch behind-the-scenes footage of The Saturdays' photoshoot for Sport Relief below: