newsmakers

newsmakers

Taylor Swift album tops 1M in sales

NEW YORK

Taylor Swift fans have spoken — more than a million times. The country-pop superstar sold more than 1 million copies of her new album, “Speak Now,” to debut at the top of the Billboard album chart this week.

Billboard.com said Wednesday that it’s the biggest debut since 50 Cent’s “The Massacre” five years ago.

According to Nielsen SoundScan figures, “Speak Now” sold 1,047,000 copies since it was released last week.

‘Fiddler On the Roof’ composer dies

NEW YORK

An attorney for Jerry Bock says the Tony Award-winning composer of such hit Broadway musicals as “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Fiorello!” has died. Richard M. Ticktin said Bock died Wednesday morning in Mount Kisco, N.Y., of heart failure. He was 81.

Together with lyricist Sheldon Harnick, Bock wrote the powerful score to “Fiddler on the Roof.” It earned the two men Tonys in 1965.

Bock and Harnick also earned Tonys for the music and lyrics to “Fiorello!” in 1960.

Vindicator wire services

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