NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Kesha fans ask Sony to drop Dr. Luke

NEW YORK

Fans of the pop star Kesha on Friday called on Sony to cut ties with the producer she has accused of raping her.

About 35 Kesha fans gathered outside Sony’s Manhattan headquarters to deliver petitions with more than 411,000 signatures demanding that the label release Kesha from her Sony recording contract and drop the producer, Dr. Luke.

The hit-making producer is not charged with any crime.

He says Kesha fabricated her story about being drugged and raped a decade ago to get out of her recording contract.

Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer dies at 71

LOS ANGELES

Keith Emerson, founder and keyboardist of the progressive-rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died in what may have been a suicide, it was announced Friday. He was 71.

Emerson’s longtime partner, Mari Kawaguchi, called police to his condominium in the coastal suburb of Santa Monica, Calif., about 1:30 a.m.

Emerson had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said. “It’s being investigated as a suicide,” Sgt. Erika Aklufi said.

“Keith was a gentle soul whose love for music and passion for his performance as a keyboard player will remain unmatched for many years to come,” his former bandmate, drummer Carl Palmer, said in a statement. “He was a pioneer and an innovator whose musical genius touched all of us in the worlds of rock, classical and jazz. I will always remember his warm smile, good sense of humor, compelling showmanship and dedication to his musical craft. I am very lucky to have known him and to have made the music we did together.”

Associated Press