Taking Names: Adele facing surgery

Adele facing surgery, cancels appearances for rest of 2011

Adele’s voice has given her the biggest success this year - and the most trouble. The singer will have throat surgery and has now canceled all tour dates and promotional appearances for the year.

According to the Associated Press, Columbia Records announced Friday that the “Rolling in the Deep” singer will have surgery “to alleviate the current issues with her throat.” A full recovery is expected.

Earlier this month, the 23-year-old canceled a U.S. concert run due to a hemorrhage in her vocal cords; she also canceled concerts in June due to laryngitis.

The statement said doctors have ordered the Grammy winner to rest her voice and “completely recuperate before looking to schedule any work commitments.”

Adele’s “21” is the best-selling CD of the year in the United States; it has sold more than 4 million units.

Manilow donation brings music back to Joplin, Mo.

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has come through on his pledge to help schools in Joplin replace musical instruments lost in the tornado that devastated the town last spring, according to the Associated Press.

The Joplin Globe reports that hundreds of band, choir and orchestra students looked on Thursday as Mr. Manilow delivered $300,000 worth of musical instruments for the high school and middle school.

Mr. Manilow made the presentation inside a stadium on behalf of the Manilow Music Project, which works to highlight the importance of school music programs.

The May 22 tornado killed more than 160 people and destroyed thousands of homes as well as businesses and schools in the southwestern Missouri city.

Martin’s book of tweets to benefit charity

Steve Martin’s tweets are coming out in book form, like it or not.

According to the Associated Press, the comedian tweeted Thursday, “Due to absolutely no demand, soon I’m publishing a book of my tweets.”

The title is long, but less than the 140 characters required on Twitter: “The Ten, Make that Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make that Ten.” Grand Central Publishing will release the book in June 2012.

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