United News of Bangladesh

Renowned author and novelist Samaresh Majumdar died in Kolkata on Monday. He was 81. He breathed his last around 5:45pm at a private hospital in Kolkata, Anandabazar daily reported. He had long been suffering from multiple health complications. The Sahitya Akademi award-winning novelist was admitted to the hospital on April 25 due to brain haemorrhage. Later, his respiratory problems worsened. Samaresh Majumdar is the author of many timeless novels including Uttaradhikar, Kalpurush, Kalbela. He was born in 1942 in North Bengal. He spent his childhood in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. His other notable novels include Satkahan, Tero Parvan, At Kuthuri Noy Dorja, Anurag etc. Besides winning many national and international awards, Samaresh Majumdar has won the hearts of millions of readers at home and abroad.  

Presenting a high energy, festive song that combines Bangla folk genres ‘Shaari’, ‘Jaari’ and ‘Pala Gaan’ with electrifying urban grooves, Coke Studio Bangla released its fifth track “Deora” on Sunday (May 07) night across all its digital platforms. Composed, produced, mixed and mastered by Pritom Hasan – one of the most versatile contemporary musicians, “Deora” is dedicated to the boatsmen’s rhythm and energy during ‘Nouka Baich’ or traditional boat race, popular in rural Bangladesh and held during the monsoon and autumn seasons. The title of the song refers to ‘brother-in-law’ in the regional dialect of north Bengal, and this type of song is performed during the boat races – cheering on the racers – from the banks of rivers. The biggest surprise in the song has been the superlative performance by Islam Uddin Palakar, renowned in the ‘Pala Gaan’ tradition of Bangla folk songs. “The rich heritage of this genre usually requires elaborative theatrical performances where the actor takes on multiple roles – sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, and sometimes an inanimate object – to present stories to their audience. These performances can take up to 8 hours without a break.” – Coke Studio Bangla describes. Read More: Web series Hotel Relax hits a new record: Bongo Pritom jointly penned the lyrics with Fazlu Majhi, a boat racer himself who also performed in the song with his team. The first Bangladeshi Grammy Award-nominated artist Armeen Musa and her ‘Ghaashphoring Choir’ added another dimension to the song. Describing the fusion in detail, Coke Studio Bangla mentioned on the song’s YouTube description, “…’Shaari Gaan’, usually associated with physical labour, and ‘Jaari Gaan’ known for its motivational lyrics – the perfect combination for a sport that requires the participants to have quick bursts of intense energy for rowing their boat across the finishing line.”

Bongo’s latest web series, Hotel Relax, reached record subscription sales, thanks to its enticing plot and wonderful characters, said a press release. Hotel Relax, directed by Kajal Arefin Ome, is about a group of unusual individuals like dacoits, cloth merchants, pickpockets, conmen, etc, with intriguing back stories that gather at an infamous hotel - Hotel Relax. The web series followed the events that took place at and around this hotel. As a result of these individuals, Hotel Relax has shattered records in Bangladesh’s OTT space since its release on April 24. Hotel Relax was released during Eid-ul-Fitr as a six-episode web series with exclusive payment partner bKash. The casts of this web series are Purnima, Mishu Sabbir, Ziaul Hoque Polash, Marzuk Russell, Chashi Alam, Parsa Evana, Saraf Ahmed Zibon, Md. Saidur Rahman Pavel, Musafire Syed Bacchu, Abdullah Rana, Schumonn Patwary, Lamima Lam, Shimul Sharma. Within 10 days of release, it has reached a whopping 3 crore minutes of watch time, 4+ million plays and over 200,000 customers that have paid to watch it. Viewers from over 100 countries have viewed and praised this one-of-a-kind action comedy web series. Mushfiqur Rahman Manzu, Bongo's chief content officer, said, "Hotel Relax is our premium web series, which is released in pay-per-view (TVOD) mode." Since release, it has been performing wow! Hotel Relax has already set some records. Thanks and gratitude to Ome and his team for their passion, sincerity and courage. I am truly hopeful about our content industry's bright future. Welcome to “Hotel Relax." Director Kajal Arefin Ome said, "Nowadays almost all web series are based on thrills and crime, but I wanted to take another route and entertain my audience with fun. "I think this story hasn't been tried in Bangladesh before.”  

Showcasing heartfelt tribute to internationally popular bands across the world, a special concert titled 'Rock N Rhythm 3.0: Tribute Fiesta' is going to be held on Friday at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital. Being organised by Adventor Communications, the concert promises to be the ultimate music extravaganza, with a blend of contemporary music to suit every taste. The event will feature live performances by Artcell which will pave its ‘Tribute to The Legends’, Nemesis will cover Coldplay and Incubus, Cryptic Fate (Iron Maiden), Arbovirus (Linkin Park, Green Day), Powersurge (Metalica), Indalo (Audioslave), Mechanix (Alter Bridge, Pantera), Karnival (Radiohead, Nirvana), Ionic Bond (Eluveitie Children of Bodom), Echoes (Pink Floyd), Unmaad (AC DC, Guns n' Roses) and Shonar Bangla Circus will play tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Bob Marley. “Rock N Rhythm” was always focused on the next-gen lineups with their creative charisma. In this musical event, Bangladeshi mainstream bands will cover the songs of renowned international bands along with their own songs, the organisers informed the media. The concert is going to be held at ICCB Hall 4 and the gate will be opened at 1 pm. The live performances will begin at 2:30 pm. Tickets for "Rock N Rhythm 3.0" are available for purchase on www.tickify.live. More information about the event, including the full lineup of performers and schedule, is available on the Facebook Page of Adventor Communications.

Move over Instagram (or Snapchat) — the Met Gala was the place to announce pregnancies Monday night, at least if you're Serena Williams or Karlie Kloss. The tennis legend and supermodel each revealed their pregnancies in interviews on the Met Gala's not-so-red carpet. Williams' announcement had particular poignance given that she stepped away from tennis last year, saying she had to in order to have a second child. “Believe me,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote in an August essay for Vogue magazine, “I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.” Also Read: Met Gala: Rihanna, Jared Leto as Choupette, Kim K. in pearls Williams was also afforded more agency in announcing her pregnancy this time, sharing the news alongside her husband Alexis Ohanian in an interview with Vogue livestream host La La Anthony. The first time around, Williams publicly posted a picture in profile on Snapchat, captioned "20 weeks" — which she said was an accident. Williams, 41, also said in her Vogue essay that she wanted to focus more on her business interests. Their daughter, Olympia, is now 5. Also Read: Met Gala: Rihanna, Jared Leto as Choupette, Kim K. in pearls Kloss, 30, sporting black hair, shared her pregnancy earlier in the night in an interview with another Vogue livestream host, Emma Chamberlain, prompting squeals of delight and an offer to babysit from the influencer. Kloss and husband Josh Kushner also have a son, Levi, who was born in March 2021.

Rihanna shut down the Met Gala carpet Monday encased in white camellias on a jacket with a long train gown. Janelle Monáe dropped a bulky coat to reveal a see-through cage and Jeremy Pope walked in a 32-foot cape emblazoned with the visage of Karl Lagerfeld. In the spirit of Lagerfeld himself (he was not often on time), Rihanna and her Valentino couture had the carpet to themselves save her partner, A$AP Rocky, who wore a red tartan skirt over crystal-studded jeans with a train of his own. They showed up well past everyone else. Around her neck was a short Bulgari necklace in Akoya cultured pearls and pearl-shaped diamonds. Lagerfeld was the honoree at the A-list gala with many in the crowd of about 400 dressed in vintage looks from the fashion houses where he worked during a career of more than 60 years. Also Read: Inside the Met Gala: A furry feline star, a tardy Cinderella But elegant wasn't entirely the hallmark of the evening. Jared Leto dressed as Choupette, Lagerfeld's beloved fluffy cat. Lil Nas X went full cat covered in crystals by Pat McGrath and Dior Men. Bad Bunny showed up late in bright white from head to toe with a long cape also adorned with camellias, a Coco Chanel motif embraced by Lagerfeld. Monáe’s look, with a black sparkly leotard underneath, was made by Thom Browne. Cardi B first donned pink then switched to a full black ballgown with, you guessed it, camellias. Up top, she said, “is giving Karl, the house of Chanel and Karl at the same time.” It was a men's white collar shirt accent with a black men's tie. The outfit in honor of Lagerfeld was done by an up-and-coming British design house, Chenpeng Studio. “The Met Gala dress code was ‘in honor of Karl’ and guests definitely understood the assignment,” said Alison Cohn, deputy fashion news editor for Harper's Bazaar. “They referenced the many signatures Karl Lagerfeld developed over his six-decade plus career.” Many used boucle fabric (Teyana Taylor's Thom Browne suit and Anne Hathaway's Versace safety pin number). Also adorned in camellias were Emily Blunt in a Michael Kors blouse and Adut Akech in a Carolina Herrera gown. Dua Lipa walked in a white Chanel ballgown from the fashion house’s archive and Nicole Kidman chose a look Lagerfeld himself made for her 20 years ago. And there were some bombshells: Serena Williams wore a flapper Gucci look when she announced she's pregnant with her second child. Lipa, a gala co-chair, wore a Tiffany & Co. diamond around her neck. She called her cream-colored dress, by Chanel from 1992, “very, very special” as it has been on her mood boards. Claudia Schiffer wore the gown on the runway for its debut, although hers had a matching hat. Lipa's necklace in platinum included a center diamond of more than 200 carats. Nicole Kidman said it was Lagerfeld who ignited her fashion spark. She wore a pale pink gown created by Lagerfeld for a Chanel No. 5 commercial she starred in. It's adorned with 3,000 silver crystals for the ad directed by Baz Luhrmann. “I’m very grateful to wear it,” she told The Associated Press. “He was so much a part of my life, as were his whole team. He was the one really sort of shepherded me … in terms of my love of fashion.” Kidman topped off her look with Harry Winston diamonds. “My favorite look was Nicole Kidman's ethereal feathered sequin Chanel gown. Typically stars wear new couture straight off the runway or have a custom look commissioned. It was a lovely statement about sustainability, proving that beautifully hand-crafted pieces never go out of style,” Cohn said. Kim Kardashian, meanwhile, went with loops and loops of pearls all over her Schiaparelli look. And Cardi B went big in pink, complete with a feathery head piece. Brittney Griner wore a warm stone shade in a suit with a long jacket by Calvin Klein, who also dressed her wife, Cherelle Griner, in a sleek strapless column dress in white onyx. Many in the crowd counted Lagerfeld as a friend or worked with him at Chanel, Fendi, Chloe or one of the other fashion houses where he created. And many guests wore black to walk the unusual carpet in a line design. It was a color Lagerfeld wore almost exclusively. Black-and-white combos were also plentiful. Kristen Stewart wore the color duo in a suit with a cropped white jacket. And Cara Delevingne honored her old friend Lagerfeld with a ruffled white shirt look short in front with a train at the back. Ruffled shirts were among Lagerfeld's favorites. The classic colors weren't for Viola Davis. She walked in a stunning neon pink strapless gown with long feathers at the bodice. Frenchye M. Harris, CEO and founder of the online fashion site The Black Fashion Movement had one word for Davis: “Gorgeous!” She called Anne Hathaway's Chanel-inspired but Versace-created look with the pins and camellias at the breast “super cool and a great marriage between the brands.” Gigi Hadid wore Givenchy in black with feathers, a drop waist and sheer train in tulle. It took more than 300 hours to make. Kendall Jenner was also in black, sans pants. She wore a sparkly leotard with long sleeves that has pieces doubling as a train. On her feet were kinky, towering black boots, all courtesy of Marc Jacobs. Jenner's high white collar was a nod to those worn by Lagerfeld. Her hair was in a high ponytail. Rita Ora was also in black, a stunner of a peekaboo sheer look from Prabal Gurung. It was silk tulle with corset detailing and sexy draping in chiffon. One shoulder was dropped. Margot Robbie, who stars in this summer's “Barbie” live-action film, wore a 1993 Chanel gown in black that Cindy Crawford first wore on a runway. Robbie said she was the last Chanel ambassador to be handpicked by Lagerfeld. “I feel really great in it. It's an honor," she said. The invitation-only gala earned $17.4 million last year for the museum's Costume Institute, a self-funding department with a budget dependent on the gala's success. The price of attending went up this year to $300,000 for a table and $50,000 for a single ticket. The guests from fashion, film, music, theater, sports, tech and social media were asked to dress “in honor of Karl” by gala mastermind Anna Wintour, a close Lagerfeld friend who first signed on to the event in 1995 and took over the helm in 1999. The party coincides with the Costume Institute's blockbuster spring exhibition: "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” American fashion was last year's vibe. It followed gilded glamour and white tie. Camp was the theme in 2019, producing what is considered one of the wackiest displays of dress by the celebrity crowd. Lagerfeld worked for Chanel, Fendi, Chloé, Jean Patou, Balmain, his own brand and more. This year’s five hosts include Wintour, as usual, and also Michaela Coel, longtime Chanel ambassador Penélope Cruz, and recently retired tennis superstar Roger Federer. Cruz looked like a bride with a sheer hood on her white Chanel belted gown with silver details from spring/summer couture collection in 1988. Asked how he got to be a Met Gala co-chair, Federer said it helps to know Wintour. He said it makes sense for athletes to be at the gala because they’ve become a bigger part of the fashion world in recent years. “I think the sports people have gotten more and more fashionable,” Federer told the AP. “We’re fortunate to get onto covers much more frequently nowadays. Before it was always the models, the good-looking people, not the athletes.” Fendi, where Lagerfeld worked for more than 20 years, was also represented. Suki Waterhouse wore a 2019 Fendi design by Lagerfeld in silk tulle and delicate flowers and birds on sheer panels. Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, had been rumored to attend but her humans posted on Instagram earlier in the day the 11-year-old feline was staying put in Paris. Doja Cat's cat-eared hood on a sparkling white and silver-beaded dress was an ode by Oscar de la Renta. She wore prosthetics that gave her a feline face and claws. Chloe Fineman carried a cat-shaped bag and Emma Chamberlain wore “Choupette blue,” a light blue hue created by Lagerfeld. James Corden also showed up in the shade. As for Leto, he swapped out his cat costume for a black caped look.

Jared Leto was looking for a place to hang his hat. Er, actually his head. Leto was walking around the cocktail reception at the Met Gala, not long after his big entrance on the carpet as Choupette, designer Karl Lagerfeld’s famous cat, in a full-on white fur suit with very real-looking eyes. Once inside cocktails, it was too hot to keep the whole suit on, but he would not abandon the head. Some friends wanted to check out the head, carried like a war trophy. Rami Malek, for example, and director Taika Waititi, who tried it on. But what would happen at dinner? Leto said he was going to “find a nice quiet seat, so that Chou Chou can take a little rest.” Also Read: Met Gala: Rihanna, Jared Leto as Choupette, Kim K. in pearls And so it went at the Met Gala, where an Oscar-winning actor carrying a huge cat head seeking a nap still had to compete with lots of other things, and people, and clothes, for attention. Here are some moments and scenes from inside Monday's Met Gala: A LOT TO RECYCLE As guests entered the Metropolitan Museum's Great Hall, they passed a towering centerpiece — flanked by an orchestra playing tunes — and then climbed the huge staircase up to the receiving line, with hosts Anna Wintour, Michaela Coel, Penéope Cruz, Dua Lipa and Roger Federer awaiting. Last year, the centerpiece and staircase were carpeted with bright pink roses — 275,000 of them. This time it was recycled water bottles. Met officials estimated the number at 100,000, obtained from a recycling plant — and headed back to a recycling plant. It was the inspiration of exhibit designer Tadao Ando. REMEMBERING KARL Often, celebrity guests skip the exhibit and head straight to cocktails. This year, museum officials really wanted them to see the sumptuous show on Lagerfeld — so they helped things along by routing the crowd from the receiving line to the exhibit, with cocktails and dinner down one floor. The exhibit was indeed more crowded than usual during the gala, and one of the first to visit was Baz Luhrmann. The Australian director had worked with Lagerfeld on a Chanel No. 5 commercial starring Nicole Kidman and had fond memories, saying the designer was constantly working, learning, and creating. He also praised his smarts: “Too often we don’t celebrate the intellect." He was wearing a high-collared, starched white shirt, part of Lagerfeld’s personal uniform, with his Thom Browne ensemble. He recalled visiting Lagerfeld at his home in Biarritz, where, he said. “there was a whole entire room of these shirts.” BROADWAY REUNION The Met Gala is filled with stars of film, music, sports, fashion and more, but Wintour also has a fondness for Broadway, and often invites actors from shows she loves to the gala. At this gala, a spot on one side of the airy Charles Engelhard Court became the site of a joyous reunion of Broadway actors. Among the group gathering, laughing and hugging were Josh Groban (“Sweeney Todd”), Phillipa Soo (“Camelot”), Ben Platt (“Parade”), and Jonathan Groff (“Merrily We Roll Along”). Soo called the party “wonderful and whimsical. I feel so lucky to be here with these artists and celebrate another artist.” For Platt, it was his fifth Met Gala, and he looked like he couldn't believe his luck. “Anna is a huge champion of the theater!” he said. He added that this was his favorite gala because he was able to enjoy it with his friend and co-star in “Parade,” Micaela Diamond. AN EDUCATION IN FASHION Platt got a big greeting from Groban, who plays the murderous barber in “Sweeney Todd.” He was at his second Met Gala, and said he appreciated learning about Lagerfeld, the German-born designer who worked in luxury fashion for 65 years until his death in 2019. “It's impossible when you get to an exhibit like this not to appreciate the impact and the inspiration and influence that he’s had on all forms of fashion,” he said. “This is very educational for me.” TENNIS, ANYONE? It’s also no secret that Wintour also loves tennis. She’s a fixture at the U.S. Open, and is especially close to Federer, the Swiss superstar who recently retired. A host this year, Federer said he was having a much more relaxed experience at his second Met Gala. “It's a much more relaxed lifestyle now so you can also get really into it,” he said. “I could really look forward to it, prepare for it.” Federer strolled to dinner from cocktails alongside Serena Williams, who also recently stepped back from tennis, and announced her pregnancy at the gala along with husband Alexis Ohanian. Also at the gala was Mary Jo Fernandez, former women’s star and now commentator, who’d brought her college daughter as her date. AND SOME BASKETBALL NBA star Russell Westbrook, attending his third gala, said it was still amazing to meet “so many style icons” on fashion’s biggest night. But a key new face from the sport this year was Brittney Griner, who smiled at the cocktail reception when expressing how happy she was to be attending. On the carpet, the WNBA star spoke about helping support families working to free Americans jailed in foreign prisons through the organization Bring Our Families Home. LETO, STILL CARRYING THE CAT’S HEAD Actor Leto, never letting go of Choupette’s head, explained that his attachment to Lagerfeld (and the cat) was both personal and professional. “It was done with a lot of love,” he said of the costume. “I knew Karl. And one of the first times I met him I said ‘I am going to have to play you in a movie,’ and he said, ‘ONLY you my love, only you.’ And now we're developing a film. I just feel that if Karl were here, and I saw Karl, in full Choupette glory, he would have the biggest smile on his face." A CHANCE MEETING IN THE RAIN Many guests reflected on past associations with Lagerfeld — some of them only one-time encounters. Hugh Jackman explained while sampling the exhibit that he'd met the designer at a dinner and was struck by a man who never stopped, whose ethos was “Keep creating, keep creating, keep creating.” Also describing a one-time meeting was rapper Pusha T, like many decked out in Thom Browne, who said he encountered Lagerfeld in Paris, walking out of his store. “He was walking in, I was walking out. I was like ‘OMG Karl, I gotta take a picture.’ He was nice. He took the picture — and then said ‘Its raining on me, I’ve got to go!'” WAITING ON CINDERELLA The clock was soon to strike midnight, and Cinderella was yet to arrive at the ball. Well, it felt like midnight. It wasn’t just the crowds outside on Fifth Avenue or the crews on the red carpet that were waiting for Rihanna to show up. Inside the museum, while most guests were well into dinner, a hardy crew of wait staff, photographers, and museum staffers were waiting, too. They listened to screams outside, hoping it signaled Rihanna's arrival — but in one case, it was a roach that caused the commotion. Finally, the singer showed up, past 10 p.m. as some guests were already leaving dinner. She posed inside in her dramatic Valentino ensemble in white, accompanied by partner A$AP Rocky in a kilt-type layer over jeans, then vanished down a hallway. But Cinderella had finally arrived, and everyone else could consider turning into pumpkins.

Salman Mohammad Muqtadir, the very first successful YouTube celebrity in Bangladesh, has finally settled down and got married.  The popular social media celebrity shared some of the images from his wedding photoshoots across his verified profiles on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, and the caption suggested that the couple got married on April 30. However, name of his bride is yet to be revealed by the YouTube superstar. A fashion clothing brand named Safiya Sathi was tagged on Salman's post, which congratulated him on its Facebook post stating "Salman Muqtaqir is wearing our couture white Sherwani to match the dazzling bride's ensemble." Although some netizens seemingly took it as a prank or some sort of sponsored promotional activity, people from celebrities to his regular followers are showering the newlyweds with love and best wishes. 10 Minutes School CEO and content creator Ayman Sadiq wrote, "I never thought I would see this day. So glad to see you guys happy. Wish both of you a happy & peaceful journey together." Popular presenter and host Rafsan Shabab wrote, "From seeing your heart and mind suffer to seeing your heart being won by a beautiful partner - could not be more happy. May this be the beginning of a new story, filled with love, peace and happiness. Congratulations to you two

Gordon Lightfoot, Canada's legendary folk singer-songwriter known for “If You Could Read My Mind" and "Sundown” and for songs that told tales of Canadian identity, died on Monday. He was 84. Representative Victoria Lord said the musician died at a Toronto hospital. His cause of death was not immediately available. Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot went on to record 20 studio albums and pen hundreds of songs, including “Carefree Highway," “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." In the 1970s, Lightfoot garnered five Grammy nominations, three platinum records and nine gold records for albums and singles. In the more than 60 years since he launched his career, he performed in well over 1,500 concerts and recorded 500 songs. He toured late into his life. Just last month he cancelled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues “We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. “Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.” Once called a “rare talent” by Bob Dylan, dozens of artists have covered his work, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Jane’s Addiction and Sarah McLachlan. Most of his songs are deeply autobiographical with lyrics that probe his own experiences in a frank manner and explore issues surrounding the Canadian national identity. “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” depicted the construction of the railway. “I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from,” he once said. “I take situations and write poems about them.” Lightfoot’s music had a style all its own. “It’s not country, not folk, not rock,” he said in a 2000 interview. Yet it has strains of all three. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” for instance, is a haunting tribute to the 29 men who died in the 1975 sinking of the ship in Lake Superior during a storm. While Lightfoot’s parents recognized his musical talents early on, he didn’t set out to become a renowned balladeer. He began singing in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a jazz musician. At age 13, the soprano won a talent contest at the Kiwanis Music Festival, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall. “I remember the thrill of being in front of the crowd,” Lightfoot said in a 2018 interview. “It was a stepping stone for me...” The appeal of those early days stuck and in high school, his barbershop quartet, The Collegiate Four, won a CBC talent competition. He strummed his first guitar in 1956 and began to dabble in songwriting in the months that followed. Perhaps distracted by his taste for music, he flunked algebra the first time. After taking the class again, he graduated in 1957. By then, Lightfoot had already penned his first serious composition — “The Hula Hoop Song,” inspired by the popular kids’ toy that was sweeping the culture. Attempts to sell the song went nowhere so at 18, he headed to the U.S. to study music for a year. The trip was funded in part by money saved from a job delivering linens to resorts around his hometown. Life in Hollywood wasn’t a good fit, however, and it wasn’t long before Lightfoot returned to Canada. He pledged to move to Toronto to pursue his musical ambitions, taking any job available, including a position at a bank before landing a gig as a square dancer on CBC’s “Country Hoedown.” His first gig was at Fran’s Restaurant, a downtown family-owned diner that warmed to his folk sensibilities. It was there he met fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins. The singer was living with a few friends in a condemned building in Yorkville, then a bohemian area where future stars including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell would learn their trade at smoke-filled clubs. Lightfoot made his popular radio debut with the single ”(Remember Me) I’m the One” in 1962, which led to a number of hit songs and partnerships with other local musicians. When he started playing the Mariposa Folk Festival in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario that same year, Lightfoot forged a relationship that made him the festival’s most loyal returning performer. By 1964, he was garnering positive word-of-mouth around town and audiences were starting to gather in growing numbers. By the next year, Lightfoot’s song “I’m Not Sayin’” was a hit in Canada, which helped spread his name in the United States. A couple of covers by other artists didn’t hurt either. Marty Robbins’ 1965 recording of “Ribbon of Darkness” reached No. 1 on U.S. country charts, while Peter, Paul and Mary took Lightfoot’s composition, “For Lovin’ Me,” into the U.S. Top 30. The song, which Dylan once said he wished he’d recorded, has since been covered by hundreds of other musicians. That summer, Lightfoot performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the same year Dylan rattled audiences when he shed his folkie persona by playing an electric guitar. As the folk music boom came to an end in the late 1960s, Lightfoot was already making his transition to pop music with ease. In 1971, he made his first appearance on the Billboard chart with “If You Could Read My Mind." It reached No. 5 and has since spawned scores of covers. Lightfoot’s popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album, “Sundown,” topped the Billboard charts, his first and only time doing so. During his career, Lightfoot collected 12 Juno Awards, including one in 1970 when it was called the Gold Leaf. In 1986, he was inducted into the Canadian Recording Industry Hall of Fame, now the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He received the Governor General’s award in 1997 and was ushered into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001.  

James Corden used part of his farewell speech on Thursday’s final episode of CBS’ “ The Late Late Show” to address the deep rift in America over hot button issues including politics and ideology. “We started this show with Obama, then Trump and a global pandemic. I’ve watched America change a lot. I’ve watched divisions grow and I’ve felt a sense of negativity boil over,” said the host. He implored his audience to “remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life it has always been a place of optimism. ... Yes, it has flaws but show me a place that doesn’t. Show me a person that doesn’t. “Just because somebody disagrees with you it doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it’s out there. That’s all this show has ever been about,” he said. Corden announced one year ago that he would be ending his late-night show after eight seasons, citing a desire to return to his native UK to be closer to family and loved ones. His parents were seated in the audience for the final taping, and his sisters, he joked, were in town too —- but at a bar instead. Also Thursday CBS aired a primetime special called “The Last Last Late Late Show Special” featuring taped segments with Tom Cruise (where they performed stunts and sang a duet of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King”) and Adele, where they taped a final Carpool Karaoke segment. Corden reminded the singer that she has an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar and wondered if she would ever actively pursue a Tony Award. “You have the EGO” he said. “I really don’t think that that is ever gonna happen. I would never write a musical or anything like that because I (expletive) hate musicals,” said Adele to laughter. “I also think the EGO suits me better.” Harry Styles and Will Ferrell were Corden’s final guests. Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show, and has even guest-hosted twice. He’s been game for a number of taped bits with Corden including the time the host directed a music video for Styles’ song “Daylight” for just $300 and when the musician took part in a more than 11-minute segment featuring a UK Vs. US dodgeball game where Corden, Styles, “Games of Thrones” actor James Bradley and Benedict Cumberbatch faced off against players including Michelle Obama, Mila Kunis, Kate Hudson, Lena Waithe, and Melissa McCarthy. “As a friend, I’m so incredibly proud of you,” Styles told Corden. “On a personal note, you’ve been a safe space to me always as a friend.” He added that he was ’“selfishly very excited that you’re coming home.” Styles, Corden and Ferrell then embraced in a group hug. There were also goodbyes from the other late night hosts. Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman all appeared in a pre-taped segment with Corden. They joked that since Corden was ending his show, they could each call dibs on one of his segments. They all chose Carpool Karaoke, referencing Corden’s most popular sketch where he drives around Los Angeles with celebrities and sing songs. Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Chris Martin are a few of his Carpool Karaoke passengers. The segment was such a hit that it spun-off into its own series for Apple. Corden only appeared in the debut episode with Will Smith in the car. Corden closed out the night by playing a piano and singing a song with the crew and staff gathered around the stage. “Part of me thinks I should stay here forever but deep in my heart I just know,” Corden sang. “No more shows to be showing, it’s time I was going, It’s time. Thanks for watching, that’s our show.”