Mahalia Jackson was a woman on fire," said Cerys Matthews in Conjuring Halie in that tremulous half-whisper of hers. "Her hair danced madly when she sang out in her rich contralto voice, and (she) moved her listeners to shout and cry."

US officials have said it is too soon to determine whether prescription drugs were involved in Whitney Houston's death.

Established by producer Rick Hall in 1961, Florence Alabama Music Enterprises became the epicentre of the Southern Soul boom during the '60s, as labels like Atlantic and Chess sent their artists south to access some of that Muscle Shoals Sound, a potent funk groove which many admirers (and singers) were surprised to learn was performed by white musicians.

Though far from definitive, the 4CD/3DVD set Goin' Back fulfils a valuable service by augmenting the mandatory hits with copious tranches of previously unreleased material, from an early '50s recording of "Can't We Be Friends" through several discfuls of BBC sessions, soundtrack contributions and alternative takes from Dusty In Memphis.

Throughout her stint on 2010's X Factor, shy Scouse single mum Ferguson was constantly being told by buffoonish Louis Walsh that she had a "recording voice" and that he couldn't wait "to hear her album".

The American guitarist Cornell Dupree lent his instrumental prowess to over 2,500 recordings by some of the biggest jazz, soul and rock performers of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, including Miles Davis, Archie Shepp, Grover Washington Jr, James Brown, Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Wilson Pickett, Bill Withers, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon and James Taylor.

At 69, the Queen of Soul has survived surgery and a traumatic break-up to record her first new album in a decade. In a rare interview, she talks to Rob Hoerburger about her music, her glory days – and why she is still looking for love

Beyoncé brings sex, hair and Hollywood to Somerset

"I don't always get a chance to do this like this," says the much-accomplished Alicia Keys, as she proudly looks out into the Royal Albert Hall, with just her piano and more than 5,000 audience members for company.

In advertising as in film, music is a tool to manipulate our emotions. Unlike in film, though, the music tinkling away in the background of ads is a subtle device to make us empty our wallets. Devious.

Aretha Franklin is planning a huge star-studded bash to celebrate her 69th birthday tomorrow.

By any measure George Michael has had a glittering chart career - but brushes with the law and tales of his drug use have increasingly made more impact than his musical output.