From wire reports
CLEVELAND — The 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA is dancing its way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies and The Stooges.
The list of the next class of inductees was released Tuesday by the hall, which is based in Cleveland.
ABBA — whose hits included “Dancing Queen” — and the Stooges made it in this time after being nominated previously but then not making the cut.
The rock hall also has announced that an award for non-performers will go to music industry executive David Geffen, the songwriting teams of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, and individual songwriters Jesse Stone, Mort Shuman and Otis Blackwell.
The 25th annual induction ceremony is scheduled for March 15 in New York City.
Colbert skates onto ‘Sports Illustrated’ cover
NEW YORK — Stephen Colbert (kohl-BEHR’) has joined the legions of athletes and swimsuit models to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” appears on the front of the magazine’s latest issue wearing an Olympic speedskating uniform. The issue is devoted to sports media. It’s on newsstands Wednesday.
In November, devoted Colbert fans known as the Colbert Nation became the official primary sponsor of U.S. Speedskating. The team’s largest annual cash sponsor, DSB Bank NV, left the team in the lurch after it declared bankruptcy in October.
With contributions from fans, more than $250,000 has been raised.
Colbert has made Olympics-related material a nearly nightly fixture on his show.
Lil Wayne headed to jail in February
NEW YORK — Lil Wayne heads to jail in February in his New York gun case, just days after his next album comes out.
The rap star’s sentencing date is Feb. 9, set in a Manhattan state court Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. The charge stemmed from a 2007 traffic stop of his tour bus. His plea deal calls for a year in jail.
Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman announced on his Twitter account last week that Lil Wayne’s next album, “Rebirth,” is due for release Feb. 1.
Banton denies charges
MIAMI — Reggae star Buju Banton’s attorney says his client “vigorously denies” charges that he tried to buy a large amount of cocaine from an undercover police officer.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Herbert E. Walker III said he looks forward to representing Banton in court, but he would not discuss the case further.
A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit says Banton and two others traveled to Sarasota last week to make the purchase.
Walker said Banton “vigorously denies these allegations.” The Jamaican reggae singer is in federal custody in Miami.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, faces a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
