Rock News: Music's high and low notes

BONNIE RAITT AT SUPER BOWL PRE-GAME SHOW

Multi-platinum selling Grammy nominee Bonnie Raitt has been tapped by the NFL to be one of the featured performers during the Super Bowl XXXVII pre-game show airing on ABC this Sunday. Raitt recently was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Gnawin' On It," a song she co-wrote with bluesman Roy Rogers for her 16th album, "Silver Lining." The album is widely regarded by critics as one of the best albums of Raitt's career and has been certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. for sales of more than 500,000 copies. Capitol Records will take a third single from the album -- "Time Of Our Lives" -- to radio next month.

In a career that spans three decades, Raitt has won nine Grammy awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sold more than 15 million albums. Since the release of her self-titled album in 1971, she has adeptly mixed her own compositions with classic blues tunes and material from lesser-known singer-songwriters. Raitt is as well-known for her social activism as she is for hits such as "Something to Talk About," "Thing Called Love" and "I Can't Make You Love Me," playing benefits and speaking out on environmental issues. She also co-founded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which works to improve royalties, financial conditions and recognition for R and B's pioneering artists.

LISA MARIE PRESLEY DEBUT

Lisa Marie Presley makes her debut on Capitol Records April 8 with the release of "To Whom It May Concern."

"This is me," Presley said. "This record is me. Every song is me. You're going to see who I really am and not what the tabloids say or whatever anyone has to say about me."

The daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley has lived her life in a fishbowl. "There was press there the day I was born," she said.

The album's central song, "Lights Out," looks at the dark side of her fabled heritage.

"I never wanted to write a song, ever, about anything indicating my genetic code whatsoever, or my background," she said. "But if I had to do it, then 'Lights Out' would be that song. It's kind of a darker, odd take on it. It's not like, 'Woo! I'm from Memphis and look at my life and it's so wonderful.'"

Presley wrote songs for the album with her ex-husband Danny Keough and Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan (co-writer and musician of "Savior").

"Danny's my best friend in the world and we write all the time," she said. "And he's a huge part of why I'm singing and writing, so I wasn't going to have him not be part of this record. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be writing or singing. Billy's been a friend of mine for a while, ever since I started writing. I played him my first few songs that I was thinking of putting on the record and he was, 'Eh, no, no! OK, I hear where you're trying to go, but no.' He was so hard core with me. A year later he heard I was progressing as a writer. I said, 'Come on and write a song with me.' He's good at dark. This is dark, but the two of us combined with the dark writing thing, it was like, 'OK, somebody just shoot me right in the head.' So it had to be taken up a bit so it would not make you want to kill yourself if you heard it."

ONEIDA INDIAN NATION AT GRAMMY FEST

The Oneida Indian Nation and Four Directions Entertainment will hold a party Feb. 22 honoring Native American contributions to the performing arts in connection with the official Grammy celebration. "A Celebration of American Music" is planned for 9 p.m. Feb. 22 at Times Square Studios in New York City.

This celebration marks a milestone for Native Americans since it's the first time a 100 percent Indian owned and operated business has been invited to host an official Grammy Fest event. The Los Angeles-based Four Directions Entertainment is owned by the Oneida Indian Nation.

"It is an honor to be recognized as hosts of an official Grammy Fest event," said Ray Halbritter, nation representative and chief executive officer of the Oneida Indian Nation. "I want to personally thank the Recording Academy for recognizing the important contributions made by Native Americans to the American music scene and for including us in the upcoming celebration in such an elevated capacity."

The celebration will feature some of the best Native American contemporary musical talent, including Blackfoot-African-American R and B artist Martha Redbone and Mohawk rock and blues Jimmy Wolf.

ROOMFUL OF BLUES ON ALLIGATOR

Veteran blues and neo-swing band Roomful of Blues has signed with Alligator Records. Now celebrating its 35th Anniversary, Roomful of Blues currently is an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon. With newest members vocalist/harpist Mark DuFrense, bassist Brad Hallen, drummer Jason Corbiere, keyboardist Mark Stevens and baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Early joining long-time members tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille (the longest standing member of the group) and trumpeter Bob Enos, the band will make its Alligator Records debut March 11 with "That's Right!"

Produced by Vachon, the album captures the band's swinging, horn-heavy vintage blues sound in a return to the more traditional approach Roomful of Blues first became famous for performing. Throughout its history, Roomful of Blues has been a proving ground for outstanding musicians. Twice, the prestigious Down Beat Critics Poll selected Roomful of Blues as Best Blues Band. The band will hit the road for a nonstop promotional tour in support of the album.

NEW ORLEANS ARTDOCS

New Orleans artists and musicians are collaborating Thursday on a benefit auction at the UNO Downtown Theater to raise funds for the ARTDOCS program, which provides medical services to members of the arts community who don't have insurance. The Fourth Annual ARTDOCS Benefit Art Auction and Concert runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the UNO Downtown Theater at The Scottish Rite Temple, 619 Carondelet St. Food is provided by local restaurants, Abita Beer and wine is available and The Brent Rose Trio supplies the music. The highlight of the evening is a live art auction featuring works by more than 40 of the city's best-known artists, including Michalopoulos, George Dureau, Herman Leonard, David Halliday, Matthew Cox, Alan Gerson, Bob Tannen, Sandy Chism, Adam Farrington and Steve Martin.