Victoria Will, Associated Press
Singer Paul Simon, left, and director Joe Berlinger, from the film "Under African Skies," pose for a portrait during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Paul Simon recalls his return to South Africa like a family reunion -- musical brothers getting back together after decades apart.
The trip last summer to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his Graceland album was a far more joyous occasion than some of his earlier travels on behalf of the record.
The Sundance Film Festival documentary "Under African Skies" chronicles the creation of Graceland, its overnight success and the furor it caused as critics accused Simon of impeding progress to abolish South Africa's system of racial segregation known as apartheid.
Simon said he was surprised by protests that sprang up on his tour for the album in the 1980s. But looking back, he said the album and tour with South African musicians raised awareness that helped end apartheid in the 1990s.
"Once I saw it had an immediate acceptance and that people loved it and had great affection for the music, I thought that the tour and the album were going to be a very effective way of showing just how evil apartheid was," Simon said in an interview.
'Rio' sequel likely, composer says
Sergio Mendes, who scored an Oscar nomination for his song "Real In Rio," says the animated film will most likely have a sequel.
Mendes said "Rio" director Carlos Saldanha may want to tie the sequel to the 2014 World Cup, which will take place in Brazil.
Mendes and Saldanha are from Brazil. Mendes said creating music for the film -- about birds adventuring to Rio de Janeiro with the voices of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway -- was special "because that's my hometown."
'Mary Mary' sister has daughter
Erica Campbell of the Grammy-winning sister duo Mary Mary has given birth to a new daughter.
Campbell's representative says Zaya Monique was born Tuesday. The baby weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces.
Erica and her sister Tina make up the gospel duo.
It's the third child for Campbell and her husband, producer-songwriter Warryn Campbell. The singer said she was blessed by the baby's birth and said the family "couldn't be more happy than we are today."
Mary Mary, known for hits like "Shackles" and "God in Me," have a self-titled reality show that debuts March 29 on We TV.
Rascal Flatts family to grow
Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus and his wife, Allison, are expecting their second child.
Jay DeMarcus calls the pregnancy "a huge surprise" in a Wednesday news release. The baby is due this summer and the couple is unsure whether daughter Madeline Leigh, born in December 2010, will have a little brother or sister.
Allison, a former Miss Tennessee who is an on-air personality at CMT, says they are preparing for "many sleepless nights ahead."
-- From Our Press Services
Today's birthdays
Actress Anne Jeffreys ("Topper," "General Hospital"), 89; sports announcer- actor Bob Uecker, 77; actor Scott Glenn, 73; singer Jean Knight, 69; drummer Corky Laing of Mountain, 64; actor David Strathairn, 63; singer Lucinda Williams, 59; guitarist Eddie Van Halen, 57; comedian Ellen DeGeneres, 54; gospel singer Kirk Franklin, 42; actress Sara Rue, 34.
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