Playlist

Local country trio Lantana's publicist just announced that Karol Ann DeLong, "the soulful-voiced brunette, has exited the group to pursue other opportunities." Ms. DeLong moved to Nashville with her family in June. She'll start work on "upcoming projects" in the fall. On 2006's impressive Unbridled, Lantana was Biz Haddock, Dalene Richelle and Ms. DeLong, who was then based in McKinney.

Photo: Karol Ann DeLong (David Leyes).

The sad and sudden death of soulful pioneer Isaac Hayes made me reach for my copy of 1996's The Best of the Polydor Years, a compilation of the deep-voiced artist's output from 1977-1981. During that period he reinvented himself, merging his smooth and sexy baritone and penchant for thick R&B grooves with disco, the kind of sultry, real-instruments disco his buddy Barry White popularized. Of course, the signpost of that era is "Don't Let Go," his R&B and pop crossover hit that brought him back to prominence. The song still packs a salacious punch thanks to the wicked rhythm, the seductive female background vocals and Mr. Hayes' buttery pipes. Other standouts: "Moonlight Lovin' (Menage A Trois)" and "A Few More Kisses to Go." Both ooze dance floor temptation.

Photo: The Best of the Polydor Years cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Clear a space on your bookshelf. Dallas resident and pop superstar George Michael is working on his autobiography, he tells McClatchy Newspapers' Michael Hamersly.

"I'm in a position where I can just give them their money back if I decide not to release it by a certain time. If I'm gonna do something, I'm not gonna do it and tell half-truths, so I have to really think about whether or not this is the time. ... Also, you have to be very careful with these things, because they can be very depressing to write. When you've had a really depressing period of time and you have to write about bereavement and things like that ... a lot of people have warned me if you're any good at it, if you really know how to put what you went through in words, it can be quite disturbing."

More on George Michael:
• All of George Michael's sins are forgiven at AAC show
• George Michael has mastered many styles since Wham