Rihanna doing well

RIHANNA'S TOTAL WORLD-WIDE record sales are approaching the ten million mark in just three years.

And in addition to her massive fan base in the United States, the teenaged Bajan singing sensation has a "huge" following in Europe, Japan and other countries.

This was disclosed by her mentor, Evan Rogers, the American composer and music producer who spotted the then 16-year-old Robyn Rihanna Fenty's talent three years ago while on a trip here with his Barbadian wife, Jackie.

It was he and his wife who encouraged the aspiring singer's parents to allow Rihanna to go to Connecticut to seek success in the entertainment industry.

"She is just a great talent in this global music business," Rogers said in commenting on the singer's six Grammy Award nominations last Friday.

"I feel proud and I feel like I am walking on air," he added.

"It's three years of hard work and now to see it come to what you have always dreamed is beyond words. I just can't describe it.

"I was hoping that she would get nominated and I thought we deserve to. I thought we should have gained a nomination last year, but to get six now and two of the biggest, that exceeds all of our dreams."

Evans' wife, Jackie, a former executive of the Barbados Tourism Authority in New York, said she too "was walking on air for Rihanna" and described it as the "most deserving and remarkable thing that could happen" to anyone.

Jackie, who served as a surrogate mother during the star's initial days in the United States, driving her to and from appointments, described Rihanna as a "very talented and extremely appreciative young woman who takes things in stride".

Last Friday it was announced that Rihanna's was nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Dance Recording, Best R&B Song, Best Rap/Song Collaboration and Best R&B Performance.

The 50th annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on February 10 and will be broadcast live on CBS Television.

The Grammy ballots for the final round of selection were scheduled to be mailed out to the academy's voting members this week.

They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by January 9. The results will be tabulated and kept secret until the telecast.
(TB/SP)

Rihanna’s Tour Keeps Rolling Through Europe

As her European tour rolls along, Rihanna continues to add to an already impressive international following - and the R&B superstar still can’t believe it.

Most recently, the Umbrella singer donned her dominatrix costume and hit the stage in Glasgow on Friday night. From there, it was off to London, where she’s taking the stage on Sunday (December 16).

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Times Online, the Barbados native talked about past dates on her tour - and how she’s amazed by the turnout.

Rihanna tells, “I did a show in Belgrade. We were expecting 6,000 people and 24,000 showed up. And I couldn’t understand why. I...”

Nearly in tears, the 19-year-old continued, “I look at them and I still think, ‘Why are you screaming for me?’ I still think of myself as a normal girl.”