0 Funk Legends Invade Houston

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 04/16/2009

The Legends of Funk tour 2 touches down in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Arena Theatre. Con Funk Shun, the Bar-Kays, Slave Funk Band, and Sugarfoot's Ohio Players are scheduled to perform. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Stevie Wonder Does DVD at the O2 in UK

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 04/02/2009

I've seen Motown Stevie Wonder twice, live at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. I'm sure I don't have to convince you of how good Stevie Wonder is live. On March 9th and 10th, 2009, UK and USA retail outlets received Stevie Wonder Live At Last: A Wonder Summer's Night. This performance, on DVD and Blu-ray, was recorded at the O2 Arena in London in 2008, the same place where Prince set concert attendance records, and where Michael Jackson will attempt to make his 2009 comeback in July. Here are the songs Stevie sings on his DVD Stevie Wonder Live At Last: A Wonder Summer's Night: "Intro / All Blues" "As If You Read My Mind" "Master Blaster (Jammin')" "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me" "All I Do" "Knocks Me Off My Feet" "UK Medley" "People Make The World Go 'Round" "Higher Ground" "Spain" "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" "Visions" "Living For The City" "Part-Time Lover" "Overjoyed" "Lately" "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life" "My Cherie Amour" "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" "Sir Duke" "I Wish" "Isn't She Lovely" "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" "I Just Called To Say I Love You" "You Are The Only One For Me" "Superstition (So What The Fuss)" "As" Previous Post | Next Post  

0 Bobby Womack, Little Anthony, and Run-D.M.C. are New Kings of Rock

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 03/12/2009

Bobby Womack, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Run-D.M.C. join other new honorees on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame freshmen. Here are some excerpts from the biographies of these new inductees, courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. An Artist becomes eligible for induction in the Hall 25 years after the release of their first record. Bobby Womack has thrilled through his music as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. The son of a steelworker, he was born in Cleveland, where he and his siblings formed a gospel group. While touring with the Soul Stirrers, the Womack Brothers met that group's lead singer, Sam Cooke. Under Cooke's tutelage, they crossed the bridge from sacred to secular music, recording for his Sar label as the Valentinos. The Womack brothers cut two R&B classics as the Valentinos: "Looking for a Love" (later covered by the J. Geils Band), and "It's All Over Now" (a song that became the Rolling Stones? first U.S. hit). Womack also played guitar in Cooke's band. Womack has written songs recorded by Wilson Pickett "I'm a Midnight Mover," George Benson's "Breezin," Janis Joplin's "Trust Me," and many others. Wilson Pickett recorded 17 of Bobby Womack's songs. Womack made his greatest mark in the 70's and 80's racking up 33 charting singles, including the Top 10 classic R&B hits "That's the Way I Feel About Cha," "Woman's Gotta Have It," "Check It Out," and "If You Think You're Lonely Now." His first gold single was "Harry Hippie," a meditation on wasted lifestyles written specifically about his brother and more generally about the counterculture. Womack topped the R&B chart in 1974 with his remake of "Lookin' for a Love" and reached #2 in 1973 with his interpretation of the blues standard "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out." Little Anthony and the Imperials are Anthony Gourdine, Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Glouster "Nat" Rogers, Sammy Strain, and Ernest Wright Jr. Little Anthony and the Imperials were one of the best vocal groups to emerge from New York City. They outlasted their peers by virtue of "Little Anthony" Gourdine's powerful, soaring vocals and the consummate professionalism of the Imperials, who mastered a broad range of material and knew how to work a stage. Legendary dj Alan Freed, an influential New York disc jockey and concert promoter, christened Gourdine "Little Anthony," for the youthful quality in his voice. Freed and fellow dj/promoter Murray Kaufman ("Murray the K") enjoyed the sound of Little Anthony and the Imperials and helped launch their career with airplay and concert bookings. "Tears on My Pillow," their first single for Gone Records, was one of the biggest hits of 1958, reaching #2 on the R&B chart and #4 on the pop chart. In 1960, the group scored again with the danceable "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop." Little Anthony and the Imperials had the Top 10 classic soul hits: "Goin" Out of My Head," and "Hurt So Bad." The Letterman covered "Goin' Out of My Head" and made it a Top 10 hit again in 1968. Linda Ronstadt did the same with her cover of "Hurt So Bad" in 1980. Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell (died October 30, 2002) are Run-D.M.C. They changed the sound of rap, hip hop, street fashion and popular culture in general. Run-D.M.C.'s first release was the 12-inch single "It's Like That"/"Sucker M.C.'s." Run-D.M.C. gave rap its first gold album Run-D.M.C. in 1983, and its first platinum album King of Rock in 1985. They were the first rap act nominated for a Grammy Award (Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group), for 1986?s Raising Hell. A 'born again' Christian, "Run" now known as "Rev. Run" stars in his own family-based television reality series, Run's House. Previous Post | Next Post

0 London Calling Michael Jackson to the Stage

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 03/06/2009

Michael Jackson has just announced 10 concert dates at the O2 Arena in London. A press release today (Thursday, March 5th), on his official website reminds us that M.J. has not played a series of concerts since he last toured 12 years ago. "I am coming to London to play the songs my fans want to hear" says the king of pop. The 10 nights at the O2 Arena begin on July 8th, 2009, with tickets going for £75 ($105)/ £65 ($91) and / £50 ($70). Previous Post | Next Post

0 Stevie Wonder Wows with the Gershwin Prize

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/20/2009

The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is named in honor of the legendary George and Ira Gershwin. The prize is given annually to a composer or performer whose lifetime contributions exemplify the standard of excellence associated with the "Rhapsody in Blue" guys George and Ira Gershwin. Stevie Wonder will receive the award on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Paul Simon won the first Gershwin Prize in 2007. "Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize" will feature an evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama in honor of Wonder's receipt of the prize. The one hour concert takes place February 25th and will include performances by Wonder, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Martina McBride, Esperanza Spalding, Will.i.am, and Mary Mary. President Obama will present the Gershwin Prize to Stevie Wonder during the event. Motown Stevie has captured all of the big awards including 32 number 1 R&B and pop hits, 25 Grammy Awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. Wonder received an Academy Award for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from the 1984 film The Woman in Red. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Stevie became the youngest honoree of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. "Stevie Wonder In Performance at the White House: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize" will be the first "In Performance at the White House" program during President Barack Obama's Administration. Many PBS stations will air the concert on Thursday evening, February 26, 2009. Previous Post | Next Post

0 A New Peaches and Herb Snack

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 02/03/2009

"Reunited," "Shake Your Groove Thing," and one of my classic soul favorites, "Two Little Kids." Three memorable hits hammering home the musical mark of Peaches & Herb. Herb Fame, the original male half of this duo, has been honored to host a variety of lady partners who have filled the role of "Peaches." Colors of Love is a brand new Peaches and Herb CD scheduled for an April, 2009 release.   I would expect that we'll hear more of the tight romantic harmonies this duo is famous for. Peaches and Herb will be appearing in Washington, DC, at Blues Alley for two shows on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Alicia Keys Unites with Yamaha for Piano Bliss

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/27/2009

Alicia Keys and the world's largest musical instrument manufacturer, Yamaha, have announced a new partnership to distribute piano-inspired sounds and future products. Here is a photo of Keys playing Yamaha's new AvantGrand hybrid piano. "I wanted to create a sound that is just magnificent and that would inspire me to play," says Alicia. "It was an idea that was born during the creation of my last album As I Am, which was recorded at my own studio, The Oven Studios, in New York City." Keys has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide since the release of her first studio album Songs in A Minor in 2001. Want to take command of the keyboard like Alicia? You too can learn how to play the piano and many other musical instruments by visiting Jermaine Griggs' excellent Hear and Play website. Previous Post | Next Post

0 Lisa Lopes Leaves Left Eye-Legacy

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/22/2009

The official Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes website has announced the pending Tuesday, January 27, 2009 release of Eye-Legacy. Lisa, a former member of TLC, was killed in an automobile accident (April 25, 2002) at the age of 30 in Roma, Honduras, a popular Caribbean vacation retreat. TLC has sold over 45 million records, with "Waterfalls" leading the pack as one of their biggest hits in 1994. Mass Appeal Entertainment is collaborating with the Lopes family to present this new "Left Eye" collection. "Eye-Legacy offers a fresh twist on the only collection of unreleased songs created and performed by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes," according to Mass Appeal Entertainment. The record company states that "the album is a tribute to "Left Eye" as an artist, the music she left behind, and the life she led as a creative and spiritual rapper, singer, songwriter, friend, daughter, and sister." Previous Post | Next Post

1 Lionel Richie Pitches New Melodies for 2009

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/19/2009

Lionel Richie is gearing up for a new studio album release scheduled for Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. From the sample tracks I've heard, the new CD Just Go, is a logical extension of the direction Lionel charted with the various "young gun" collaborators on his last album Coming Home, released in September, 2006. On Just Go, Ne-Yo, Akon, and a few others co-write and produce along with Mr. Richie to freshen-up Lionel's new millennium croon. Your browser does not support the audio element. Listen to 90 seconds of "Just Go," by Lionel Richie, and cast your vote! Previous Post | Next Post

0 Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, and Beyonce' to Jam for Barack

• News
• by Kingsley H. Smith
• 01/15/2009

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (pic2009.org) has confirmed the talent line-up scheduled to perform on Sunday afternoon, January 18, 2009, 2:30 pm Eastern at the "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial." The event is free and open to the public, and may be worth the trip to Washington, DC. Here are the confirmed performers: Beyonce' Mary J. Blige Stevie Wonder John Legend Usher Herbie Hancock will.i.am Shakira Bono Bruce Springsteen Sheryl Crow James Taylor John Mellencamp Josh Groban Garth Brooks Renee Fleming Heather Headley Jennifer Nettles Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington, and Martin Luther King III will read historical passages after each musical set as the stage is changed for the next performer. More talent will be announced as they are confirmed. HBO will broadcast the event live with a replay scheduled for later in the evening. Previous Post | Next Post