Ray Charles News

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present Zach Heckendorf with special guests at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, February 21st, 2015.

Whether he's swingin' like Frank Sinatra or sizzlin' like Jerry Lee Lewis, internationally acclaimed singer/pianist Tony DeSare will thrill The Philly POPS audiences in American Songbook, Then and Now on Friday, March 13, through Sunday, March 15. Conducted by Philly POPS Music Director Michael Krajewski, DeSare will perform the great jazz standards from the classic American Songbook and add new standards that bring a contemporary touch to this collection of music. The concerts will take place in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, March 13, at 8 p.m.; and on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m.

Michael Bolton is a multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer/Songwriter who has sold more than 53 million records around the world, where he continues to tour every year. He holds a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is known as 'People Magazine's Sexiest Man' as well as the sensational 'Captain Jack Sparrow' in Saturday Night Live's viral video with 110 million YouTube views. He will perform at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall tonight, January 21 at 8pm.

Orange Kellin's A Night In Old New Orleans featuring Vernel Bagneris brings talent fresh from Broadway and sounds straight from New Orleans. These seasoned performers will thrill listeners in the Acopian Ballroom of the State Theatre on Friday, February 13th.

N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical, Sondheim on Sondheim), returns to Oklahoma City Philharmonic as a featured soloist to perform in the concert "All That Jazz: A Symphonic Celebration of the Duo Kander and Ebb".

The American Repertory Theater of WNY kicks off the second half of the 2014-15 season with the 8th annual Mardi Gras celebration with a new twist in the evening's entertainment. This celebration brings Poetry Slam with Beads that will feature regional urban poets 10k, Ben Brindise, Jimmie Byrd, Bo Brooks, Team Finks, Dana Ingerbreston, Danielle Johnson, Lazyrus, Solomon and Brandon Williamson as all bring their writing talent to an evening of gumbo, good times a rollin', beads a flyin', rice & beans and the soul-funkrock sounds of Child of Folly. And, of course, the ART/WNY Mardi Gras celebration wouldn't be complete without the traditional readings from the classic Louisiana book of folk-tales GUMBO YA YA. Festivities are at Bittner Hall, 16 Linwood Avenue, Buffalo NY, open at 7 pm with performances beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 at the door but can be purchase online for $20.

This just in! Tony winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel will sing the National Anthem and John Legend will sing 'America The Beautiful' as part of Super Bowl XLIX pregame festivities at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, February 1, the NFL and NBC announced today. The performances will be televised live on NBC prior to kickoff.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the legendary musician Maceo Parker and his funk-filled band tonight, January 16, 2015 at 8:00pm. This performance will take place at the Byham Theater, located at 101 Sixth Street, downtown Pittsburgh. The presentation is part of the 2014-15 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

The popular Ruth Easton New Play series at the Playwrights' Center continues in February with readings of the new play "Marie and Rosetta" by Core Writer George Brant. The play with music, about gospel greats Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, will have two public readings: Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The readings are free but tickets go fast so claim yours at pwcenter.org before they are gone.

Celebrate this Valentine's Day weekend WITH LOVE FROM DEEDS AND DIVA - a very special three-night engagement where two-time Grammy winning legendary jazz vocalist Diane Schuur takes to the stage with New York's own magnetic tour-de-force Diva Jazz Orchestra, led by the extraordinary talented drummer Dr. Sherrie Maricle.

Continuing in a tradition of storytelling and music, Hershey Felder announces the star cast for the Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS AND KEELY, 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA.

Members of the Los Angeles theater community are invited to a staged reading of Sing Me Home on January 26 at 8 pm (cocktails at 7 pm). This brand new, contemporary musical, with book by Amber Romina Cassell and music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Kristy Hanson features fourteen original songs in the pop-rock genre, with influences ranging from rhythm and blues to country.

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) is an innovative and exciting hybrid theatrical concept and the culmination of Harris' successful 30 year career as actor, vocalist and, now, author. HAM: A Musical Memoir will play a limited engagement, with an opening night set for tonight, January 12, 2015 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

Michael Bolton is a multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer/Songwriter who has sold more than 53 million records around the world, where he continues to tour every year. He holds a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is known as “People Magazine's Sexiest Man” as well as the sensational “Captain Jack Sparrow” in Saturday Night Live's viral video with 110 million YouTube views. He will perform at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Wednesday, January 21 at 8pm.

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) begins previews tonight, January 8 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) begins previews tomorrow night Thursday, January 8 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the legendary musician Maceo Parker and his funk-filled band on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 8:00pm. This performance will take place at the Byham Theater, located at 101 Sixth Street, downtown Pittsburgh. The presentation is part of the 2014-15 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Recording artist, songwriter and two-time Grammy Award winner Rita Coolidge will set a romantic tone at her Valentine's show, “Rita Coolidge: A Special Valentine Evening,” at the Suncoast Showroom February 14 and 15.

The Recording Academy announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year's honorees are: the Bee Gees, Pierre Boulez, Buddy Guy, George Harrison, Flaco Jimenez, Louvin Brothers, and Wayne Shorter as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

Powerhouse singer Mahalia Barnes, one of the most impressive female vocalists to come out of Australia, and her band The Soul Mates have teamed up with American blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa to release an album of Betty Davis covers called Ooh Yea! The Betty Davis Songbook.