Ray Charles News

Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael McDonald lends his husky, soulful baritone to Pacific Symphony Pops for a concert featuring hits from his chart-topping career spanning more than four decades. From his 1970s beginnings singing back-up vocals with American rock band Steely Dan on songs including “Black Friday,” to enhancing the funky R&B sound of The Doobie Brothers, to his award-winning solo career, McDonald has established himself as a timeless yet distinctive artist in pops music. One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the '70s rock scene, McDonald commands the stage with his distinctive interpretations of classics like “What a Fool Believes,” “On My Own,” “Sweet Freedom,” “I Keep Forgettin',” “Minute by Minute” and “Yah Mo B There.” His more recent album, “Soul Speak,” has been acclaimed as an “impeccable” crossover by BBC Radio since its release in 2008, when it also hit three different charts simultaneously.

Ballet NY presents its 2014 Season, including In the Garden of Souls, the company premieres of Kinderszenen, Dreams, and excerpts from Urban Study, from April 15-17, 2014 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). All performances are at 7:30pm. Tickets are $26 ($16 for students and seniors) and are available at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Rock & Roll and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Felix Cavaliere brings his Rascals to the Suncoast Showroom, March 22 and 23.

San Jose Rep, the flagship theatre of San Jose, has just announced its full 2014-15 season, which is set to include two world premieres- Wuthering Heights and The 12. They write: 'Our 2014-2015 season is an extraordinary journey around the world and across centuries featuring two world premieres, larger than life characters with sizzling international flair and spectacularly diverse music -brought to life by daring and award-winning actors, directors and designers.' The full season is as follows:

The Manhattan Choral Ensemble (MCE) will present an imaginative program titled Requiem in Stone under the baton of guest conductor Andrew Megill. The concert will include early Baroque masterworks by Heinrich Sch'tz and Johann Hermann Schein and a new piece commissioned by the MCE from Caleb Burhans'works that render the subjects of spirituality, grief and death in exquisite detail.

Provogue Records are pleased to announce the March 24th CD, DVD & Blu-ray release of 'Live In Amsterdam', the debut live recording from Grammy-nominated duo Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa.

Legendary American singer and pianist Leon Russell has entertained the world for five decades, getting his start as an in-demand Wrecking Crew session player and playing on hundreds of hit records before he began releasing his own albums in 1967.

In 'Fertilizer 'tween My Toes' (published by iUniverse), author Marshall Rowland shares a lifetime of wisdom and experience with readers as he recounts the highlights and hardships of his life and career in country music, including his memories of meeting legends such as Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Andy Griffith and many other country music stars.

Yoshi's San Francisco has announced its upcoming lineup, now through March 9, 2014. Details below!

Join the Richmond Symphony tonight, February 8 – 8 p.m. at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage for An Evening of Jazz with Rex Richardson.

Birdland Jazz Club announces its February 2014 schedule, featuring: 4 Generations of Miles with Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Buster Williams & Sonny Fortune; Reflections of Monk with Tom Harrell, Greg Osby, Melissa Aldana, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Allison & Matt Wilson; Quest with Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure & Billy Hart; Joey DeFrancesco Organ Trio; Cyrille Aimee; Barbara Carroll; Christina Bianco's Birthday Bash; Jay Leonhart Duo; Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne; Anne Tofflemire; Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

Ballet NY presents its 2014 Season, including In the Garden of Souls, the company premieres of Kinderszenen, Dreams, and excerpts from Urban Study, from April 15-17, 2014 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). All performances are at 7:30pm. Tickets are $26 ($16 for students and seniors) and are available at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

World-renowned and award-winning harpist Catherine Michel will perform as soloist for the world premiere performances on February 9, 10 and 11.

Ronnie Milsap, six-time Grammy-winning icon who blurred genres and dominated various charts beyond country, releases Summer #17 (http://smarturl.it/milsap17_amzn) today, January 28.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director and Loop Executive Producer Terry Martin today announced the line-up for the 2014 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival, March 6-16, 2014 at the Addison Theatre and Conference Centre.

One of the most talented groups of musicians currently playing together - THE RINGERS, featuring Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock and Etienne Mbappe, first debuted in early 2013 for a very exclusive tour on the east coast. The tour proved quite fulfilling for the iconic five-some, bringing together their varied backgrounds of Rock, Funk, Jazz, Blues and African styles.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for January 27-February 2, featuring: Joey DeFrancesco, Jared Gold Organ Trio with Dave Stryker, Jamie deRoy & Friends with Dee Snider, Beth Leavel, Kevin Meaney & Lauren Worsham, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Mentor Mondays at Jim Caruso's Cast Party featuring Tony Award-Winner Lillias White, and more. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club announces its February 2014 schedule, featuring: 4 Generations of Miles with Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Buster Williams & Sonny Fortune; Reflections of Monk with Tom Harrell, Greg Osby, Melissa Aldana, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Allison & Matt Wilson; Quest with Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure & Billy Hart; Joey DeFrancesco Organ Trio; Cyrille Aimee; Barbara Carroll; Christina Bianco's Birthday Bash; Jay Leonhart Duo; Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne; Anne Tofflemire; Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

Celebrity Series of Boston will present Newport Jazz Festival: NOW 60, on Thursday, February 13, 2014, at 8pm at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue Boston. Sponsored by Donna and Mike Egan. Media partner is Boston Public Radio 89.7 WGBH.

http://www.thepersuasions.info/ | Tix: $25 in advance / $28 at the door