Ray Charles News

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are thrilled to welcome singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Friday, October 25 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, October 26 (7 p.m.). Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko presents a wide range of entertainers from stage and screen all within an intimate 140-seat cabaret setting. Tickets for Tony DeSare range in price from $40-$50 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com. There is a $20 food and beverage minimum per person inside the showroom which guests can use towards cocktails as well as a variety of small plates crafted exclusively for Feinstein's at the Nikko by Executive Chef Philippe Striffeler, through Restaurant Anzu. Cheese and dessert platters will also be available in the showroom.

Vancouver Island's David Gogo returns today, September 17th with his 13th album, Come On Down (Cordova Bay Records).

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of BREATH AND IMAGINATION: The Story of Roland Hayes, a true story by Daniel Beaty, directed by Saundra McClain, with Musical Direction by Rahn Coleman. BREATH AND IMAGINATION will open tonight, September 14 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 13.

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

Acclaimed trumpeter Jon Faddis will perform as a special guest with the NJCU Alumni Jazz Big Band in Six Decades of Jazz at NJCU, a free concert series launched in celebration of the inauguration of Dr. Sue Henderson as New Jersey City University's 12thpresident. The concert will take place at the J. Owen Grundy Pier, Exchange Place in Jersey City on Friday, September 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

In 1962, Ray Charles made history when he brought soul music and country music together in the same album: Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music. Now, more than 50 years later, just in time for the late legend's 84th birthday, Joe's Pub and the Album of the Month Club expand the palette by adding jazz, cabaret, Broadway, folk music, and bluegrass into Brother Ray's classic mix. On Monday, September 23 at 9:30 pm, Joe's Pub will present the first in a ongoing series of shows celebrating great pop and jazz albums, during which classic songs will be explored and re-examined by a rotating cast of singers and musicians in styles covering jazz, pop, Broadway, cabaret, and blues.

In 1994, The Beatles' Live at the BBC was released to worldwide acclaim - hitting number one in the U.K., number three in the U.S. and selling more than five million copies within six weeks.

Beginning with the 2013-14 season, the New York Philharmonic's Insights Series - in which artists and experts will explore some of the season's themes and concerts - will now be free, and take place at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. This season's events will include discussions with Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow during his farewell season (October 23); composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and violinist Leila Josefowicz (October 28), who will discuss Mr. Salonen's Violin Concerto, written for Ms. Josefowicz (which they will perform with the Philharmonic in its New York Concert Premiere, October 30-November 5); Music Director Alan Gilbert and Executive Director Matthew VanBesien on the state of the Philharmonic (March 3, 2014); The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman (May 20, 2014), who will talk about Beethoven's piano concertos (which he will perform during The Beethoven Piano Concertos: A Philharmonic Festival, June 11-28, 2014); and discussions relating to the NY PHIL BIENNIAL, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

American music icon Willie Nelson is celebrating his 80th birthday and six-decade-spanning career with the release of To All The Girls..., a brand new album that features a collection of newly recorded duets

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church presents 'Faith & Culture,' a ministry to inaugurate its first major programming endeavor this fall: a music-based lecture series titled Tastemakers & Pioneers curated by Marina Harrison. Serving to introduce the community to many creative disciplines of the humanities, 'Faith & Culture' focuses on music, literature, history, film and theatre, and fine art. Several prominent individuals in the music community, considered innovators and highly-regarded experts, have committed to be a part of this season. All lectures will take place at 7pm and attendees are invited to special Meet-and-Greet Receptions with the artists afterwards.

Motown The Musical's N'Kenge will give a special performance at the New Yorker Hotel for Couture Fashion Week's Final Showing on Sunday Sept 8th at 8:00PM located at 481 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10001. N'Kenge will be wearing a custom designed dress by Chauncy Couture by BLT Evans.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced yesterday that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announced today that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

A lineup of top entertainers including, Julie Andrews, Lucie Arnaz, Tony Bennett, Tim Conway, Tina Fey, Rashida Jones, Vicki Lawrence, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Rosemary Watson and others will salute Carol Burnett at the 16th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. The evening will pay tribute the humor and accomplishments of Carol Burnett, and will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as Carol Burnett: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. The program will air on PBS stations nationwide November 24, 2013 (check local listings). Artists are subject to change.

Musical performances and inspiring family stories were featured prominently on tonight's MDA Show of Strength Telethon. The Muscular Dystrophy Association's telethon aired for two hours on Sunday on ABC television stations nationwide.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra today announced the cast for On Broadway with Kander & Ebb: Celebrating Chicago, Cabaret and All That Jazz, a world premiere pops production of music from legendary and award-winning composers, John Kander (b. 1927) and Fred Ebb (1928-2004). Created by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, On Broadway with Kander & Ebb opens the Indianapolis Symphony's Printing Partners Pops Series for the 2013-2014 season on Friday andSaturday, Oct. 4 and 5, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis.

THE LEGENDS SERIES is returning to Bay Street Theatre on Friday, September 20 at 8 pm. Film maker and archivist Joe Lauro will host his all new show, LEGENDS OF ROCK VOLUME 5 featuring amazing rare footage of some of the undisputed legends of American music.

The Granada Theatre will welcome the Memphis Music Fest to Santa Barbara tonight, August 23, kicking off the 2013/2014 Granada Theatre Concert Series. This collaboration of Memphis' legendary names in funk, soul, and R&B promises to be an unforgettable night of musical talent. The Memphis Music Fest is a brilliant fusion of the sounds of Southern soul, featuring Booker T. Jones, The Bar-kays, William Bell, Jean Knight, and Eddie Floyd.