Stevie Wonder News

Angel City Chorale (ACC), the celebrated Los Angeles choir led by Founder/Artistic Director Sue Fink, will jump-start the season in style with Bring on the Joy, the choir's 23rd annual set of holiday concerts and sing-alongs during the first weekend in December. The festive evenings will bring together talented Los Angeles area singers and instrumentalists with a tapestry of seasonal favorites featuring musical textures from diverse traditions.

One of the neat things about writing a column for Broadway World is that you get a chance to interview some folks whose work you've been enjoying and admiring for many years. One of today's subjects first came on my radar way back in 1980 with the Broadway revival of West Side Story. Debbie Allen played Anita in that production and her Her performance deservedly garnered her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. A few years later she wowed me again playing the lead role in Sweet Charity, which resulted in yet another Tony Award nomination.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a worldwide deal with ABC songwriter and lead vocalist Martin Fry to represent the iconic British band's extensive back catalogue and their 2016 Top 10 album.

The incomparable Reva Rice will make her solo debut at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center with her all new show Song Bird, a musical journey through the American songbook for two performances only today, October 22, 2016 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

Last night (19 October 2016), Duke Fakir, the last remaining original member of legendary Motown group The Four Tops, attended the performance of Motown the Musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre and joined the West End cast on stage for the finale when he and the company received a standing ovation from the sell-out audience.

When Bruce Springsteen debuted Born to Run live in 1975, it was at The Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, around the corner from The Bitter End.  And, now today, October 18 at 7 p.m., vocalist/arranger Paul Jost is performing his jazz interpretation of Born to Run with a Live Recording at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street, NY.

Are you a fan of the likes of Frankie Valli or The Temptations? How about The Jackson 5 of The Beatles? Stevie Wonder? Neil Diamond? Aretha Franklin? Marvin Gaye? The list goes on and on. If these artists are your cup of tea, you don't want to miss Motones vs. Jersey at Midtown Arts Center. Even if it is not necessarily your cup of tea, I guarantee you will enjoy it. Believe me. I speak from first hand experience.

The incomparable Reva Rice will make her solo debut at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center with her all new show Song Bird, a musical journey through the American songbook for two performances only on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

Emmy Award-winning personality Steve Harvey will host SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO, a two-hour event and reimagining of the classic talent showcase series, in which Harvey will celebrate his return to the famed theater, where he launched his own career, and where he'll be joined by some of the biggest stars in comedy and music. The star-studded special will air Monday, Dec. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. An additional one-hour special, also hosted by Harvey, will air in early 2017.

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey presents The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6 -Today, October 13, 2016 at 8PM.

Melding all forms of the arts into a cohesive program is never an easy task. Former New York City Ballet dancer Damian Woetzel is trying to do this with a series called Demo, which brings artists from the worlds of theatre, dance and opera together on one stage.

The 36th Hawaii International Film Festival presents two screenings of HEARING IS BELIEVING, a new feature documentary by award-winning, Hawaii-born writer and director Lorenzo DeStefano

The American Music Awards, the world's biggest fan-voted award show, announced today the “2016 American Music Awards” nominees with recording artists Joe Jonas and Rachel Platten revealing six categories of nominees live on ABC's “Good Morning America.” Immediately following the broadcast, five additional categories were announced in real time exclusively via Snapchat (TheAMAs).  ABC News then livestreamed the remaining 17 categories and included a recap of all nominees in the 11 previously announced categories.  (See the full list of nominees below).  The “2016 American Music Awards” will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 20 at 8:00pm ET on ABC.   

In what has become an 'enjoyable tradition during the holiday season' (The New York Times), Ballet Hispanico in collaboration with the Apollo Theater makes its annual return to the Apollo stage, led by Eduardo Vilaro in his seventh season as Artistic Director. A trio of works will draw upon the innovation and versatility of one of the world's premier dance companies to capture contemporary Latino culture through movement. The performances are supported by Goya Foods, Lead Sponsor of Ballet Hispanico.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award-winning rock band Green Day will headline the fifth annual British Summer Time Hyde Park concert, in London's historic park, on July 1st, 2017.

16-year-old actor and recording artist, Oliver Richman's (www.oliverrichman.com) new song and video “Believe” (www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZ21briWaw) offers a profound expression of hope in response to these increasingly troubled times.

October promises to be one of the biggest yet at Blue Note Hawaii, the state's premier venue for the world's most celebrated artists. The month kicks off with architects of the Jamaican sound, Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang and the first time Hoku Award-winners Amy Hanaiali'i and Willie K will perform together in the showroom.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its October 2016 schedule, featuring Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Ron Carter Big Band, Eliane Elias, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Natalie Douglas, Bryce Pinkham, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!

When Bruce Springsteen debuted Born to Run live in 1975, it was at The Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, around the corner from The Bitter End.  And, now on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 p.m., vocalist/arranger Paul Jost is performing his jazz interpretation of Born to Run with a Live Recording at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street, NY.

“The blues will always be alive, the blues doesn't need our help.' -- Bill Wax, host of 'Roots and Fruits,' WPFW Radio, Washington, DC