Aretha Franklin News

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??The second performance for Brian Copeland Presents The Best of San Francisco Solo Series 2019/20 in partnership with The Marin Cultural Association at The Marin Center's Showcase Theater is Diane Barne's solo show My Stroke of Luck. A captivating tale of a harrowing recovery. Not everyone knows that the average person loses 1.9 million brain cells every minute a stroke goes untreated, but Diane Barnes did. As a radiologist who diagnoses strokes, Barnes did not deal with having a stroke very well; it was more than 20 hours before she went to the hospital. My Stroke of Luck follows Barnes as she recounts her experience of having a stroke, her path to recovery, and more. A spellbinding and funny look at love, family, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Barnes shares the story of a single adoptive mother of special needs and gifted sons and how she forges a new identity after a debilitating stroke. My Stroke of Luck, directed by Rebecca Fisher and developed with David Ford, will be presented on Sunday, November 10, 2019 (7pm) at The Marin Center's Showcase Theater.

The Boch Center and Club Passim announced today that music legend and former front man of the J.Geils Band Peter Wolf will perform as a special guest at the 60th Anniversary Concert for Club Passim, the venerable folk music venue in Harvard Square. Wolf joins the previously announced lineup that includes Grammy award-winner Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter, and Dar Williams, as well as Sol y Canto with Alisa Amador, and Canadian singer songwriter Rose Cousins at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 8:00PM. Tickets are on sale now to the general public.

Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland is proud to present The Jazz Ensembles from Cornell University with a unique and exciting concert on Friday October 25 at 7:30 PM. Directed by Paul Merrill, the talented student musicians will present a concert entitled 'Mythology, Folklore, and Freedom: Train Imagery in Early Blues, Folk, Jazz and Pop.' With a central theme of songs about trains and a?oeriding the railsa??, the concert features music by Johnny Cash, Duke Ellington, Bob Marley, Arlo Guthrie, Thelonious Monk, Lead Belly, Elizabeth Cotton, Henry Thomas, Mary Lou Williams, and The O'Jays.  Special guest musician/singer Miché Fambro will also join the group, bringing his own unique sound to the concert.  Tickets for $10.00 for adults and seniors, and $8.00 for youth under 22.

THE APOLLO, directed by Oscar® and Emmy® winner Roger Ross Williams, chronicles the legacy of New York City's landmark Apollo Theater, covering the rich history of the storied performance space over its 85 years. What began as a refuge for marginalized artists emerged as a hallowed hall of black excellence and empowerment. In the film, Williams reflects on the struggle of black lives in America, the role that art plays in that struggle, and the part the Apollo Theater continues to play in the cultural conversation.

This December, Bay Area holiday favorite The Jewelry Box returns to The Marsh San Francisco. Performed by acclaimed writer/performer Brian Copeland (Not a Genuine Black Man, The Waiting Period), hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as a?oeamong the Bay Area's most honest, thoughtful and eloquent storytellers,a?? and directed by David Ford, this hilariously heartwarming story follows a young Brian as he heads to the a?oemean streetsa?? of Oakland to buy his mom a Christmas present. When he finds the perfect gift a?" a jewelry box in the White Front Department store a?" six-year-old Brian sets out to earn the required $11.97 by Christmas. Rife with references to 1970s Oakland, The Jewelry Box recounts Brian's adventures as he scours the a?oehelp wanteda?? ads, applies for jobs, and collects bottles, inching his way toward the perfect Christmas gift. The Jewelry Box will be presented December 5 a?" 14, 2019 (specific times below) at The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. For tickets ($20-$35 sliding scale, $55-$100 reserved) the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call The Marsh Box office at 415-282-3055 (open Monday through Friday, 1:00pm-4:00pm).

Jazz all-stars salute one of their own a?" the late piano legend and influential music educator Harold Mabern a?" in Giants of Jazz 22 Honoring Harold Mabern, a concert celebration of his life and craft on Saturday, November 16 at 8 p.m.

A host of special guests have been announced for Guy Barker's Big Band Christmas, as the bandleader's festive showcase returns to the Royal Albert Hall for the fourth time.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present the music of an era in Beehive, The 60's Musical. Sponsored by Kathleen A. Blagg and the Donald F. Kelley Trust and Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers Group, Beehive, The 60's musical performs on the Stark Stage from October 29 a?' November 17, 2019.

Boxcar Theatre announces a two-night engagement with Top Shelf Classics, a Bay Area band specializing in Motown music from the 60s, plus old school soul, funk and R&B favorites from the 70s and beyond.

Janis Joplin is coming to cinemas! CineLife Entertainment, the event cinema division of Spotlight Cinema Networks and BroadwayHD announce the theatrical release of the popular Broadway musical, A Night with Janis Joplin, in U.S. theaters beginning November 5th.

How did a hard working Black single mother raise a girl to survive mean streets from Bed-Stuy to the Bronx? Award winning comedian Rhonda Hansome shares tales of murder, sex, and gentrification. Stories from a life shaped by a mother's motto: Lie Baby, Lie! .

National Geographic, with Imagine Television Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios, announced today that Tony®-, Emmy®- and Grammy® Award-winning Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet,” Broadway's “The Color Purple”) will star as Aretha Franklin in the next installment of the Emmy-winning global anthology series Genius: Aretha. This upcoming season will be the first-ever, definitive and only authorized scripted limited series on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul. Filming will start this November for a spring 2020 premiere on National Geographic channels in 172 countries and 43 languages.

Actress/singer Pamela Clay has been performing a show she wrote about Edith Piaf entitled Forever Piaf for quite some time to great acclaim! She will perform it locally at Feinstein's Upstairs at Vitello's on October 16. In our conversation she talks about growing up in a musical family and how Piaf's outlook became the cornerstone of her life. Tell us about your background. As a child, how did you become interested in music? When did you know that it would be your career? PC: One of the first things I remember was hearing classical music. Both my parents were blessed with beautiful voices, played piano, and my father also played trumpet. Daddy was a child prodigy who played classical piano live on the radio at age five,

Following a hit Edinburgh Festival Fringe season, critically acclaimed New York cabaret star Tori Scott will return to the UK this Autumn with brand new show Pickled.

Today, Feinstein's at the Nikko announced an exciting lineup of artists who will take the stage at San Francisco's premier intimate nightclub this fall and winter. New Year's Eve lineup will be announced at a later. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now by visiting www.feinsteinssf.com or calling 866-663-1063. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. 

Valerie Simpson, who co-wrote hit songs for Whitney Houston and Ray Charles, performed a packed house with guitarist Felicia Collins at the Hackensack Performing Arts's PAC the House series on September 28.

October's Blue Note Hawaii lineup has a little something for everyone including two comic powerhouses with Todd Barry and Donnell Rawlings continuing the Blue Note Hawaii Comedy Series. Eighties pop sensation Tiffany gets things rolling and Jane Monheit, one of today's best jazz vocalists makes her Hawaii debut. October brings some of Hawaii's most iconic local artists including Paula Fuga in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, Henry Kapono presenting his Artist 2 Artist Concert Series featuring Jerry Santos, the return of Willie K and “Musical Crossroads” with Johnny Valentine and The Honolulu Chamber Choir. Josh Kaye will present a tribute to Chet Baker featuring Frank Tabata and Kalapana will perform together as a remembrance of Malani Bilyeu. The Hawaii News Now Jazz Legends Series features Harvey Mason, a legendary, multi-GRAMMY® nominated session drummer, producer, composer and recording artist. The Island 98.5 Rocksteady Reggae Series is back with Toronto-based Magic! in an unplugged performance. In partnership with the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, EFFEN Vodka Presents Drag Appetit, a drag queen brunch you won't want to miss. Erhu virtuoso Tsun-Hui Hung, two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson, steel-guitarist Greg Sardinha and bassist Wade Cambern wrap up the month in Across the Sea: An Evening of World Fusion.

Petite Powerhouse Lisa Viggiano covers a range of music with her rangy voice in a tribute show for a man who discovered a lot of talent, and who would have loved hers.

Damien Sneed, composer, pianist, and vocalist released his new digital CD, Jazz In Manhattan on Friday, September 20 on his boutique label, LeChateau Earl Records. Jazz In Manhattan focuses on Sneed's considerable chops as a jazz interpreter and includes such classics as 'Over The Rainbow,' 'Nature Boy,' and 'Pure Imagination,' as well as other standards and gospel favorites, 'Moanin',' 'Come Sunday,' 'God Bless The Child,' and 'Wade in the Water.' The album features Grammy Award winner Ben Williams (bass), Jonathan Barber (drums), and Julius Rodriguez (piano). Jazz in Manhattan is available on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and all digital platforms everywhere.

Today, Hannah Dasher releases her new song “The Tree,” while celebrating her debut performance on country music's most famous stage, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. “The Tree” shows Dasher as country's newest powerhouse, infusing country hooks with a distinct rock 'n' roll strut.