Aretha Franklin News

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.

The Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph announced today that local Latin jazz ensemble Congabop, led by drummer Ed Fast, will headline the venue's 11th Annual Noche Latina. The performance is Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., with a pre-show reception at 6 p.m. in the Coleman Lobby.

A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS, the holiday musical revue for lovers of Gospel, R&B and Soul music, from the creative team behind the hit musicals Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical and An Evening With Phyllis Hyman, returns to New York City for the third year this December.

There's something beautiful about an artist finally embracing and taking command of her own musical vision and deeper artistry after years of bringing vocal perfection to the music of legends. After enjoying accolades while singing, performing and touring with icons in numerous genres as a support artist, La Tanya Hall re-emerges as a multi-faceted jazz vocalist and interpreter extraordinaire with her new full length album, Say Yes, set for release November 8th, 2019.

Shondaland and Netflix today announced Notes on Love, a new original episodic anthology series under Shonda Rhimes' overall deal.

During Lisa Viggiano's critically-praised 2018 Bruce SpringsteenTribute Shows (which helped earn her a 2019 Bistro Award for a?oeOutstanding Vocalista??), she included a section of songs by iconic musicians and singers discovered over five decades by talent scout/record producer John Henry Hammond, who also championed Springsteen and recorded a?oeThe Boss'sa?? first demo. Now, like a spinoff from a hit TV sitcom, Viggiano has created an entire cabaret show featuring songs and performers produced by Hammond during his long career at Columbia Records. In FROM LADY DAY TO THE BOSS: 50 YEARS OF TALENT DISCOVERED BY LEGENDARY COLUMBIA RECORD PRODUCER JOHN HENRY HAMMOND, Viggiano will deliver her unique renditions of classic tunes recorded by Bessie Smith, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Harry James, Count Basie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Cohen, George Benson, and Springsteen.

Detroit's own Aretha Franklin truly was the a?oeQueen of Soul,a?? recording more than 100 charted singles including 17 Top 10 Pop singles and 20 No. 1 R&B singles. The first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Franklin was ranked number one Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2010. 

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, opens its 2019a?"2020 Carnegie Hall season on Friday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m.