Aretha Franklin News

Lula Washington, an L. A. native from Watts, along with her husband Erwin Washington and daughter Tamica Washington Miller, have been the incumbent founders, creators, directors and choreographers of the LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE since 1980. They began with the goal to motivate, educate, inspire, challenge and enrich the lives of young people so they could become successful, productive and competitive citizens. Thirty years later, and now a major dance company all over the world, their appearance here in Los Angeles at The Ford Theatre was an incredible ensemble of dance works choreographed by a variety of talented artists, including Lula and Tamica, and performed by one of the most powerful, strong and exciting company of dancers on the planet.

Students hailing from several areas in and around Massachusetts will participate in The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Art's 2018 Youth Summer Program (YSP). The first teen session of YSP will present Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 28 at 2 and 7 p.m., and the second session will present the show Friday, August 17 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 18 at 2 and 7 p.m. YSP Pre-Teen will present Disney's Beauty and the Beast JR. on Saturday August 11 at 2 and 6 p.m. Tickets for all performances are now on sale.

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and five-time Grammy Award winner Michael McDonald is on tour throughout North America this summer. Confirmed dates include two nights at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl with Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross as well as performances at New York's South Street Seaport, Washington, DC's Filene Center at Wolf Trap with Peter Cetera, St. Louis' Loufest, the Cityfolk Festival inOttawa and more. See below for a list of dates.

Award-winning Atlantic recording artist Serena Ryder has announced a U.S. summer tour run, kicking off June 10th in Portland, ME. Ryder recently released her new single, “Famous (feat. Simon Ward of The Strumbellas),” produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Cobb and complimented today by a newly released Lash Remix. The single impacted Triple A radio outlets this past week, while it's video companion was praised by Refinery29 as “a genuine look at what fame means in the modern world and how social media has changed our approach to success.”

The Grateful Dead returns to cinemas this summer for its highly anticipated annual event, '8 th Annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies.' For the eighth year in a row, a special concert presentation will bring fans together across the country for a unique celebration of the band. This year's concert is a presentation of the July 7, 1989 show from Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium, and highlights the band's exuberant resurgence, a peak that rivals any that came before it. When this show was recorded, the band included guitarist Jerry Garcia, drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, bassist Phil Lesh, keyboardist Brent Mydland and guitarist Bob Weir. It marks the final concert at that historic venue as the band storms through an epic set on one of the hottest days of the summer. In addition to the concert, which captures every note of the epic show, attendees will also get an inside look at the 2018 Limited Edition Boxed Set.

Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director of Chicago Sinfonietta and Jim Hirsch, CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, have announced the orchestra's programming for 2018-19---Chicago Sinfonietta's 31st season and Chen's eighth year on the podium.

Jazz-funk drummer and worldwide recording artist Isaiah Stewart announces the release of his fifth album “Summer Beat,” featuring world-renowned jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker.

Shaunia Edwards, a respected gospel singer, was not only Browns fiancé, she was the co-writer and featured vocalist on 'I'm Here For You (I'll Never Leave You' (Brown's hit from his 2014 album Brown Sugar, Honey-Coated Love which made Groove Jazz Music's Top 100 of 2015) and his holiday song 'It's Christmas.' Even from heaven and always in his heart, Shaunia is working her magic. Brown turned a personal tragedy into a life affirming instrumental chronicle of endurance and hope.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, composers of some of the greatest blues, jazz, R&B, and rock and roll hits of all time, will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame in Kansas City, MO today, June 2.  Their names will be embedded in a bronze medallion on the sidewalk near the Jazz Museum. 

Billy Porter talks about singing since he was a kid and how it helped him deal with bullies, and what inspired him to pursue performing as a career on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan!

Fresh from receiving a well-deserved standing ovation at New York's most respected Apollo Theatre - after a mesmerizing performance of 'I Will Always Love You' on the US hit TV show, Showtime at The Apollo - South African singing sensation Belinda Davids will be jetting home to perform for local audiences in Johannesburg later next month.

This June, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director of Chicago Sinfonietta and Jim Hirsch, CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, have announced the orchestra's programming for 2018-19---Chicago Sinfonietta's 31st season and Chen's eighth year on the podium.

The Ivoryton Playhouse will present the 2014 Tony Award-nominated 2013 Broadway Musical A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, from May 30 to June 24, 2018.

Soulful Productions presents a sizzling celebration of soul, Motown, funk, show tunes and drag with Sweet Bubbling Nights on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 8pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. The performance will bring together 23 of the city's most iconic musical talents, female impersonators and dancers in support of the LGBTI Pulse Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is the first of its kind in the United Nations system presented by International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, and is awarded to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (and Queer) youth worldwide who are in pursuit of a university or college degree.

General on sale begins Wednesday, May 30 at Noon for award-winning actor and piano virtuoso Hershey Felder in his wildly acclaimed one-man show, HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at 59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director). The production, featuring music and lyrics by the great American songwriter Irving Berlin, book by Hershey Felder and directed by longtime Felder collaborator Trevor Hay, will play from August 24 through October 28, 2018, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, September 5. Felder returns to 59E59 Theaters, where he recently played a sold out engagement of MAESTRO (Leonard Bernstein) and adapted, directed and designed the sold out THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE.

The Ivoryton Playhouse will present the 2014 Tony Award-nominated 2013 Broadway Musical A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, from May 30 to June 24, 2018. Born in Port Arthur, TX in 1943, Janis Lyn Joplin challenged racial and sexual stereotypes and created a sound and a style that has become legendary. She exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock and roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with more than a touch of Southern Comfort made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock Her unique sound, however, was originally created as a result of her love for some of the greatest African-American singers of all time. Now, theatergoers can share an evening with the Queen of Rock and Roll and her musical influences in A Night with Janis Joplin

Atlantic Records and independent music publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog Music have joined forces in an exclusive label partnership. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Big Yellow Dog was founded by Co-owner/CEO Carla Wallace and Co-owner Kerry O'Neil. Over the past two decades, the company's roster has been recognized with numerous accolades, including four GRAMMY® Awards; 34 #1 songs; four Song of the Year awards from ACM, BMI, and ASCAP; five ASCAP/BMI Pop awards; and many more. This marks Big Yellow Dog's first label venture.

An award-winning musical and renowned blues artist highlight the lineup of June events at THE BLACK BOX theater and music venue in downtown Franklin.

Momentum Artists (http://www.momentumartists.com/), a management agency representing contemporary musicians, is proud to present Secret Jazz NYC Cabaret with Mark Berman. Berman, on piano, will feature his original songs as well as his jazz arrangements of pop tunes, standards and new works, and will be joined by David Richards (Hamilton) on bass and Joe Nero (Peter Cincotti) on drums. A special guest for the evening is Darryl Tookes, an accomplished musician and collaborator of such megastars as Michael Jackson, Sting, Paul Simon, and many others.