Aretha Franklin News

Acclaimed jazz vocalist, Jackie Ryan, will appear at Feinstein's at the Nikko on Thursday, August 20 at 8 p.m. for one performance only! Hailed as “a world-class talent” by the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area native will perform her “Tribute to Michel Legrand.” The team of composer Michel Legrand and lyricists Marilyn & Alan Bergman have won multiple Grammy and Academy Awards. Tickets for Jackie Ryan range in price from $25 – $40 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Celebrate the sax-iness of Jule Styne!

This July and August, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Legendary Gospel Hall of Fame inductee and multiple Grammy-nominated singer/composer/and arranger, Richard Smallwood is set to release his 15th album ANTHOLOGY LIVE (RCA Inspiration) today, June 29.

'The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House' showcases an evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of gospel music and its profound influence on American music.

In honor of Black Music Month, TV One will pay tribute to gospel music with the broadcast special The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today full casting for A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN.  Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans.  A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run.  Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies.  

"I am Louis Armstrong," said the man under the spotlight at center stage. "No! You're the great Stanley Clarke!' a festivalgoer called out from the audience. Clarke is one of the few still ticking who has spent the better part of the century among the pantheon of jazz gods and goddesses.

Following their massively successful international Sweet Home Chicago tour, The Chicago Blues Brothers are now returning to the UK with a brand-new action packed show coming to the King's Theatre Glasgow for one night only on Friday 10 July.

Following a two-and-a-half week summer concert tour of England and France, Electric Youth (EY) will perform two free outdoor concerts on Thursday, July 23, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Norfolk Town Hill and on Wednesday, July 29, from 6-8 p.m. on Franklin Town Common.

Sonny Knight and the Lakers exist in the afterglow that soul luminaries like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin created with their raucous, kinetic, and supreme live performances. Sonny Knight and the Lakers Do It Live, from the eponymous group, is a loving return to the height of live Rhythm and Blues, with Knight and his band perfectly capturing the uproarious vibe and rebellious musicianship of an era long gone in their first live album release. A year of steady touring through the US and Europe has allowed the group to create a seamless set, mixing songs from their critically-acclaimed debut studio album, I'm Still Here, with a couple covers of classic soul songs from their native Minneapolis, and re-imagined bits from Led Zeppelin and James Brown. Recorded in their hometown of Minneapolis at the Dakota Jazz Club over two nights and four performances, Sonny Knight and the Lakers aim to bring a new focus on the art of the live record. Hoping to add to the rich history of live albums rather than producing something merely derivative, they set out to reconstruct the ephemeral experience of a live concert and earn a permanent place on your record shelf. The double LP/CD release will be available in stores and digitally June 23rd via Secret Stash Records.

Legendary Gospel Hall of Fame inductee and multiple Grammy-nominated singer/composer/and arranger, Richard Smallwood is set to release his 15th album ANTHOLOGY LIVE

Electric Youth (EY) 2015, the international touring ensemble of young singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), presents a Bon Voyage concert at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin tonight, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Asheville Percussion Festival is being held this weekend, June 19-21, 2015 in beautiful Asheville, NC. Come enjoy a creative environment where percussionists and dancers of all traditions, from around the globe, gather to explore, create and innovate. All workshops on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be held at the Odyssey Community School.

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present Leon Russell with Special Guests at the Boulder Theater on Sunday, August 9th, 2015.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors one of the country's longest-running, free, summer outdoor festivals opens its 45th season on July 22, 2015. A range of concerts, dance performances, family events, related film screenings, talks, and an exhibition will be presented across three weeks, from July 22 - August 9.

As part of the New York Philharmonic's celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of its historic Concerts in the Parks, the Philharmonic will present Share the Stage in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island, inviting local musicians to perform on the stage in their home boroughs before the Orchestra's performances.

Arsenio Hall is set to headline Comedy Works South at the Landmark, July 17 & 18, 2015.

Ravinia's 2015 season, jam-packed with more than 120 events from tonight, June 16 through Sept. 10, features 60 artist debuts and 55 classical works never before performed at Ravinia. More than 35 programs will feature works by new and 20th-century composers.

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus annual Pride concert on Sunday at Symphony Hall featured Special Guest Laura Benanti, the Tony Award-winning singer/actress, also known to television audiences for her roles on "Nashville" and "The Good Wife." In a program with selections ranging from musical theater greats like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, and Stephen Sondheim, to pop artist Madonna and a newly commissioned piece, the BGMC and Benanti seemed to inspire each other to perform at the highest level of their combined vocal abilities, spiced up with some flashy dancing boys and refreshing comedy stylings by the guest artist.