Aretha Franklin News

Somewhere in my prodigious vinyl collection there is at least one album by the self-proclaimed 'High Priestess of Soul,' Nina Simone; and having just seen SIMPLY SIMONE: The Music of Nina Simone, at the Hattiloo Theatre, I am taking a deep breath and planning to thumb through my myriad of records in order to seek it out. Nina Simone never quite 'caught on' with mainstream audiences; the legendary Aretha Franklin, who, like Simone, emerged from a gospel background and was a gifted pianist, was much more successful in that respect. Simone was too idiosyncratic a performer to be pigeonholed or labeled. She scoffed at being called a blues singer or a jazz singer; her early classical training, encouraged by a white pianist and patron (who collected money from the people in the town and helped to enroll at Juilliard), always informed her music. Moreover, the songs she chose to interpret, in addition to her own, were an eclectic repertoire: Everything from Gershwin to the Beatles. Underappreciated in her own country, and disillusioned by the stagnation of the Civil Rights Movement after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., she found her audience abroad, particularly in France; she turned her back on disco (which she disdainfully dismissed) and was selective and intelligent in the music she chose to interpret, which left no room for her on the popularity bandwagon.

Harper Clements looks back over her forty years, working in the White House.

Inspired by timeless jazz ballads and black and white films, ALL LOVE IS DIVINE is planned for release today, June 12, 2015, which is 'Loving Day', the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that allowed interracial marriage in the United States. The short film tells the story of an interracial gay couple from their first embrace through their wedding day.

Grammy Award-winning producer and premiere bassist, Andrew Gouche, releases debut solo album, We Don't Need No Bass, the anticipated contemporary jazz project featuring vocalists Fred Hammond and Jackie Gouche on Prayze Connection Entertainment, available now at iTunes.

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 on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

On June 12 at 8PM, the New Philharmonia Orchestra will conclude its 20th Anniversary Season with a gala performance featuring the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli in a program showcasing his signature style that sets the standard for stylish modern jazz.  

Former WICKED star Shoshana Bean and MISS SAIGON's Eva Noblezada recently faced off in a duet at Bean's concert in London on Saturday night. Below, watch the pair sing 'Take Me or Leave Me'!

The Development Wing, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the creation of new American musicals, will present its fourth annual Broadway Under the Stars benefit concert on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announces upcoming shows and series confirmed to date for the 2015-2016 season.  The Dr. Phillips Center's anchor season of Broadway Across America and the resident companies of the Orlando Ballet and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by new series and festivals including the Morgan Stanley Jazz at Dr. Phillips Center subscription series, a Flamenco festival and a Chefs at the Dr. Phillips Center series.  

Midnight Soul captures the essence of underground soul clubs in an unforgettable debut. Songstress and actor Teresa De Gennaro returns briefly from Los Angeles to collaborate with award winning singer/songwriter Diana Scalzi at La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide, tonight 3 and 4 & 7 June 2015 at 7PM.

Queen Latifah is Bessie Smith!

National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, former United States Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, United States Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald, actor George Newbern, members of Congress and other distinguished guests attended the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala the evening of Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). Scroll down for photos from the event!

One of the joys of reviewing cabaret is being fortunate enough to discover a remarkable talent. I experienced that feeling this past Saturday night at Don't Tell Mama where Christy Frye debuted her New York cabaret show, Christy Frye: Feels Like the First Time – Things I Learned From the Car Radio. Considering Frye is native of the Washington, D.C. area, and has been commuting weekly to New York for more than two years to study and participate in the New York cabaret scene, one might get the impression that Frye spends a good deal of her time in the car listening to the “oldies but goodies,” thereby supporting the first rule of cabaret performance--make the subject matter organic to the performer. 

Named after the only children's book acclaimed Southern author Eudora Welty ever wrote, Mississippi based pop/rock band, The Shoe Birds, released their debut record, 'Southern Gothic', this week on WaxSaw Records.

Dishing With The Divas: A Musical Comedy, Louise Roche's follow-up fun, fabulous and everything female Girls Night Musical experience, is bound to get the ladies on their feet and dancing in the aisles at the City Theatre starting this weekend, May 21 through Sunday, May 24.

International superstar Josh Groban stopped by CBS's THE TALK to discuss his new album 'Stages' and performing with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Watch the appearance below!

Queen Latifah is Bessie Smith!

Midnight Soul captures the essence of underground soul clubs in an unforgettable debut. Songstress and actor Teresa De Gennaro returns briefly from Los Angeles to collaborate with award winning singer/songwriter Diana Scalzi at La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide, 3, 4 & 7 June 2015 at 7PM.

Starbucks Coffee Company (SBUX) today announced that it has entered into a letter of intent with leading music streaming service, Spotify, to establish a multi-year relationship that will link its 7,000 company-operated stores in the U.S. and 10 Million My Starbucks Rewards loyalty members with Spotify's more than 60 Million global users to offer a first-of-its-kind music ecosystem. This interconnectivity will allow Starbucks MSR members unique access to Starbucks music on Spotify, the ability to influence in-store playlists as well as opportunities for Starbucks MSR members to earn 'Stars as Currency.'