Aretha Franklin News

THE RRAZZ ROOM, San Francisco's premiere nightclub, presents the debut solo engagement of Valerie Simpson running now through May 13. Ms. Simpson wrote some of the greatest love songs of a generation with her husband and writing partner, Nick Ashford, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need To Get By," "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing." But when he died of throat cancer in August at the age of 70, Simpson was cast adrift. After spending more than four decades together, she didn't know if she would ever get back on stage. Valerie performs all their greatest hits in this moving concert experience. See below for photos of Valerie's opening night performance!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, continues its Spring 2012 season with the return of Bistro Award-winning jazz vocalist NICOLE HENRY, who was heralded as "the vocal love-child of Whitney Houston and Sarah Vaughan" by The Miami Herald. Check out photos from her concert below!

The Rrazz Room, a San Francisco nightclub, presents the debut solo engagement of Valerie Simpson from tonight, May 8 to May 13. Ms. Simpson wrote love songs with her husband and writing partner, Nick Ashford, including 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'You're All I Need To Get By,' 'Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)' and 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing.' He died of throat cancer in August at the age of 70. Valerie will perform all their greatest hits in this moving once in a lifetime concert experience. The RRazz Room has been the Bay Area 'home' of Nick & Val since its inception.

The Rrazz Room, a San Francisco nightclub, will present the debut solo engagement of Valerie Simpson from May 8 to May 13. Ms. Simpson wrote love songs with her husband and writing partner, Nick Ashford, including 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'You're All I Need To Get By,' 'Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)' and 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing.' He died of throat cancer in August at the age of 70. Valerie will perform all their greatest hits in this moving once in a lifetime concert experience. The RRazz Room has been the Bay Area 'home' of Nick & Val since its inception.

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, will perform at Detroit's historic Fox Theatre on Friday, June 22 at 8 p.m.

According to The Detroit News, Aretha Franklin believes that four time Tony award-winner Audra McDonald would be the perfect actress to portray her in an upcoming biopic about the legendary singer's life.

As first reported on TVGuide.com, MURPHY BROWN creator Diane English is currently in talks with CBS and Warner Bros. about the possibility of producing 'political-commentary specials' featuring Candice Bergen in character as 'Murphy Brown', the tough-talking TV journalist from the popular 1990's CBS sitcom.

Celebrity icons from television, film and music joined TV Land and host Kelly Ripa for an unforgettable evening tonight at the 'TV Land Awards' 10th Anniversary celebration, which returned to New York for the second year in a row!

Broadway stars Ed Watts (The Fantasticks, Finian's Rainbow), Tituss Burgess (Guys and Dolls, Disney's The Little Mermaid) and Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific) will appear in concert with Maestro Peter Jaffe and the Stockton Symphony Orchestra tonight, April 28th at 8pm at Alex G. Spanos Center, University of the Pacific. Doors will open at 5:45pm and there will also be a picnic at 6:30pm. Together they will perform OH WHAT A NIGHT! BILL BOARD HITS OF THE 1960's (produced by Broadway Pops International). Featuring Billboard hits from 1957 through 1969 and music by: The Four Seasons, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Darrin, Otis Redding, Righteous Brothers, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin.

The Greenville Little Theatre (GLT) will present Motown Magic, an all musical celebration of the music of Motown, tonight April 26 through April 29. Delvin Choice, Rashonda Greggs, Katie Rockwell, Jeremiah Dew, Rick Connor and other talented upstate performers pay tribute to Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, James Brown, The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Smoky Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles and more.

On Sunday April 29th, Chantele DiBrava will begin her 'C.D.' Sundays (Chantele DiBrava Sundays)' series where she will debut a new cover every week.

Broadway stars Ed Watts (The Fantasticks, Finian's Rainbow), Tituss Burgess (Guys and Dolls, Disney's The Little Mermaid) and Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific) will appear in concert with Maestro Peter Jaffe and the Stockton Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, April 28th at 8pm at Alex G. Spanos Center, University of the Pacific. Doors will open at 5:45pm and there will also be a picnic at 6:30pm. Together they will perform OH WHAT A NIGHT! BILL BOARD HITS OF THE 1960's (produced by Broadway Pops International). Featuring Billboard hits from 1957 through 1969 and music by: The Four Seasons, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Darrin, Otis Redding, Righteous Brothers, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin.

The Pit Stop Players http://rosenblummusic.com/pitstop.html, a fourteen-member instrumental ensemble composed of veteran Broadway pit musicians, closes its third season with a concert at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Benzaquen Hall, 450 W. 37th Street, New York, NY, on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students) http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=PIT4 or cash at the door.

Paula Abdul, dancer, singer, and star of 'American Idol,' is set for the Hudson Union Society on May 17th at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, April 21st, Warner Bros. Records will have a special series of vinyl albums and singles available in honor of the 5th annual Record Store Day - a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally. Warner Bros. Records is an official sponsor of Record Store Day.

Warner Bros. Records has announced that it will make a series of vinyl albums and singles available on April 21st in honor of the 5th annual Record Store Day - a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally. Warner Bros. Records is proud to be an official sponsor of Record Store Day.

Continuing their tradition of groundbreaking sales records, the Glee cast reaches another milestone this week by becoming the first and only act to place 200 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Glee cast first graced the Hot 100 in 2009 with their version of Journey's classic "Don't Stop Believin'," which debuted at #4. In late 2010, on their way to making history, the Glee cast topped The Beatles' record of 71 entries on the Hot 100. The Glee cast accomplished another astounding feat in 2011, when their 113th entry beat Elvis Presley's record of 108 entries, officially making them the record-holder for most entries in Billboard's 54- year history. In doing so, the music from Glee has also surpassed records held by James Brown (91 songs), Ray Charles (74 songs) and Aretha Franklin (73 songs).

On Saturday, April 21st, Warner Bros. Records will have a special series of vinyl albums and singles available in honor of the 5th annual Record Store Day - a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally. Warner Bros. Records is an official sponsor of Record Store Day.

The Tribeca Film Festival has unveiled films screening in its Spotlight and genre-centered Cinemania section as well as Special Screenings and its Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival lineup.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Spring 2012 season with the return of Bistro Award-winning jazz vocalist NICOLE HENRY.