Billie Holiday News

William 'Count' Basie started the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935 in Kansas City, Mo. In his early days as a performer, Basie garnered experience as a silent movie pianist and organist, and eventually worked with the Theater Owners Booking Agency (TOBA) circuit. The TOBA was the vaudeville circuit for African-American performers during the 1920's and 1930's.

This year is the centennial of entertainment legends such as vocalists Billie Holliday and Edith Piaf, singer-actors Frank Sinatra and Alice Faye, composers Billy Strayhorn and Bart Howard, and pianist Cy Walter. In its annual tribute concert, The Mabel Mercer Foundation celebrated all these artists in 1915: It Was a Very Good Year at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, presenting a great variety of musical talent, each with a personal take.

Today we salute the man behind the music and lyrics of many of the most popular songs of the 20th century, Cole Porter.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 were honored at Weill Recital Hall on Tuesday, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presented their  annual concert, "It Was A Very Good Year." Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrated the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.

Kurt Elling, the preeminent male vocalist in jazz, released Passion World - his fifth album from Concord Records - yesterday, June 9. For his most ambitious project yet, Elling casts his net far and wide around the globe, using songs rooted in Iceland (Bjork's 'Who Is It') to Ireland (U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name'), France (Edith Piaf's 'La Vie En Rose') to Brazil (Dorival Caymmi's 'Voce Ja Foi a Bahia?') and beyond, to explore the passionate forces that shake our souls. Elling - a Grammy Award winner and 10-time Grammy Award nominee - will launch Passion World with a weeklong engagement at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street in Manhattan) this week, June 10-13. Visit BirdlandJazz.com for more information.

Seven outstanding vocalists, songwriters, and musicians born in 1915 will be honored at Weill Recital Hall tonight, June 9th, at 7:30 p.m., when The Mabel Mercer Foundation presents the annual concert, 'It Was A Very Good Year.' Cohosted by the Foundation's artistic director KT Sullivan and the distinguished critic Rex Reed, the one-night-only event celebrates the centennial birthdays of (alphabetically) Alice Faye, Billie Holiday, Bart Howard, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Billy Strayhorn, and Cy Walter.

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to announce their 2015/2016 Season, 'A Vivid Impression of Reality,' and their secondary season, The Cellar Series to launch this Fall.

KURT ELLING, the preeminent male vocalist in jazz, will celebrate Passion World - his fifth album from Concord Records - with a weeklong engagement at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street in Manhattan) from June  10-13.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the hit musical celebration of the life and music of the original 1970s 'Queen of Disco,' Sylvester, returns to New York City for a special one-night-only performance at The Gramercy Theater (127 East 23rd Street) on Friday, July 31st, 2015 at 8 PM.

IRT and Ricochet Collective recently announced the addition of Jody Flader (The Slug Bearers... at The Vineyard), to the cast of the World Premiere of GORDY CRASHES, by Sam Byron. Directed by Sherri Eden Barber, previews begin tonight, June 5 at IRT Theater with opening night slated for Friday, June 12

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, proudly presents a wide range of events in the 2015-2016 Season.

Sally Kellerman, the legendary Oscar-nomInated 'Hot Lips' of the original 'M*A*S*H,' will bring her new show, 'A Little Jazz, a Little Blues, a Little Rock and Roll' to the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood tonight, June 3 at 8:30 PM.

Harlem Stage is pleased to present the world premiere of Notes of a Native Song, a new work by Tony and Obie award-winning playwright, singer-songwriter Stew (Passing Strange), co-composed with his long-time collaborator Heidi Rodewald, who also performs.

Queen Latifah is Bessie Smith!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming performances, June 3 - 14, 2015. Scroll down or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows.

Today we are revisiting Broadway's biggest night in 2014 thanks to this weekend's upcoming presentation of the 2015 Tony Awards.

SUMMER STAGES: BWW's Amazing Theatre Picks - Brooklyn