Little Richard News

American Masters opens its 27th season with the story of African-American gospel singer and guitar virtuoso Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915-October 9, 1973).

San Francisco Playhouse Bill English, Artistic Director and Susi Damilano, Producing Director start the new year off with a bang. Continuing the company's Tenth Season, now in their new venue at 450 Post Street, San Francisco Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of the the raucous comedy,The Motherf**ker with the Hat, directed by Bill English. The show has added a matinee performance this Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m.

Unmissable BroadwayWorld reference included, last night's GLEE was a spectacular addition to the theme-show collective of FOX's hit musical comedy series thus far in its rich history, eighty-plus episodes in now in Season Four, with an exceptionally explosive episode directed by Paris Barclay and written by Brad Falchuk, 'Diva.' The leading ladies of legend acted as the foundation of the fodder for the fabulous episode - dramatically, musically, thematically and otherwise - with a music-heavy show featuring a plethora of memorable musical numbers and a generally fancy-free storyline ending in a shocking cliffhanger ending - Santana (Naya Rivera) moves to NYC to live with Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer), unbeknownst to them; suitcase in tow! Uh oh!

Rockwood Music Hall welcomes back pianist James Carson and drummer Lyndon Rochelle (Esperanza Spalding) tonight, February 1, 2013 at 7pm. After filming the finale of Carson's documentary Cabin Music at their last outing there together this past December, the pair returns to deliver the incomparable synergy of Carson's shimmering piano effects with Rochelle's entrancing hip-hop beats. Expect incredible energy and an eclectic blend of masterly improvisation and pianistic and percussive virtuosity.

San Francisco Playhouse Bill English, Artistic Director and Susi Damilano, Producing Director start the new year off with a bang. Continuing the company's Tenth Season, now in their new venue at 450 Post Street, San Francisco Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of the the raucous comedy,The Motherf**ker with the Hat, directed by Bill English. Press Opening is February 2nd.

In celebration of Black History Month and as part of its year-round commitment to diverse programming, PBS today announced an on-air lineup commemorating the contributions of African Americans in music, dance, television and civil rights, providing an in-depth look at key figures and events that shaped black - and American - history.

Rockwood Music Hall welcomes back pianist James Carson and drummer Lyndon Rochelle (Esperanza Spalding) on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 7pm. After filming the finale of Carson's documentary Cabin Music at their last outing there together this past December, the pair returns to deliver the incomparable synergy of Carson's shimmering piano effects with Rochelle's entrancing hip-hop beats. Expect incredible energy and an eclectic blend of masterly improvisation and pianistic and percussive virtuosity.

'American Masters Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll' premieres nationwide Friday, February 22 at 9pm (ET/PT) in honor of Black History Month This year is the 40th anniversary of her death. Check out a first look at the documentary below!

San Francisco Playhouse Bill English, Artistic Director and Susi Damilano, Producing Director start the new year off with a bang. Continuing the company's Tenth Season, now in their new venue at 450 Post Street, San Francisco Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of the the raucous comedy,The Motherf**ker with the Hat, directed by Bill English. Press Opening is February 2nd.

In 1988, John Lennon's wife Yoko Ono gave a candid interview to record-label president Joe Smith about the Beatles' split: "For John, it was a divorce. I think he was feeling very good about it, as if a big weight was off him." Ono was among more than 200 celebrated performers, producers and industry leaders whose words Smith captured on audiotape more than 25 years ago in an effort to document the oral history of popular music.

Continuing the tradition of preserving and celebrating great recordings,The Recording Academy(®) announces the newest additions to its legendary GRAMMY Hall Of Fame(® )collection.

It's quite an achievement for any theater company to mount a credible "Dreamgirls," frankly, with its casting challenges, costume budget and high energy performance level. But Robin's Marriott "Dreamgirls" succeeds on many levels. It never stops moving, and it frequently moves the audience as well....

Mariah Carey will be honored as a BMI Icon at the BMI Urban Awards, scheduled for Friday, September 7 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

This week at Joe's Pub, August 27 through September 2, look out for Sasha Allen, Ryan Raftery, Jared Evan, Veronica Klaus, Tori Scott, Annie and the Beekeepers, The Snow / C. Gibbs, Kate Douglas and the Imaginary Menagerie, Julia Haltigan / Rusty Belle and Saul Williams. More details below!

THIRTEEN's Great Performances will present 12-year-old classical crossover prodigy Jackie Evancho's second television special Jackie Evancho: Music of the Movies, in August on PBS (check local listings). (In New York, THIRTEEN will premiere the special on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m., with an encore telecast Tuesday, August 14 at 8 p.m.)

More than 25 years ago, retired music executive Joe Smith accomplished a Herculean feat-he got more than 200 celebrated singers, musicians and industry icons to talk about their lives, music, experiences and contemporaries. The Library of Congress announced today that Smith has donated this treasure trove of unedited sound recordings to the nation's library. The list of noted artists and executives is a veritable who's who in the music industry. They include Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Elton John, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Sting, Tony Bennett, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Dick Clark, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, B. B. King, Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Mickey Hart, Harry Belafonte and many others. All types of popular music are represented-from rock 'n' roll, jazz, rhythm & blues and pop to big-band, heavy metal, folk and country-western.

Tonight, June 8th at The HighLine Ballroom in New York City, Hudson Thames Partners and High Fidelity Music will present A Tribune to Delaney & Bonnie and Their Famous Friends. The one-of-a-kind event will benefit TheatreWithin.org, and will feature the music of Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Derek & The Dominos, George Harrison, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Little Richard, and more.

The founding members of The Beach Boys, one of the world's most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50th Anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Today, The Beach Boys release details about their new studio album, That's Why God Made The Radio, available today, June 5 by Capitol/EMI.

The Apollo Theater will induct Lionel Richie and the late Etta James into its Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at its seventh annual Spring Gala on Monday, June 4, 2012.

The third annual Hollywood Fringe Festival is gearing up for another celebration of the emerging arts in Hollywood. Here's Part One of our 'Focus on the Fringe Series' highlighting musical productions to consider adding to your Fringe dance card.