Lou Rawls News

Todd Murray celebrates the release of his new CD CROON with a special performance of his acclaimed CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song at the legendary Birdland, 315 West 44th St.,New York, on Monday, April 13th, at 7pm. There is a $30.00 cover charge (there is a $10 food/beverage minimum). Due to the high demand for this special event, reservations are highly recommended by calling 212-581-06-0440. You can also visit BirdlandJazz.com or ToddMurray.com for further information.

The 5th Annual World Wish Day Concert, featuring a 10 piece jazz band orchestra, with crooners Michael Pytura and Johnny Vegas performing, comes to Ottawa April 23, 2015.

Singer Jay Jackson & Nu Lu, a band named in honor of Lou Rawls, will perform a range of pop hits in their unique style in a New Year's Eve performance at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park.

Today we are celebrating a wow-worthy selection of performances of Frank Loesser's classic seasonal offering 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?' in honor of tonight's hallowed year-end holiday.

Singer Jay Jackson & Nu Lu, a band named in honor of Lou Rawls, will perform a range of pop hits in their unique style in a New Year's Eve performance at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park.

MotorCity Casino Hotel will welcome back “An Evening with Rachelle Ferrell” at Sound Board on Thursday, March 19th at 8:00 p.m.

Country superstars Big & Rich are celebrating the holidays with a must-see Christmas Eve appearance on NBC's Today show by teaming with correspondent Jenna Bush Hager and legendary Brenda Lee

Marking 27 days until Christmas, today we pay tribute to an instantly recognizable Oscar-winning seasonal selection penned by Golden Age Broadway and Hollywood music master Frank Loesser, 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'.

SiriusXM today announced its holiday music lineup featuring eight commercial-free channels celebrating the festive season.

On Sunday October 26, Clifford Bell presented the first Rick Starr Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert, entitled Starr Bucks, at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City. The beloved Starr, who passed away about a year ago, worked at Hollywood Sheet Music and served the Los Angeles musical theatre community in a most unusual, endearing way. Not only did he assist singers over the years to find unpublished songs for their various club acts and cabaret performances, but would go out of his way to find material for them depending on their individual preferences...and would call each and every customer on his or her birthday every year, just to wish them a Happy Birthday. A rare and delightful human being! Starr was remembered fondly with anecdotes by the three cabaret stars of the evening Mary Jo Mundy, Todd Murray and Shawn Ryan. Affable virtuoso pianist/singer Michael Sobie served as accompanist/musical director throughout the 90 minute set.

In-demand Jazz trombone soloist Harry Watters and the 28-piece Salt River Brass will be joined on stage by Pat Sheridan and Sam Pilafian on tuba, Mike Kocour on piano, Dan Bukvich on percussion, when they perform songs from the Great American Songbook in Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater today, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. June 9 through 13, Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater will become a recording and video studio, as Arizona-based multimedia recording company Tresona films practice sessions and the resulting concert for theatrical release. Tickets are available now at mesaartscenter.com or at 480-644-6500.

In-demand Jazz trombone soloist Harry Watters and the 28-piece Salt River Brass will be joined on stage by Pat Sheridan and Sam Pilafian on tuba, Mike Kocour on piano, Dan Bukvich on percussion, when they perform songs from the Great American Songbook in Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater on Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. June 9 through 13, Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater will become a recording and video studio, as Arizona-based multimedia recording company Tresona films practice sessions and the resulting concert for theatrical release. Tickets are available now at mesaartscenter.com or at 480-644-6500.

BroadwayWorld interviews Nicholas Christopher, currently playing Smokey Robinson on the 'Motown the Musical' national tour.

Legendary blues and soul guitarist and singer-songwriter Robert Cray embarks on his UK tour on Friday 2nd May at The Anvil in Basingstoke. The tour comes on the back of Cray's critically acclaimed new album 'In My Soul'. Cray was recently the subject of a major 2-page interview in the Sunday Times on 27th April. Click here for more information.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

The national tour of SISTER ACT comes to Hershey Theatre with a heady mix of nunsense and the sound of Philadelphia as filtered through Alan Menken. The music -- and the Mother Superior -- are worth the trip.

The Third Annual Latino Arts Festival kicks off three-days of events showcasing Latino art, music, dance, film, family programming and more March 6-8 at the Ware Center, 42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA. The Festival is meant to celebrate the rich cultural traditions of the Latino community, and everyone - regardless of national heritage - is encouraged and invited to attend. Two of the five events are free. Three other events are ticketed and can be purchased individually (priced from $5 to $15 max.) or included in an all-five events/all weekend pass for $25 - a 33% discount.

Just in time for our Oscar indulgence, Bruce Kimmel joined the bandwagon of Oscar tantalizers by presenting his monthy Kritzerland show, this month entitled Kritzerland Goes to the Movies, at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in tribute to Academy Award worthy music: songs that won an Oscar, songs that were nominated and those that were not but should have been. Monday February 3 was a fun evening with fantastic Shelly Markham at the piano as musical director and six stellar performers including John Sloman, Shannon Warne, Dennis Kyle, Lisa Livesay, Emma Degerstedt and young songstress Brennley Brown. Also on hand for our pleasure were special guest star composer and three-time Academy Award winner Richard Sherman and actress/song stylist Andrea Marcovicci.

MotorCity Casino Hotel will welcome back "An Evening with Rachelle Ferrell" at Sound Board on Thursday, March 20th at 8:00 p.m.

Singer, songwriter, actress, author and philanthropist Nita Whitaker will grace Stage 72 (formerly the Triad) to perform a mix of popular music and original compositions in a one night only concert on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 7:00pm. Musical direction is by Eugene Gwozdz.