Lou Rawls News

Edwin McCain delivers some extra holiday cheer this year to his fans by surprising them with his very first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas, Baby.” Filled with classics and favorites, “Merry Christmas, Baby” will be available on November 29, 2019 from Saguaro Road Records, a division of Time Life.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces Grammy-nominated Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara, roots rock group Freddy Jones Band and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Friday, November 22 at noon. Tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

EagleMania a?" The World's Greatest Eagles Tribute Band, which has been thrilling audiences nationwide with their stunning five-part harmony and uncanny ability to emulate the unmistakable sound of The Eagles, makes a return tour stop at SOPAC on Friday, December 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets, priced at $28-$38, are on sale now at SOPACnow.org/eaglemania.

One Performance Only! This Sunday, November 3, 2019! Long ago but not far away at all, there were many TV Variety Shows, Award Ceremonies, Music Centers and Theatre abounding with live Musical Performances, all with massive budgets; and dancers in this town, Los Angeles, made a darn good living, albeit having to work their asses off to do so, but it was a good and plentiful, fulfilling life. Besides myself, there was a plethora of working, professional dancers who ended up bonding together pretty easily, as a dancer's life is one of a nomad, or gypsy, going from one job to another, but in doing so, finding kindred spirits and lifelong connections. Jay Johnson, husband of one of these dancers and artistically gifted himself, was part of the artistic community, as was his wife, Sandi, and, typical with dancers, became close friends and comrades with other dancers, choreographers, and like-minded performers. As Jay was earning international fame as a ventriloquist, actor and comedian, and starring on the hit TV Series 'Soap,' us dancers were slaving away, happy to be able to make a living doing what we loved. Jay is best known for his role on ' Soap' as Chuck Campbell, a ventriloquist who believed his puppet Bob was real and demanded everyone treat Bob as human.

SiriusXM announced today its extensive holiday music lineup featuring 15 commercial free channels including the much anticipated Holly and Holiday Traditions channels. Hallmark Channel Radio will kick off the holiday season Friday, October 25, and 12 more music channels will start broadcasting on Friday, November 1.

The tribute album is certainly not a new concept, as artists have raised their voices in celebration of iconic musicians and songwriters in all sorts of creative ways over the years. So conventional wisdom would suggest, there's no new way to approach this concept? Well what if you celebrated a 'sound” – more specifically, you celebrated the personal influence and impact of a 'vocal range' in a particular genre? If you contemplate the creation of a modern day tribute to the impact of 'deep male voices' of the past in 'romantic ballad' settings, one name should instantly stand out from the all the rest – The Prince of Sophisticated Soul himself, Will Downing.

The Bay Area's favorite Clown Prince of Fools, Unique Derique, returns to The Marsh Berkeley for his annual holiday show offering brand new, mindfully comedic mishaps for all ages with Fool La La: Once Upon a Mind. Audiences are invited to dive into the imagination of Unique Derique as he embarks on a whimsical adventure of mindfoolness through the wacky lens of clown logic. Packed with his trademark circus-inspired tricks, Fool La La: Once Upon a Mind sends Unique Derique on a joyful journey where the past and the future collide in delightfully absurd ways. After the show, Unique Derique invites audiences to join in a free 20-minute juggling and hambone workshop for the whole family. Fool La La: Once Upon a Mind will be presented December 27, 2019 a?" January 5, 2020 with performances 2:00pm (dates below) at The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($15-$35 sliding scale, $55-$100 reserved) or more information, the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call The Marsh Box office at 415-282-3055 (open Monday through Friday, 1:00pm-4:00pm).

Actress/singer Pamela Clay has been performing a show she wrote about Edith Piaf entitled Forever Piaf for quite some time to great acclaim! She will perform it locally at Feinstein's Upstairs at Vitello's on October 16. In our conversation she talks about growing up in a musical family and how Piaf's outlook became the cornerstone of her life. Tell us about your background. As a child, how did you become interested in music? When did you know that it would be your career? PC: One of the first things I remember was hearing classical music. Both my parents were blessed with beautiful voices, played piano, and my father also played trumpet. Daddy was a child prodigy who played classical piano live on the radio at age five,

Ray Charles's Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2 are major landmarks in American culture. Released during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, the album broke racial barriers and proved that signature performances work in all genres, taking country standards and transforming them into soul and R&B classics.

Founded June 9, 2006 by Producer/Presenter Michael Sterling (BroadwayWorld TV's own LA-based Producer and On-Air Host), Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal carries on in its 13th consecutive summer celebration which begins August 11th with FEELING GOOD headlined by LA's Next Great Stage Star 2018 Winner Robert Collins.

Last year, when Drama Desk Award Winner and Tony Nominee, Saycon Sengbloh, was in Dallas, she joined us for a mini-set at the Opening night of the Dallas Cabaret Festival.  This year, Ms. SENGBLOH returns to headline the  4th Annual Dallas Cabaret Festival!!  An accomplished performer of song, stage and screen, she comes back to close out the Festival the way she brought it in last year a?' with a BANG!

Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) is thrilled to present Tom McCormick as part of its monthly "Jazz at MOCA" series. McCormick is a gifted multi-instrumentalist in addition to being an accomplished composer and arranger. He blends the sounds of Latin, Brazilian and funk-infused music with smooth jazz for a performance full of energy.

Not all Royer-Greaves School for Blind students and adults can walk, but they can all dance. And dance, sing, and drum they will at a special May 18 public performance, to be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the school auditorium at 118 S. Valley Road in Paoli, PA.

The Philly POPS and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will present the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Jazz Festival. The day of free jazz performances by student and professional musicians will be held in the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater and Commonwealth Plaza on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 from noon 9 p.m. This will be the POPS's fifth year presenting this event and the third year in partnership with the Kimmel Center.

The living legends of jazz, veteran musicians who have achieved greatness in performing jazz are now being honored at The Nash with the creation of The Jazz Beacon Award. Conceived by Lewis Nash as a way to recognize the important role and contributions these musicians have given to the world of jazz, The Nash inducted its first honoree, bassist Ron Carter, during his March 23rd appearance at the downtown Phoenix jazz club.

Wayne Harris' award-winning, music-infused, spiritual, and uplifting Mother's Milk will return to The Marsh Berkeley. Original songs, traditional blues, and gospel classics come together to underscore an intricate and uplifting narrative on life, death, and the Baptist Church (not to mention the best recipe ever for banana pudding). Set against the background of the civil rights movement, a losing battle with breast cancer, and a slightly inebriated preacher, Mother's Milk tells the story of a young black man finding his way back home.

The Bay Area's favorite Clown Prince of Fools, Unique Derique, returns to The Marsh Berkeley in his zany comedy extravaganza for all ages, Fool La La: Over the Rainbow. This hippity-hop, non-stop flight of fancy features circus-inspired tricks, playful percussion and electronic body music in a whimsical celebration of individuality with new surprises on the journey to discovering one's inner rainbow. After the show, audiences can express themselves the Fool La La way - by getting into the act and joining Unique Derique in a free 20-minute juggling and hambone workshop for the whole family.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents jazz quintet The Cafe Society as they honor "the grand diva of jazz," Nancy Wilson, on February 1, 2019 at 9:30pm. This carefully curated tribute features a selection of Nancy's songs interwoven with captivating details about her life and music. From her early jazz collaborations with George Shearing and Cannonball Adderley to her biggest R&B hits, enjoy the best of Nancy Wilson as interpreted by this Brooklyn-based group of professional jazz musicians.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents jazz quintet The Cafe Society as they honor "the grand diva of jazz," Nancy Wilson, on February 1, 2019 at 9:30pm. This carefully curated tribute features a selection of Nancy's songs interwoven with captivating details about her life and music. From her early jazz collaborations with George Shearing and Cannonball Adderley to her biggest R&B hits, enjoy the best of Nancy Wilson as interpreted by this Brooklyn-based group of professional jazz musicians.