Luther Vandross News

BRANDEN & JAMES are bringing a soulful new sound to fans with the long-awaited release of their debut album, Chasing Dreams. A follow up to their critically-acclaimed 2018 EP, Hallelujah, the forthcoming album is set to drop worldwide on July 31st, 2020 and includes a duet with Broadway superstar and Billboard #1 recording artist, Shoshana Bean. 

This week's episode of Manoa Valley Theatre's new live streaming video series called MVT Live, features two heavy hitters in the entertainment world.

Back by popular demand, ANTHONYKEN, LLC. have announced the return of their concert show KINGS AND QUEENS OF SOUL: A TRIBUTE CONCERT TO THE PIONEERS OF SOUL MUSIC which will be shown via LIVE STREAM April 3rd at 7:00pm exclusively only at www.ANTHONYKEN.com via Facebook LIVE. The duo canceled their upcoming show of KINGS AND QUEENS OF SOUL.

For the first time in its 86-year history, the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night auditions will be conducted exclusively through online submissions, as the nonprofit fills the coveted slots for the summer and fall 2020-21 season.

How do we make a list of the 101 greatest show tunes from the past 100 years? Well, we did the near-impossible task.  Check out our full list here! 

The Long DistanceAnd thus is launched the 44th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. Once not very long ago the showcase for the Professional Training Company used to be the last show to open; now it OPENS the festival itself. Whether this is just out of love for the members of the PTC, a company that has always been a crucial part of Actor Theatre operations but has more recently taken on distinct intentionality in both the selection and application of said members.

Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade proudly announces a new limited engagement with comedian, actor and original cast member of In Living Color, Tommy Davidson. The fiercely funny industry veteran is returning to the spotlight with new stand up material for his limited engagement beginning April 5. Tickets are now on sale.

If the wet weather has dampened your mood, the Belgrade Theatre is ready to put a spring back in your step with a whole host of live music nights running throughout April and May. This spring, get ready to experience top tributes to amazing acts ranging from Pink Floyd to Luther Vandross and Amy Winehouse to Ariana Grande.

The Colony Theatre in Burbank has announced The Colony Comedy Series - Hosted by Damon Williams, three evenings of non-stop laughter beginning on Friday, April 17, and continuing on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, August 22. Curtain will be at 8pm for all three shows.

Ledisi, an artist whose music channels gospel, blues, funk and more, makes her debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Music Hall on Tuesday, February 18 (7:30 pm). Pops Conductor John Morris Russell will lead this soulful, one-night-only concert program that highlights Ledisi's widely acclaimed career and powerhouse vocals. The New Orleans native has released eight studio albums which have garnered twelve GRAMMY nominations.

The Orleans Showroom will bring celebrated entertainers to The Orleans Hotel and Casino in March, including the First Ladies of Disco featuring Martha Wash, Linda Clifford and Norma Jean Wright (formerly of Chic), southern rock band 38 Special, R&B and funk group Ohio Players and Grammy Award-winning country band Diamond Rio. March entertainment will also feature free live entertainment at Bourbon Street Lounge, Prime Rib Loft and Bailiwick All American Pub + Eatery throughout the month.

Creative Cauldron will present its first production of 2020, Crowns, February 13 - March 8, written by Regina Taylor and adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Mayberry. When a Brooklyn teen goes to live in South Carolina after the death of her brother she learns the beauty, ceremony and symbolism of hat-wearing from her resilient, southern sisters. This musical draws from the roots of gospel music and traditions of greater African-American Diaspora to weave an inter-generational story of love, joy, and redemption. Crowns has played throughout the country to acclaim, including a sold out run at Arena Stage. Directed by Kara Tameika Watkins and Ian Anthony Coleman, with musical direction by Cedric Lyles. Crowns will be presented at Creative Cauldron, 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church VA 22046 from February 13 to March 8. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM. Press night is Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at 7:30 PM. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 12th.

Direct from the Apollo Theater, A Celebration of Ella Fitzgerald will bring singing greats Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Monica Mancini, Wé McDonald and Ledisi to the McCallum Theatre for a fantastic night of music by one of the most revered vocalists of our time, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29. Each performer embodies a different era of the jazz legend's life, intertwined with stories from her debut as a teenager at New York's Apollo Theater to the peak of her fame. The music highlights Ella's greatest hits, including a?oeA Tisket a Tasket,a?? 'Blues in the Night,a?? a?oeMiss Otis Regrets,a?? a?oeYou'll Have to Swing Ita?? and more. The show features the Ella All-Star Band with Shelly Berg, Nathan East, Brian Nova and Gregg Field.

This month and beyond artists at Joe's Pub a?" a program and venue of The Public Theater a?" will honor legends and inspirations from across the universe of music. From shows featuring the indelible classic hits of singers like The Rat Pack, Chaka Kahn, and David Bowie to tributes of Dolly Parton and Bette Midler at the beginning of their careers, audiophiles and nostalgists have plenty to look forward to at Joe's Pub.

Lisa Fischer who has performed with The Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross and Tina Turner appears at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on February 22 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $32-$42 and can be purchased at https://www.sopacnow.org/events/lisa-fischer/ or by calling (973) 313-2787.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, has announced Grammy-nominated musician Tab Benoit, gospel singer and pianist Oleta Adams, The Beach Boys founder Al Jardine and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Friday, January 31 at noon. Tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

National Geographic, with Fox 21 Studios and Imagine Television Studios, announced today that Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated musician Raphael Saadiq has been tapped to serve as executive music producer on GENIUS: ARETHA. Saadiq is responsible for producing, arranging and recording all of the original song elements within the series featuring live performances. The score will be written and produced by multi-Grammy Award-winner and Academy Award nominee Terence Blanchard ('Harriet,' 'BlacKkKlansman').

National Geographic, with FOX 21 Studios and Imagine Television Studios, announced today that Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated musician Raphael Saadiq has been tapped to serve as executive music producer on GENIUS: ARETHA. Saadiq is responsible for producing, arranging and recording all of the original song elements within the series featuring live performances. The score will be written and produced by multi-Grammy Award-winner and Academy Award nominee Terence Blanchard ('Harriet,' 'BlacKkKlansman').

Let getTV add some variety to your life on Saturday and Sunday nights at 10PM ET.

The Apollo Theater announced today that it will screen the iconic MGM film Shaft (1971), as part of the Apollo Film series, on Saturday February 29th at 8:00 p.m. The screening will be accompanied by a live performance of Isaac Hayes' Academy Award® nominated score by Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber, a sprawling band of musicians led by founder and cultural critic Greg Tate.