Los Angeles-based Grammy Award winning songwriter Mike Stoller and his wife, pianist, harpist and singer, Corky Hale Stoller, will appear as the inaugural guests kicking off a new "In Conversation" Speaker Series at the Museum at Eldridge Street; 12 Eldridge Street (between Canal and Division Streets); New York, NY 10022, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The Series is part of an ongoing 125th Anniversary celebration of Jewish life and culture in the museum's landmark home, the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue.
Los Angeles-based Grammy Award winning songwriter Mike Stoller and his wife, pianist, harpist and singer, Corky Hale Stoller, will appear as the inaugural guests kicking off a new "In Conversation" Speaker Series at the Museum at Eldridge Street; 12 Eldridge Street (between Canal and Division Streets); New York, NY 10022, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The Series is part of an ongoing 125th Anniversary celebration of Jewish life and culture in the museum's landmark home, the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue.
The entire entertainment world is reeling. We have lost one of our most iconic pop, R&B and soundtrack performers this evening - as well as a formidable movie star in her own right - Whitney Houston was just reported dead at the age of 48. Having had one of the most successful and most multimedia of careers of any multi-hyphenate star in recent memory, Houston scored multiple Grammys and racked up countless nominations over the course of her multi-decade recording career, yet her most notable contributions to the world of music reside in her outstanding soundtrack work - most of all, the songs for the film in which she made the transition into feature film leading lady, 1992's THE BODYGUARD. The biggest hit from THE BODYGUARD's blockbuster soundtrack was undoubtedly Houston's rendition of a Dolly Parton song originally recorded in 1974 and later made famous by Parton in the feature film version of the Broadway hit THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, "I Will Always Love You". In addition to Houston's sensational work on that mega-selling soundtrack - one of the Top 5 best-selling soundtracks of all time - she also provided her dramatic and vocal skills to the multi-platinum soundtracks to THE PREACHER'S WIFE and WAITING TO EXHALE, both films which she also starred in to much box office success. An Oscar-winning duet with Mariah Carey, "When You Believe" by WICKED's Stephen Schwartz from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is yet another diadem in Houston's triple crown of accomplishments in the realms of music, film and television - having dominated all. Theatre fans may know Houston best for her incomparable portrayal of the Fairy Godmother in the incredibly successful 1997 ABC TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA starring Brandy and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. In addition to Houston's contributions to THE BODYGUARD, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, WAITING TO EXHALE, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and CINDERELLA, Houston also rose to fame early in her career for her rendition of "Home" from THE WIZ on THE Merv Griffin SHOW, as well as made a mark with a Cissy Houston duet on the CHESS international smash, "I Know Him So Well" on her second hit album. The last project Houston was working on prior to her death on Saturday night was the feature film musical SPARKLE, co-starring AMERICAN IDOL winner and Broadway standout Jordin Sparks. SPARKLE reportedly completed production of principal photography and soundtrack sessions, though it is not clear when the musical remake will now be released in light of Houston's unexpected death. No matter the circumstances of her life and death, Whitney Houston most surely left a legacy that will never be forgotten by those that adored her for her vast multitude of talents and many notable accomplishments in all areas of entertainment.
The songbook of Jerry Leiber (1933-2011) and Mike Stoller (1933- ) is a natural for jukebox musical treatment, because it encompasses such variety that it requires little by way of setting to stay interesting. You don't need a plot, you don't need performers to talk or act, all you need is a band, some choreography and costumes, and some great singer/dancers, and you're there.
If you are looking to be charmed by the smooth sounds of a live band, the talented crooning of eight solid performers, and some memorable tunes by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, CMPAC's Smokey Joe's Cafe is just the place to spend your evening.
Kritzerland has announced the release of the Original Broadway Cast Album of The People in the Picture, starring Tony Award winning actress Donna Murphy. The new CD features Book & Lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart, with Music by Mike Stoller & Artie Butler and is now available for purchase at www.kritzerland.com.
GRAMMY Sunday reigns as Music's Biggest Night, but a very close second is 'The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!' - an event that blends one-of-a-kind, GRAMMY-worthy performances with the official announcement of the songs, albums and artists that are in the running for music's greatest golden honor. For the fourth consecutive year, the nominations special was broadcast live on CBS, but a houseful of lucky attendees got to witness the unique spectacle in person on Nov. 30 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Nominations for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com) were announced last night by The Recording Academy® and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest in music over the past year, as determined by the voting members of The Academy.
The Recording Academy®'sGRAMMY Recordings® and Universal Republic Records have joined forces to release the 2012 GRAMMY® Nominees album on Jan. 24, 2012.
Valerie Simpson (of the hit songwriting/performing duo Ashford and Simpson) and Mike Stoller (of the GRAMMY-winning songwriting team Leiber & Stoller) - both of whom lost their longtime songwriting partners (Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber) this past year - will join previously announced seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher in a moving tribute to songwriters on 'The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night'(www.grammy.com).
Valerie Simpson (of the hit songwriting/performing duo Ashford & Simpson) and Mike Stoller (of the GRAMMY®-winning songwriting team Leiber & Stoller) - both of whom lost their longtime songwriting partners this past year (Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber) - will join previously announced seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher in a moving tribute to songwriters on THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT®.
Two-time GRAMMY Award winner Common, hip-hop innovator Grandmaster Flash, GRAMMY winner Lupe Fiasco, two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J, GRAMMY-winning hip-hop artist Melle Mel, rap star Rick Ross and rapper Scorpio will join together for a special performance of 'The Message,' on THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT. The special will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Wednesday, Nov. 30 (10:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.
WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the Company's 2011-2012 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre. The season opens with the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening (September 30 - October 30, 2011) followed by the return of the popular holiday show Rockin' Christmas Party (November 26 - December 18, 2011, underwritten by Frost Bank). The season continues in early January with The Diary of Anne Frank (January 6 - February 5, 2012), the Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County (March 30 - April 29, 2012), Boeing-Boeing (May 25 - June24, 2012) and Smokey Joe's Café (July 20 - August 19, 2012). The annual Out of the Loop Fringe Festival will be held March 1 - 11, 2012. All productions will be staged at the Addison Theatre Centre at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001.
Valerie Simpson (of the hit songwriting/performing duo Ashford and Simpson) and Mike Stoller (of the GRAMMY-winning songwriting team Leiber & Stoller) - both of whom lost their longtime songwriting partners (Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber) this past year - will join previously announced seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher in a moving tribute to songwriters on 'The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night'(www.grammy.com).
Valerie Simpson (of the hit songwriting/performing duo Ashford & Simpson) and Mike Stoller (of the GRAMMY®-winning songwriting team Leiber & Stoller) - both of whom lost their longtime songwriting partners this past year (Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber) - will join previously announced seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher in a moving tribute to songwriters on THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS CONCERT LIVE! - COUNTDOWN TO MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT®.
Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.
