Nick Ashford News

What did our critic think of THE WIZ at Citizens Opera House?

Aretha Franklin is recognized as the most successful female recording artist in history, with 112 charted singles on Billboard, 18 Grammy Awards, and over 75 million records sold. Her  legendary career rightfully earned her the title, “The Queen of Soul.”

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) will host 'The Queen of Soul: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin' on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 at 8 p.m. A dynamic presentation celebrating the amazing musical legacy of the late icon of soul, the show is the creation of accomplished musician and composer Damien Sneed who toured with and was mentored by Franklin herself.

Gettysburg College's Majestic Theater will rock with the sounds of soul legend Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. with “A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul.” The concert will be presented live by musician, vocalist and composer Damien Sneed, and singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson, of Ashford & Simpson.

Valerie Simpson plays Aretha Franklin, in A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul. Simpson is a six-time Grammy Nominee and renowned singer and songwriter. She is half of the songwriting-performing-producing entity known as Ashford & Simpson.

The Van Wezel has announced special guests for the upcoming performance A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul on Wednesday Feb. 9th at 8 p.m.

Choreographer, director, and producer George Faison will receive the 2021 Bessie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance, and DanceAfrica, an annual celebration of African and African-American dance, music, and culture, will receive this year's award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance.

With presentations from living rooms and home studios around the country, The ASCAP Foundation will virtually host The ASCAP Foundation Honors 2020 in recognition of this year’s remarkable young award winners.

Craft Recordings announces the release of The Gospel Truth: The Complete Singles Collection, a brand new, comprehensive compilation that spotlights The Gospel Truth Records.

The first single from Multi GRAMMY®-nominated vocal powerhouse Ryan Shaw’s forthcoming album IMAGINING MARVIN has its worldwide premiere today via Soul Tracks.

Broadway composer/lyricist/author/musical director/vocal arranger/dance arranger/orchestrator/accompanist, best known for composing The Tornado, and Emerald City Ballet in the Broadway hit 'The Wiz,' Timothy Graphenreed, passed away March 1, 2020, at Mt. Sinai at the age of 68.

Multi GRAMMY®-nominated vocal powerhouse Ryan Shaw's new studio album IMAGINING MARVIN is set for a November 27th release via Shaw's own FORM (Fans Of Real Music) Records with distribution by Broadway Records. Inspired by one of Shaw's idols, Marvin Gaye, IMAGINING MARVIN is the powerful new project that originally premiered live in New York City.

Supertonic is a special kind of Diana Ross magic. Absolutely authentic, it's her voice, her electrifying sound.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Sugar Bar Comes to Newark featuring Valerie Simpson and Special Guest Dave Koz on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Valerie Simpson, who co-wrote hit songs for Whitney Houston and Ray Charles, performed a packed house with guitarist Felicia Collins at the Hackensack Performing Arts's PAC the House series on September 28.

The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) has announced the third annual PAC the House Series featuring concerts by popular artists including Valerie Simpson, Donnie McClurkin, Gregorio Uribe, James Maddock, and Bria Skonberg. Ticket prices range from $40.00 to $60.00 with special series pricing available.

The ASCAP Foundation honored R&B and pop icon Valerie Simpson with its George M. Cohan Friars Foundation Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner with The ASCAP Foundation Masters Award at the 2018 ASCAP Foundation Honors tonight. The ceremony took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, in New York City. The ASCAP Foundation 2018 scholarship recipients were also recognized in an evening brimming with talent and inspiration.

The ASCAP Foundation honored R&B and pop icon Valerie Simpson with its George M. Cohan Friars Foundation Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner with The ASCAP Foundation Masters Award at the 2018 ASCAP Foundation Honors tonight. The ceremony took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, in New York City. The ASCAP Foundation 2018 scholarship recipients were also recognized in an evening brimming with talent and inspiration.

The Women's Association of NJPAC's Spotlight Gala 2018 kicks off NJPAC's season and benefits NJPAC and its arts education programs.

The Broadway company of the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical Chicago, which recently celebrated its 21st anniversary, just welcomed legendary singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson making her Broadway debut in the role of 'Matron 'Mama' Morton' at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). Joining Ms. Simpson is Chaz Lamar Shepherd (original Broadway production of The Color Purple; Dreamgirls national tour) as 'Billy Flynn.'