Ray Charles News

MUSE/IQUE, known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties than formal concerts, continues 'Summer of Sound' 2013 with 'Moving Pictures' featuring groundbreaking cellist Matt Haimovitz and Emmy Award-winning actress Wendie Malick ('Hot in Cleveland') in a fresh take on motion picture scores by Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, Vangelis, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Erich Korngold as well as the world premiere of Sleepwalking, a concerto for cello and chamber orchestra with images by Peter Golub, prolific composer and director of Sundance's Film Music Program, on Saturday, July 27, 2013, 7:30 pm, outdoors at Caltech's Beckman Mall in Pasadena.

Acclaimed lyricist Alan Bergman will perform his best-loved songs and talk about his inspiration for the lyrics at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday, July 28 at 8:30pm. Tickets are $70 - $90 and can be purchased at www.whbpac.org.

From the best of jazz and most celebrated classical musicians to the biggest voices from the New York stages, The Smith Center brings three diverse series to Las Vegas from October 2013 through May 2014. The three series bring patrons on a journey deep into the heart of American music to see the masters perform right before their eyes or visit the New York stage without leaving Las Vegas.

Alternative rock artist Dom Liberati announced the release of his highly anticipated digital-only new single, 'Walk.'

"The Hebrew Hillbilly", written by and performed by singer-songwriter Shelley Fisher in a one-woman cabaret style concert at a 2 PM matinee performance today, July 7th at Arthur Newman Theatre in The Joslyn Center Theater in Palm Desert. The show chronicles Ms. Fisher's Hollywood odyssey that begins in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Shelley grew up surrounded by Rockin' Roll, Blues, and Bar B Que with a flamboyant but very Jewish mother who frowned on her dating the local redneck boys. But that never stopped her dreams from an early age of being a Hollywood star and she has been singing since before she could walk.

Sisters Supporting Sisters (S3), a 501 (c) (3), and Meme Kelly present Voices of the Un-Heard, a play with powerful monologues, entertaining dance, and inspiring music that celebrates the human spirit's ability to get up after being knocked down! Voices will be offered at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater today, July 6th at 4 p.m.

Last night I had the privilege of taking a look back on an incredibly impressive recent string of major musicals starring the phenomenally talented Brandon Victor Dixon with the leading man himself, ranging from his work last year Off-Broadway in RENT as well as the Williamstown Theatre Festival mounting of FAR FROM HEAVEN, both directed by Michael Greif, through to his acclaimed performance in Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS through to his new role portraying music titan Berry Gordy himself in the audience hit of the 2012-2013 season, MOTOWN. In addition to eloquently expounding on his various starring roles in those four major musicals and reflecting upon his time spent in each production, Dixon also opens up about his passion for performance in general and the importance of collaboration in the creation of any musical from the ground-up. Dixon also comments upon his experiences originating a role in Oprah Winfrey's recent stage venture THE COLOR PURPLE as well as recounts his association with COTTON CLUB PARADE - set to premiere on Broadway under a new title later this year - as well as the various incarnations of his stage piece based on the life and career of Ray Charles. Most importantly, besides all about MOTOWN and his work with Gordy and the cast on the hit show, Dixon also previews what we can expect from the cast of the show on tonight's A CAPITOL FOURTH PBS concert extravaganza, featuring Dixon alongside MOTOWN standout Saycon Sengbloh. All of that, first news on Dixon's upcoming self-penned solo album project, memories of working on THE GOOD WIFE, thoughts on GLEE and the modern performing arts revolution and much, much more!

Alternative rock artist Dom Liberati announced the release of his highly anticipated digital-only new single, 'Walk.'

Dave Stryker's Blue to the Bone IV CD Release will take place at Birdland in New York City Fri/Sat. July 5-6 – 8:30 and 11:00 pm.

MUSE/IQUE, known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties than formal concerts, launches 'Summer of Sound' 2013 with 'Lost in the Stars with Patti Austin,' featuring the Grammy Award-winning legend, tonight, June 29, 2013, 7:30 pm, outdoors at Caltech's Beckman Mall in Pasadena.

Only two nights removed from the last of my three solo debut shows at the Metropolitan Room celebrating the Don McLean Songbook, I was already experiencing the post-performance depression I'd heard tell about from cabaret veterans. I needed someone to lift me up where I belonged, so my instincts took me to Birdland for another trip through memory lane with Nostalgic Natalie Douglas. The last time I had heard the dynamic Ms. Douglas was 14 months before when she powered her way through her historically and politically passionate Freedom Songs. This time, Natalie's nostalgic trip was a much more personal adventure she called Scrapbook 2.0, which traversed everything from the musical influences of her late parents to the tunes she loved while growing up in Southern California. By the time Douglas was finished flipping the pages of her musical scrapbook--and delivering some adorably homey stories along with them--my gloom had been transformed into gladness.

Roger Salloom featuring Charles Neville and Jessica Freeman will perform tonight, June 28, 2013 at 9:00 PM at Bridge Street Live - Tickets available: $20 General Admission; $30 VIP Reserved.

Blues Singer Bobby Bland has died, CNN is reporting. Bobby Bland is widely credited as helping to create the modern soul-blues sound.

Blues Singer Bobby Bland has died, CNN is reporting. Bobby Bland is widely credited as helping to create the modern soul-blues sound.

"The Hebrew Hillbilly", written by and performed by singer-songwriter Shelley Fisher in a one-woman cabaret style concert at a 2 PM matinee performance on Sunday, July 7th at Arthur Newman Theatre in The Joslyn Center Theater in Palm Desert. The show chronicles Ms. Fisher's Hollywood odyssey that begins in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Shelley grew up surrounded by Rockin' Roll, Blues, and Bar B Que with a flamboyant but very Jewish mother who frowned on her dating the local redneck boys. But that never stopped her dreams from an early age of being a Hollywood star and she has been singing since before she could walk.

The sounds of gospel music ring out with music from contemporary and classic figures in the field as an integral part of the 2013 Summerstage festival.

Sisters Supporting Sisters (S3), a 501 (c) (3), and Meme Kelly present Voices of the Un-Heard, a play with powerful monologues, entertaining dance, and inspiring music that celebrates the human spirit's ability to get up after being knocked down! Voices will be offered at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater on Saturday, July 6th at 4 p.m.

Up-and-coming blues-rock guitarist, vocalist and Guitar Center's 4 th Annual King of the Blues Randy Scott will release his debut album Out Of The Blue today, June 18.

The Centenary Stage Company will host a tribute to one of the most exciting musical artists of our time, Ray Charles, with 'Forever Ray', a stellar 13-piece lineup of powerhouse musicians. Members of the band have toured or recorded with Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Patti LaBelle and Frank Sinatra to name a few.

Sax master Joel “iReedMan” Peskin and famed soul singer Merry Clayton, who duetted with Mick Jagger on “Gimme Shelter,” are releasing a blistering new version of that Rolling Stones classic on their forthcoming album “Don't Burn the Bridge,” out June 4 from iReed Records.