Rick James News

One of the key players behind the most memorable concert tours of the 1970s, Jerry Weintraub (and Concerts West) recognized the potential for great artists to play for larger audiences and to create one-of-a-kind events.. Weintraub worked with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, John Denver, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Rick James, Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, The Commodores, the Bee Gees, The Moody Blues, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. To showcase Weintraub's business acumen, moxie, and sense of showmanship during his decades focusing on artist management and concert promotion, the GRAMMY Museum®, with support from the Weintraub Family Foundation, proudly announces Jerry Weintraub Presents…, a new exhibit showcasing original items from Weintraub's most notable tours, including personalized jackets, tour documents, contracts, and more. The exhibit will open on August 15, when Jerry's son, Michael Weintraub, Bob Finkelstein (Former President of Management 3 and Concerts West and Co-Chairman of Frank Sinatra Enterprises), John Meglen (Co-CEO Concerts West), Claire Rothman (General Manager and Vice President of the Forum), Sims Hinds (Tour promoter for John Denver, Neil Diamond, The Eagles and The Beach Boys) and Peter Jackson (Tour Management for The Moody Blues and Eric Clapton) will discuss the stories behind this exhibit moderated by music industry analyst and critic, Bob Lefsetz, at the Clive Davis Theater. The exhibit will run through early December 2019.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents the celebrated disco party band, Boogie Wonder Band, on Friday, August 9at 8pm. Ticket prices range between $20 - $49, plus applicable fees. Purchase online, by phone or at the box office. For more information, visit PatchogueTheatre.org, call the Patchogue Theatre Box Office at 631-207-1313, or stop by 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

EMMY® Award-nominated actor, comedian, singer, and songwriterJohn Roberts (the voice of Linda on Bob's Burgers) will release his debut EP Lookingon July 26. 

EMMY® Award-nominated actor, comedian, singer, and songwriter John Roberts is excited to announce the forthcoming release of his debut EP Looking. Produced byJonathan Bates (Big Black Delta/Mellowdrone), the EP will be released on July 26 and today he reveals the title track by way of a video shot by Ned Stresen-Reuter.  Powered by vintage electro spark, indie panache, and pop bombast, it will make you move. 

The Pendletons take a bold step with their first full forthcoming length album, 2 Steps Away, releasing this spring on the Bastard Jazz imprint. Recorded in San Francisco with a rock-solid band consisting of some of the best musicians in the Bay Area, including guitarist Carl Locket (Shalamar, Rick James) and Star Creature recording artist Elive, the duo taps into a classic soul/boogie sound that rides a wave of '70s and early '80s funk with ease but somehow remains true to the excitement of those classic recordings without being overly nostalgic.

'Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations' opened March 21, at Broadway's legendary Imperial Theatre. However, many fans of the Temptations music may not know the group's long and complicated history. 

Get ready for the time of your life this spring! BDT Stage is presenting a limited engagement run this April, welcoming back Motones vs Jerseys April 3 - 26, 2019.

REELZ today announced new original programming for winter 2019 including four new specials, three new series and three returning series. Highlighting the specials is the U.S. premiere of Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie shot guerrilla style on the streets of Brooklyn with a BeeGees soundtrack and a fledgling 23-year-old John Travolta that became a cultural phenomenon. At the heart of '70s disco fever is one of the biggest voices that shaped contemporary music in Donna Summer and the new special Donna Summer: Disco Queenshows how she became the queen of disco ushering in a new era of sound that is still heard today. Donna Summer: Disco Queen leads a week packed with '70s themed programming starting Monday, January 14 with shows about the celebrities, music and movies that defined a generation.

REELZ today announced new original programming for winter 2019 including four new specials, three new series and three returning series. Highlighting the specials is the U.S. premiere of Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie shot guerrilla style on the streets of Brooklyn with a BeeGees soundtrack and a fledgling 23-year-old John Travolta that became a cultural phenomenon. At the heart of '70s disco fever is one of the biggest voices that shaped contemporary music in Donna Summer and the new special Donna Summer: Disco Queen shows how she became the queen of disco ushering in a new era of sound that is still heard today. Donna Summer: Disco Queen leads a week packed with '70s themed programming starting Monday, January 14 with shows about the celebrities, music and movies that defined a generation.

MIKE JUDGE PRESENTS: TALES FROM THE TOUR BUS, chronicling the exploits of legendary music artists, begins its eight-episode second season FRIDAY, NOV. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on CINEMAX. While the first season of the show spotlighted country musicians, the new season focuses on funk music greats, including George Clinton, Rick James, James Brown and Bootsy Collins. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Parliament-Funkadelic founder Clinton serves as consulting producer and provides original music for the series.

Cannery Casino Hotel will bring top soul and R&B stars to The Club, including soul music legends The Stylistics, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Heatwave and Eddie Holman for the '70s Soul Jam. Other performers include Mana tribute Corazon De Mana, Filipino rock band Kamikazee, You & I - Tribute to Rick James, Mary Jane Girls and Teena Marie and R&B group The Whispers with special guest A Taste of Honey. September entertainment will also feature free live entertainment at Pin-Ups Bar and Victory's Bar & Grill all month long.

I always felt that the Beatles' songS of peace and love had as much to do with the fall of communism as much as Pres. Reagan's 1987 Berlin prouncement, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall".

This week, critically acclaimed rock n' roll true crime podcast Disgraceland explores the disappearance and mysterious death ofRick Philp, the guitar player on Van Morrison's landmark creative statement,Astral Weeks. Philp's death came as Morrison was hiding out from the NYC mafia in Boston following a physical attack by a member of the Genovese crime family. Disgraceland pieces together the story using a multitude of sources, including the recently released and critically acclaimed book Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968 by Ryan Walsh(available now via Penguin Press). Listen to the episode at disgracelandpod.com.

Heritage Music Group, started 2018 with a resounding boom taking away five GRAMMY wins this year from its recently acquired publishing catalogue. Among those wins are R&B Album of The Year (Bruno Mars '24K Magic'); Song of The Year (Bruno Mars 'That's What I Like'); Best R&B Song of The Year (Bruno Mars 'That's What I Like).

Thanks to director Gloria Gifford, who retains Shakespeare's text while augmenting the proceedings with a contemporary and very soulful song score in the current production at Grey Studios in NoHo, the overall addition of the much-needed modern sensibility through music makes the complicated plot easily understood, even while adding in moments of sheer levity. Just imagine Anthony and his troops starting off the show by lining up and singing Super Freak by Rick James, as their way to describe Cleopatra and you get the idea.

Due to an overwhelming demand, Berkeley Rep has announced that the world premiere musical of Ain't Too Proud-The Life and Times of The Temptations will extend for two additional weeks. Originally scheduled to close on October 8, the popular musical will now run through Sunday, October 22.

Playwright Gary Morgenstein serves up a parable of friendship and love coupled with greed and death in SAVING STAN, featuring Carlo Fiorletta, Olivia Baseman, and Jordan Auslander, directed by Simcha Borenstein as part of the Broadway Bound Festival, performing August 3 at 12:30 pm; August 4 at 7:30 pm, and Monday, August 7 at 7 pm. All performances will be held at the 14th Street Y, NYC

Gary Morgenstein's provocative new play Saving Stan, a drama about friendship, greed, love and death, will premiere at the first-ever Broadway Bound Festival Today, August 3 at 12:30pm; Friday, August 4 at 4pm and Monday, August 7 at 7pm. All performances will be held at the 14th Street Y in New York City.