Valerie Simpson News

American Songbook at NJPAC, a new music performance series from NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), will be broadcast throughout the tri-state area on NJTV and WNET affiliates beginning this January.

With a catalog of hit songs that have served as the soundtrack to the lives of legions of music fans worldwide, the incomparable Valerie Simpson will grace the stage at Queens College's LeFrak Concert Hall tonight, December 14th at 8:00 PM.

The ASCAP Foundation just honored Tony Award-winning lyricist and director of Annie Martin Charnin with the first-ever ASCAP Foundation George M. Cohan Award at their 18th annual Awards Ceremony last night, December 11th. The invitation-only event, hosted by ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, was held at the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

With a catalog of hit songs that have served as the soundtrack to the lives of legions of music fans worldwide, the incomparable Valerie Simpson will grace the stage at Queens College's LeFrak Concert Hall on Saturday, December 14th at 8:00 PM. Kupferberg Presents hosts the legendary singer and songwriter as she performs the music of her hit-making duo, Ashford and Simpson, which created such classics as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need To Get By," "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand," and many more. Tickets are on sale now!

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last night, October 3 at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Check out photos from opening night below!

Kupferberg Presents, the entertainment hub of Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, is proud to announce a very exciting roster of performances for their 2013-2014 season. Featuring an extraordinary array of exceptional talent, the new season of Kupferberg Presents will bring a host of big name performers to the heart of Queens.

Disco and now pop culture icons Village People are celebrating 37 years as a group with the release of their first new single in 25 years.

MUSE/IQUE, known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties than formal concerts, wraps 'Summer of Sound' 2013 with 'Lose Your Senses with Ellis Hall' featuring Hall, Tower of Power's lead singer and keyboardist who electrifies with his five octave range and tears it up with the Selah Gospel Choir to unchain the soul sounds of great musicians like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Bach, Beethoven and Vivaldi tonight, August 17, 2013.

MUSE/IQUE, known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties than formal concerts, wraps 'Summer of Sound' 2013 with 'Lose Your Senses with Ellis Hall' featuring Hall, Tower of Power's lead singer and keyboardist who electrifies with his five octave range and tears it up with the Selah Gospel Choir to unchain the soul sounds of great musicians like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Bach, Beethoven and Vivaldi on Saturday, August 17, 2013, 7:30 pm, outdoors at Caltech's Beckman Mall in Pasadena. They join Caltech physicist Sean Carroll and MUSE/IQUE Artistic Director Rachael Worby, who conducts the MUSE/IQUE Orchestra for a pure out-of the-box adventure that also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Maurice Sendak's 'Where the Wild Things Are' with a world premiere of a dance set to the score of Spike Jonze' critically acclaimed film adaptation of the beloved children's book. Gates open at 5:30 pm for dinner (ordered in advance) or bring-your-own picnics, with table seating and plentiful free parking.

Lincoln Center, the world's leading performing arts center, is launching a new video portal, accessible via Lincoln Center's home page (LincolnCenter.org) and directly through a new URL, LincolnCenter.org/watch.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will visit the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Monday, July 15 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

On June 25th at the glamorous 583 Park Avenue in New York City, the Recording Academy celebrated 2013 honorees Ashford & Simpson, GRAMMY-winning violinist Joshua Bell, GRAMMY-winning artist Melissa Etheridge, GRAMMY-winning creators of 'LES MISERABLES' - Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg - and R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz. Below you can check out photos of the stars and honorees in the 'In The Spotlight' series by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

The Recording Academy Honors 2013 celebrated honorees Ashford & Simpson, GRAMMY-winning violinist Joshua Bell, GRAMMY-winning artist Melissa Etheridge, GRAMMY-winning creators of 'LES MISERABLES' - Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg - and R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz. The Recording Academy Honors was established to celebrate outstanding individuals whose work embodies excellence and integrity and who have improved the environment for the creative community. Check out photos from inside the event below!

Songwriters/performing artists Ashford & Simpson, GRAMMY-winning violinist Joshua Bell, GRAMMY-winning artist Melissa Etheridge, GRAMMY-winning creators of 'LES MISERABLES' - Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg - and R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz are recipients of the New York Chapter Recording Academy Honors 2013. The event, which will attract recording artists, key entertainment executives and community leaders, will be hosted tonight, June 25, 2013, at 6 p.m. at 583 Park Avenue. This gala will support the Chapter's ongoing advocacy, education and professional development programs.

The 2013 River To River Festival opens today and runs through July 14, featuring music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, family events... Plus, for the first time, a series of evenings guest-curated by none other than Laurie Anderson.

This gala will support the Chapter's ongoing advocacy, education and professional development programs.

The Recording Academy Honors 2013 will feature GRAMMY-winners Michael Bolton, Kristian Bush and David Caddick, GRAMMY-nominee Joan Osborne, stage and screen stars Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks and Stephanie J. Block, American Idol Music Director Ray Chew, singer-songwriters Peter Cincotti and Frankie Moreno, Island Def Jam Music Group President Steve Bartels, IMG Founder Charles Hamlen, and entertainment and media entrepreneur Kevin Liles. The star studded gala will celebrate honorees Ashford & Simpson, GRAMMY-winning violinist Joshua Bell, GRAMMY-winning artist Melissa Etheridge, GRAMMY-winning creators of 'Les Miserables' - Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg - and R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz. The Recording Academy Honors was established to celebrate outstanding individuals whose work embodies excellence and integrity and who have improved the environment for the creative community. The event, which will attract recording artists, key entertainment executives and community leaders, will be hosted Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 6 p.m. at 583 Park Avenue. This gala will support the Chapter's ongoing advocacy, education and professional development programs.

The 2013 River To River Festival opens this Saturday and runs through July 14, featuring music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, family events... Plus, for the first time, a series of evenings guest-curated by none other than Laurie Anderson.

NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announced the production of a new music television series, American Songbook at NJPAC, taped before a live audience at the Arts Center and airing on NJTV and WNET this fall.

The Recording Academy - New York Chapter is set to pay tribute to Valerie Simpson of the songwriting/performing duo Ashford & Simpson, GRAMMY-winning violinist Joshua Bell, GRAMMY-winning recording artist Melissa Etheridge, GRAMMY-winning creators of 'Les Miserables' - Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer and Claude-Michel Schonberg - and multi-platinum R&B singer/songwriter Trey Songz on June 25.