Valerie Simpson News

Renowned maestros and superstar vocalists will deliver unforgettable performances spanning the classical music canon and the Great American Songbook during New Jersey Performing Arts Center's 2019-2020 Classical Series and American Song Series. 

Renowned maestros and superstar vocalists will deliver unforgettable performances spanning the classical music canon and the Great American Songbook during New Jersey Performing Arts Center's 2019-2020 Classical Series and American Song Series.

Tootsie officially opened last night, April 23! BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos of all the red carpet action below!

The Recording Academy will honor its 2019 Special Merit Awards recipients with 'GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends®,' an awards ceremony and live tribute concert on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Eckstine, Donny Hathaway, Julio Iglesias, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick. Lou Adler, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, and Johnny Mandel are Trustees Award honorees; and Saul Walker is the Technical GRAMMY® Award recipient. Also being honored is Jeffery Redding, this year's recipient of the Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum®. Led by GRAMMY®-nominated industry icon Greg Phillinganes as musical director, the tribute concert will feature rare performances by honorees and never-seen renditions by those they've inspired. Currently scheduled to appear are Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Clinton; GRAMMY winner Bootsy Collins, who will salute Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic; five-time GRAMMY winner Lalah Hathaway and Kenya Hathaway, who will pay tribute to their father Donny; past Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Johnny Mathis, who will honor Warwick; Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Sam Moore;two-time GRAMMY winner Gregory Porter, who will pay tribute to Eckstine; Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Simpson; past GRAMMY nominee Snoop Dogg, who will salute Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic; and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Warwick. Presenters for the evening will include GRAMMY winners Cheech & Chong. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. Tickets for the event will be on sale via a Ticketmaster pre-sale, beginning today at 10 a.m. PT. The password to access the pre-sale is LEGENDS.

The Recording Academy announced today its Special Merit Awards recipients. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Eckstine, Donny Hathaway, Julio Iglesias, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick. Lou Adler, Ashford & Simpson, and Johnny Mandel are Trustees Award honorees; and Saul Walker is the Technical GRAMMY® Award recipient. A special award presentation ceremony and concert celebrating the honorees will be held on May 11, 2019, in Los Angeles. Additional details regarding the ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.

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.

Illuminated in vivid color against the clear night sky, the NJPAC campus became an Ozian destination for more than 900 guests, many of whom lingered outdoors to take in the scene on Chambers Plaza. The spaciousness of Prudential Lobby was enhanced by a dual-level tent that accommodated a dance floor, presided over by DJ Kiss, as well as a lounge for kicking back, networking or people-watching.

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, welcomeD Tony Winner Cady Huffman as 'Matron 'Mama' Morton' starting Monday, April 23, 2018. Check out the photos below!

The Broadway company of the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical Chicago, which recently celebrated its 21st anniversary, will welcome Tony Winner Cady Huffman as 'Matron 'Mama' Morton' starting Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

Music stars Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Chris Martin, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and SZA celebrate the illustrious career of Elton John on the tribute special 'Elton John: I'm Still Standing-A GRAMMY® Salute,' to be broadcast Tuesday, April 10 (9-11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The concert showcases musicians from multiple genres performing classic songs from Elton John's impressive music catalog with longtime co-writer Bernie Taupin and features special appearances by Jon Batiste, Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Jackson, Anna Kendrick, Gayle King, Lucy Liu, Valerie Simpson, and Hailee Steinfeld.

Music stars Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Chris Martin, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and SZA celebrate the illustrious career of Elton John on the tribute special 'Elton John: I'm Still Standing–A GRAMMY® Salute,' to be broadcast Tuesday, April 10 (9–11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The concert showcases musicians from multiple genres performing classic songs from Elton John's impressive music catalog with longtime co-writer Bernie Taupin and features special appearances by Jon Batiste, Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Jackson, Anna Kendrick, Gayle King, Lucy Liu, Valerie Simpson, and Hailee Steinfeld.

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.'

The Broadway company of the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical Chicago, which recently celebrated its 21st anniversary, will welcome legendary singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson making her Broadway debut in the role of "Matron "Mama" Morton" starting Monday, March 12, 2018 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."

Carnegie Hall's The '60s: The Years that Changed America, a citywide festival from January 14-March 24, 2018, continues in February with an exciting array of events to be presented at Carnegie Hall and at more than 35 leading partner cultural institutions throughout New York City and beyond. This special exploration of the '60s invites audiences to explore this turbulent decade through the lens of arts and culture, including music's role as a meaningful vehicle to inspire social change.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) is proud to bring George Brant's Marie and Rosetta to the Allen Theatre stage. Marie and Rosetta chronicles the story of 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Early Influence Inductee Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her counterpart Marie Knight as they changed the landscape of modern music. Miche Braden will make her return to Cleveland Play House as Sister Rosetta Tharpe alongside CPH newcomer Chaz Hodges as Marie Knight. Directed by Neil Pepe, Marie and Rosetta runs January 20 through February 11, 2018 in the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square.

In collaboration with the Recording Academy, GREAT PERFORMANCES presents GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends 2017, the second annual all-star concert offering a primetime spotlight for the Academy's 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients.

One of the most acclaimed and innovative of all contemporary vocal groups, The Manhattan Transfer as first lauded for its pop success in the 1970s and 1980s, including chart-topping hits like 'Boy from New York City' and 'Operator.'

In collaboration with the Recording Academy, GREAT PERFORMANCES presents GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends 2017, the second annual all-star concert offering a primetime spotlight for the Academy's 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients.