April 24, 2016 by Amy Gold
During the week of April 17, 2016, fans bade a final farewell to acclaimed guitarist Lonnie Mack famous for "Wham!," "Memphis," and other early 1960s instrumental hits.
Also, the world is still reeling from the sudden and unexpected passing at age 57 of famed singer-songwriter Prince as numerous musicians and fans continue to pay tribute. A 1980s pop sensation with a stellar career spanning four decades, Prince had his first Top 40 hit in 1979 with "I Wanna Be Your Lover."
To commemorate what would have been Roy Orbison's 80th birthday (April 23, 2016), his recently-released long-lost album from 1969, "One Of The Lonely Ones," has been made available to various streaming services. The Monkees' new album, "Good Times!," originally slated for this June, will be coming out in late May. Also, the entire Monkees TV series will be released on Blu-ray for the first time in late June as a box set.
Graham Nash is among the headliners for this year's Great South Bay Music Festival which takes place this July in Patchogue, NY. Paul McCartney has added a new show date in Washington, D.C. for this August to his 2016 "One On One" tour. Also that month, Aretha Franklin, Boston, and Don Henley of The Eagles will be among the headliners for this year's Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. Kansas announced a fall tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the band's 1976 breakthrough album, "Leftoverture," which begins in September. Also, Peter Frampton, America, Christopher Cross, and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night are among the many featured performers on the upcoming 1970s-themed Rock & Romance Cruise which sets sail in March 2017 from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Also that week, it was announced that Aretha Franklin, Hugh Masekela, and Buddy Guy are among the featured artists on the upcoming ABC TV special, "Jazz At The White House," to be televised April 30, 2016 (see video below).
Finally, the documentary, "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me," was named as a finalist for the 2015 Peabody Awards.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Below is a preview of coming attractions from the ABC TV special, "Jazz At The White House," which airs April 30, 2016.
April 19, 2016: Aretha Franklin To Perform At 'Jazz At The White House'
Aretha Franklin, Hugh Masekela, and Buddy Guy are among the many artists to perform on the upcoming ABC TV special, "Jazz At The White House." This event, to be hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, will take place April 29, 2016 at the White House and will be televised on International Jazz Day, April 30. This show will also be streamed on the official websites for the White House, the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, and UNESCO. For more info, visit JazzDay.com.
Source: Aretha Franklin, Sting, Herbie Hancock to Celebrate Jazz at the White House Later This Month
April 19, 2016: New Monkees Album To Be Released Early; Entire TV Series To Be Released For The First Time
The Monkees' new album, "Good Times!," originally slated for June 10, 2016, will be coming out on May 27. Highlights include several new songs plus some newly-completed tracks the band had started working on during the 1960s but had never completed until now. In addition, the entire Monkees TV series will be released on Blu-ray for the first time on June 24 as a box set.
Source: Release of New Monkees Album, "Good Times!," Moved Up to May; Full Details Unveiled
April 19, 2016: Paul McCartney Adds Washington, D.C. Show Date To Tour
Paul McCartney has added another show date to the North American leg of his "One On One" tour which began on April 13, 2016. This show will take place August 9 in Washington, D.C. at the Verizon Center.
Source: Mr. McCartney Goes to Washington: Sir Paul Adds D.C. Date to Tour
April 19, 2016: Graham Nash To Headline Great South Bay Music Festival
Graham Nash will headline Day Four of this year's Great South Bay Music Festival which takes place July 14-17, 2016 in Patchogue, NY. John Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful, will also be among the many featured bands and artists.
Source: Graham Nash Headlining Great South Bay Music Festival in New York This July
April 20, 2016: Aretha Franklin To Headline Musikfest
Aretha Franklin, Boston, and Don Henley of The Eagles will be among the headliners for this year's Musikfest which takes place August 5-14, 2016 in Bethlehem, PA. The Queen of Soul, Boston, and Eagles founding member will take the stage on August 8, 9, and 10, respectively. For more info and tickets, visit musikfest.org.
Source: Yup, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to headline Bethlehem's Musikfest - The Morning Call
April 20, 2016: Kansas Announces Fall Tour To Commemorate 'Leftoverture' 40th Anniversary
Kansas announced a fall tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the band's 1976 breakthrough album, "Leftoverture," which will be performed live and in full for the first time ever. This upcoming trek begins September 30, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA and ends November 18 in New Bedford, MA, with 15 shows scheduled so far in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. In addition, the band has over 40 other shows in the U.S. scheduled from now through September 2, 2016. For more info, visit KansasBand.com.
Source: Kansas Set to Carry On This Fall with 40th Anniversary "Leftoverture" Tour
April 20, 2016: Peter Frampton To Take Part In 1970s-Themed Cruise
Peter Frampton is among the many featured performers on the upcoming Rock & Romance Cruise which will set sail March 11, 2017 from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Other acts on this 1970s-themed cruise, to be hosted by Barry Williams, include Ambrosia, America, Stephen Bishop, Christopher Cross, ELO former members, Firefall, Little River Band, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Orleans, and Player. For more info and tickets, visit RockandRomanceCruise.com.
Source: Show Me the Waves: Peter Frampton Among '70s Stars Taking Part in Rock & Romance Cruise
April 21, 2016: Prince Passes Away
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor, and music icon Prince died at age 57 on April 21, 2016 at Paisley Park, his estate in Chanhassen, MN that also houses his recording studio. The exact cases of his sudden and unexpected passing are, as yet, still unknown. A 1980s pop sensation whose popularity rivaled that of Michael Jackson, Prince released his debut album, "For You," in 1978 and had his first Top 40 hit in 1979 with "I Wanna Be Your Lover." His best known songs include the chart-topping "When Doves Cry" (1984), "Let's Go Crazy" (1984), "Kiss" (1986), "Batdance" (1989), and "Cream" (1991). In 1984, he released the critically-acclaimed album, "Purple Rain," the title track of which, for many fans, has served as his main signature song over his long career. This album, which won him an Oscar for Best Original Song Score, was also the soundtrack for the semi-autobiographical movie of the same name in which he starred and performed.
Born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, MN, he wrote his first song at age 7 and, in his teens, signed on to Warner Brothers. Besides a long string of albums and charted songs, his prodigious output, which continued nonstop through 2015, also included various artistic collaborations and penning for other musicians such top hits as Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" which, in 1990, topped the U.S. Billboard and many other charts worldwide.
In addition to an Oscar, Prince's many other awards and accolades included seven Grammys, a Golden Globe Award, and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also ranked by Rolling Stone at #27 in this magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. As one of pop music's most highly respected figures, musicians and other celebrities, as well as numerous longtime fans and President Obama, reacted to his untimely passing with sadness and shock and paid him homage. Cities also held vigils, and MTV aired a Prince marathon.
Source: Musical Icon Prince, Dead at 57
April 21, 2016: Glen Campbell Documentary Named 2015 Peabody Award Finalist
The recent documentary, "Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me," which follows the legendary country-pop singer after his diagnosis in 2011 of Alzheimer's, was named as one of the finalists for the 2015 Peabody Awards in the documentary and educational categories. The winner will be announced April 26, 2016 on the Peabody Awards Facebook page. Also, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host a screening of this film to commemorate Campbell's 80th birthday (April 22, 2016).
Source: Glen Campbell Documentary Named Peabody Award Finalist
April 22, 2016: Lonnie Mack Passes Away
Famed rock, blues, and country guitarist-singer Lonnie Mack died on April 21, 2016 at age 74 at Centennial Medical Center in Smithville, TN. A pioneer in guitar playing techniques, he had a string of hits in the early 1960s that included "Memphis," "Wham!," and other guitar instrumentals. Widely acknowledged as a major and early influence in virtuoso rock guitar solo performance, Mack inspired such top musicians as Jeff Beck, Dickie Betts, Eric Clapton, Ted Nugent, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Born Lonnie McIntosh in West Harrison, IN, he began playing the acoustic guitar at age 7 and, while in his teens in the late 1950s, began recording on the Esta label and formed his own band. It was also during that time that he took on the stage name, "Mack," settled on his favorite instrument, a Gibson Flying V, and began to develop his distinctive style which combined blues and R&B with fast-paced "fingerstyle" techniques from bluegrass and traditional country. He also employed other innovative techniques that included the addition of vibrato with quick changes in the tension of the strings using a controlling lever known as a "whammy bar."
Mack's many honors and accolades over the years included being inducted into the International Guitar Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2005.
Source: Guitarist Lonnie Mack Dead at 74
April 23, 2016: Roy Orbison 1969 Posthumous Album Being Streamed
A recently-unearthed lost album from 1969 by Roy Orbison titled "One Of The Lonely Ones" was released last December on CD and vinyl. To commemorate what would have been the legendary singer's 80th birthday (April 23, 2016), this posthumous album has been made available to various streaming services starting April 22. Highlights of this 12-track collection include "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Say No More," and "Leaving Makes The Rain Come Down."
Source: Mercy! Roy Orbison Would Have Celebrated His 80th Birthday Saturday
