April 4, 2016 by Amy Gold
During the week of March 27, 2016, the world bade a final farewell to Oscar-winning actress and child star, Patty Duke. She made a splash on the pop charts in 1965 with "Don't Just Stand There" and other hits.
Also that week, fans bade a final farewell to Andy "Thunderclap" Newman who was one of the original members of Thunderclap Newman famous for the 1969 hit, "Something In The Air."
A new Todd Rundgren limited-edition box set titled "Box O' Todd" was recently released that includes over three dozen previously-unreleased live in-studio tracks recorded during the early 1970s. Also, a career-spanning compilation of Paul McCartney songs titled "Pure McCartney" will be coming out in June.
A second concert in New Orleans to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Band's farewell show, "The Last Waltz," has been scheduled for later this month. Alice Cooper's Hollywood Vampires will be launching a tour in May that will take the band to various states in the U.S. and several foreign countries. This June, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer will be launching a North American tour in honor of his late bandmate, Keith Emerson. Also that month, Steven Tyler will be performing at this year's CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Also, Santana and Journey announced the addition of a new show date to their joint U.S. tour for this August.
Also that week, it was announced that the Recording Academy will be holding this year's Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles later this month, to be taped for an upcoming episode of the PBS series, "Great Performances." Among the honorees are Earth, Wind & Fire, Linda Ronstadt, and Jefferson Airplane. Also, Aretha Franklin is among the many featured performers at the upcoming International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert which takes place later this month at the White House. This event will be broadcast April 30, 2016 on ABC as a TV special titled "Jazz At The White House."
Finally, Charlie Daniels is among those to be inducted into this year's Country Music Hall of Fame. Also, in celebration of his upcoming 90th birthday, Tony Bennett will be honored this May in concert at the Keep Memory Alive organization's 20th Annual Power of Love charity gala.
(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 clip from The Rolling Stones' recent concert in Havana, Cuba (March 25, 2016).
March 28, 2016: Todd Rundgren Box Set Released
A new Todd Rundgren limited-edition box set titled "Box O' Todd" was released on March 18, 2016. This 3-CD collection features over three dozen previously-unreleased live in-studio tracks recorded during the early 1970s with Utopia and The Hello People that include "Hello It's Me," "I Saw The Light," and other songs that became hits.
Source: Todd Rundgren's "BOX O'TODD" Limited Edition Box Set In Stores Now
March 29, 2016: Patty Duke Passes Away
Famed actress and child star Patty Duke died in Coeur d'Alene, ID on March 29, 2016 at age 69 of sepsis from a ruptured intestine. She starred on "The Patty Duke Show" and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Helen Keller in the 1962 movie version of "The Miracle Worker." In addition, many oldies music fans will also remember her 1965 hit, "Don’t Just Stand There."
Born Anna Marie Duke in Queens, NY, she began her 60+ years in show business at age 8, first appearing in various TV shows before starring in 1959 as Helen Keller in the Broadway play, "The Miracle Worker." This play was later made into a movie for which Duke won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1962 at age 16, making her the youngest person at that time to receive an Oscar in a competitive category. From 1963-1966, she starred in "The Patty Duke Show" and famously played two identical-looking cousins with very different personalities. Her many other TV, film, and stage roles over the years also included the troubled Neely O'Hara in the 1967 cult classic, "Valley Of The Dolls."
During the mid 1960s, she recorded several albums and a string of singles that included her best known song, "Don't Just Stand There," which became a Top 10 hit in 1965. Other hits included "Say Something Funny" and "Funny Little Butterflies."
In addition to an Oscar, her many other awards and accolades also included three Emmys and two Golden Globe Awards. From 1985-1988, she served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. In 2004, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Over the years, she battled bipolar depression and was a long-time advocate for various mental health causes. She wrote two best-selling autobiographical books, "Call Me Anna" (1987) and "Brilliant Madness: Living With Manic Depressive Illness" (1992).
Source: 'Miracle Worker,' Sitcom Star Patty Duke Dead at 69 | Rolling Stone
March 29, 2016: Carl Palmer Of ELP To Launch Tour
Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer will be launching a North American tour in honor of his late bandmate, Keith Emerson, who passed away in March. This 20-date trek, which was previously intended to commemorate Palmer's half-century in music, begins on June 2, 2016 in NYC and ends on July 12 in Dallas, TX, with additional stops in New York, as well as in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, plus Ontario, Canada and the Grand Cayman Islands. For more info and tickets, visit CarlPalmer.com.
Source: Carl Palmer Honoring Late ELP Band Mate Keith Emerson with Upcoming Tour
March 29, 2016: Charlie Daniels Inducted Into Country Music Hall Of Fame
Charlie Daniels is among those to be inducted into this year's Country Music Hall of Fame. The ceremonies will take place sometime later this year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater.
Source: Charlie Daniels Among the Latest Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
March 29, 2016: Recording Academy Announces Special Merit Awards Ceremony Details
The Recording Academy will be holding this year's Special Merit Awards ceremony at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on April 23, 2016. Among the honorees are Earth, Wind & Fire, Linda Ronstadt, and Jefferson Airplane. This event, titled "Grammy Salute To Music Legends," will be taped for an upcoming episode of the PBS series, "Great Performances."
Source: Recording Academy's 2016 Special Merit Awards Ceremony Taking Place Next Month in L.A.
March 30, 2016: Tony Bennett To Be Honored At Las Vegas Charity Gala
On May 21, 2016, in celebration of his upcoming 90th birthday, Tony Bennett will be honored at the Keep Memory Alive organization's 20th Annual Power of Love charity gala in Las Vegas. Steven Tyler and Quincy Jones will be among the many celebrities to pay tribute to the legendary crooner in concert. For more info, visit KeepMemoryAlive.org.
Source: Steven Tyler, Quincy Jones & More to Salute Tony Benefit at Las Vegas Charity Gala in May
March 30, 2016: Santana and Journey Add New Show Date To Joint Tour
Santana and Journey announced the addition of a new show date to their joint U.S. tour. This concert will take place on August 28 in Inglewood, CA at The Forum. For more info, visit Santana.com and JourneyMusic.com.
Source: Santana and Journey Add Joint August Concert to Tour Schedules
March 30, 2016: Aretha Franklin To Perform At White House Jazz Fest
Aretha Franklin, Sting and Buddy Guy are among the many featured performers at the upcoming International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert. This event, which takes place on April 29, 2016 in Washington, D.C. at the White House, will be broadcast April 30 on ABC as a TV special titled "Jazz At The White House."
March 31, 2016: Second 'Last Waltz' Tribute Concert Scheduled
A second concert to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Band's famous 1976 farewell show, "The Last Waltz," has been scheduled for April 30, 2016. The first concert, which sold out, is set to take place on April 29. Both shows, dubbed "The Last Waltz New Orleans," will take place at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans and will feature a house band of top musicians that include Meters bassist George Porter Jr. For more info, visit LastWaltzNOLA.com.
Source: Second "Last Waltz" Tribute Concert Scheduled in New Orleans
March 31, 2016: Paul McCartney To Release Solo Compilation
A compilation of Paul McCartney songs titled "Pure McCartney" will be coming out June 10, 2016 on CD and vinyl. This career-spanning collection, personally curated by McCartney, includes many old favorites from his days with Wings as well as newer songs such as "Hope For The Future" recorded in 2014 for the video game, Destiny.
Source: Paul McCartney to Release Personally Curated Solo Compilation Called "Pure McCartney" in June
March 31, 2016: Andy "Thunderclap" Newman Passes Away
Andy "Thunderclap" Newman died on March 30, 2016 at age 73 at his home in London. He was one of the original members of Thunderclap Newman and had served as the band's keyboardist and sax player.
Thunderclap Newman was a short-lived rock band formed in 1969 by Pete Townshend of The Who and Kit Lambert to showcase the talents of Andy Newman, John "Speedy" Keen, and Jimmy McCulloch. This band is best remembered for the 1969 smash hit, "Something In The Air," which topped the U.K. charts and became a Top 40 hit in the U.S. Before disbanding in 1971, the band had released one album, "Hollywood Dream." Around 2007, Newman and other bandmates later reformed Thunderclap Newman and, in 2010, released a second album, "Beyond Hollywood."
Source: Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman Dead at 73, The Who Reports | Billboard
March 31, 2016: Steven Tyler To Perform At CMA Music Festival
Steven Tyler is among the featured performers at this year's CMA Music Festival, to take place June 9-12, 2016 in Nashville, TN. Tyler will take the stage on June 11 at the festival's Nightly Concerts series at Nissan Stadium.
Source: Steven Tyler to Perform at CMA Music Festival in Nashville This June
April 1, 2016: Hollywood Vampires Announce Tour
Alice Cooper's Hollywood Vampires will be launching a tour that will take the band to various states in the U.S. as well as several foreign countries. This 9-date trek begins on May 27, 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal and ends on July 25 in Paso Robles, CA, with stops in Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, plus Denmark, Romania, and Sweden.
Source: Hollywood Vampires; Summer Tour Hollywood Vampires Announce Summer Tour
