June 18, 2012 by Amy Gold
During the week of June 10, 2012, music fans mourned the passing of Frances Preston, former president and CEO of BMI. Also this week, rare guitars made and designed by Les Paul sold for over $100,000 apiece, and Neil Young discussed his future plans for this year in an interview with Billboard Magazine. Other news: Aerosmith will be releasing a new album and going on tour this summer.
Jun 10, 2012: Les Paul Guitars
Several rare guitars designed and owned by famed guitarist Les Paul sold for over $100,000 apiece at a two-day auction of his instruments and other belongings held in Los Angeles over the weekend. One model included a 1951 Fender Nocaster that sold for $216,000. Paul and his wife Mary Ford had a string of pop hits from the mid 1940s-early 1960s that included the chart topping "It's Been A Long Long Time" (1945), "How High The Moon" (1951), and "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)" (1953). He passed away in 2009 at 94 and he was best known in the music industry as an inventor of guitars and a pioneer of recording techniques.
Source: Les Paul guitars, items fetch $5 million at auction - Yahoo! News
Jun 12, 2012: Aerosmith To Release New Album And Embark On A Tour
Steven Tyler, the lead singer and frontman for Aerosmith, announced that later this summer, the band will be releasing an album of of all-new material entitled "Music From Another Dimension." The famed classic rock band begins their "Global Warming" tour with Cheap Trick on June 16, 2012, in Minneapolis.
Source: Aerosmith keeps things fresh with new tour, album - A&E - Boston.com
Jun 14, 2012: "Danbury Fields Forever" Music Festival Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The Beatles
Fifty years ago, famed drummer Ringo Starr joined The Beatles and the rest was history. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic event, a day-long festival of Beatles music will take place on Saturday, July 28, at Ives Concert Park, 43 Lake Avenue Ext., in Danbury, CT. Featured acts will include various New England and New York tribute bands including The Beatles Forever Band, Fools On The Hill, MerseyBeatMania, Genetic Control, Pat Horgan & Thunder Road, The Oh-Nos, and One Sweet Dream.
Source: DANBURY FIELDS FOREVER Beatles Music Festival - Eventbrite
Jun 15, 2012: Neil Young Discusses Future Projects In An Interview With Billboard Magazine
So far this year, Neil Young has written a memoir, released several albums, and is about to embark on a tour with his band, Crazy Horse. Young discusses these and other projects slated for 2012.
Source: Neil Young's On a Roll: Q&A With Rock Icon and Jonathan Demme | Billboard.com
Jun 16, 2012: BMI president and CEO Frances Preston Passes Away
Frances Preston, former president and chief executive of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), died at 83 on June 13, 2012 on Wednesday at home in Nashville of heart failure. She was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and was well known in the industry as a champion of songwriters' rights.
Source: Frances Williams Preston obituary: BMI executive dies at 83 - Los Angeles Times
