August 12, 2013 by Amy Gold
During the week of August 4, 2013, fans mourned the passing of Eydie Gorme, Marilyn King of the King Sisters, jazz keyboardist George Duke, country producer and singer-songwriter "Cowboy" Jack Clement, and longtime Willie Nelson band member Jody Payne.
Also that week, Santana's 1999 album, "Supernatural," shot up to #11 on Nielsen's "Top 100 Recordings Of The SoundScan Era" list.
Elvis Presley's recording sessions from 1973 at Stax Records have just been released on a box set. Also, Bob Dylan will soon be releasing a new album that includes a lost song from 1970, and Neil Young will be releasing a live album of some of his shows in Washington D.C. from that same year.
Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck will be launching a tour in North America which starts this September. Alice Cooper will be touring in Europe next spring with various other rock stars and a symphony orchestra. Bruce Springsteen will be wrapping up his "Wrecking Ball" tour this September in South America. Also, Neil Young and Crazy Horse had to cancel their remaining European tour dates, but they expect to be back on the road by the end of this month.
A new documentary about KISS is currently in the works. This upcoming film, which will take an in-depth look at the band since its founding in the early 1970s, will be directed by Alan G. Parker.
Finally, for fans of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant is strengthening his online presence. He can now be found on Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus, and he has also redesigned his website.
August 4, 2013: Santana Makes Nielsen's 'Top 100 Recordings Of The SoundScan Era' List
Santana's 1999 album, "Supernatural," is ranked at #11 on Nielsen's list of the "Top 100 Recordings of the SoundScan Era." This album, which topped the Billboard 200 and remained there for 12 non-consecutive weeks, has sold over 30 million copies world-wide. SoundScan is a system founded by Nielsen in 1991 that keeps track of music and music video product sales throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is used by the Billboard charts and is considered by the music industry to be the official source of sales records.
Source: Santana Hits Nielsen's 'Top 100 Albums Of The SoundScan Era' List
August 5, 2013: Alice Cooper Announces Upcoming 'Rock Meets Classic' 2014 Tour
Alice Cooper announced dates for his upcoming "Rock Meets Classic" European tour which will feature Cooper and other rock stars who will perform with a symphony orchestra. This tour will begin on March 9, 2014 in Berlin, Germany and end on April 5 in Dresden, Germany, with other shows in Switzerland, France and Austria.
Source: Alice Cooper Books Symphonic Tour For 2014
August 5, 2013: Brian Wilson And Jeff Beck To Tour This Fall
Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck announced a North American tour for this fall. This tour, which will take place in 18 cities, begins on September 27, 2013 in Hollywood, FL and ends on October 27 in Akron, OH. Wilson and Beck will be joined onstage by Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks. Tickets go on sale August 9.
Source: Exclusive: Brian Wilson, Jeff Beck touring together
August 5, 2013: Elvis Presley's Stax Sessions Tracks Released
Elvis Presley's tracks from two recording sessions in 1973 at Stax Records have just been released for the first time. This 3-CD collection, entitled "Elvis at Stax: Deluxe Edition," features outtakes, some rare photos, and hits such as "Raised on Rock," "For Ol' Time's Sake," and "I've Got A Thing About You Baby."
Source: News from The Associated Press
August 5, 2013: Upcoming KISS Documentary In The Works
A new documentary about KISS, which will take an in-depth look at the band since its founding in the early 1970s, is in the works. This upcoming film, entitled "You Wanted The Best... You Got The Best," will be directed by Alan G. Parker, a longtime KISS fan whose past works include documentaries about the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and Status Quo.
Source: Alan G Parker to direct Kiss documentary | | Classic Rock
August 6, 2013: Famed Jazz Keyboardist George Duke Passes Away
Famed jazz keyboardist George Duke died in Los Angeles on August 5, 2013 at age 67 from chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was born in San Rafael, CA and began studying the piano at age 7 and played in high school jazz groups. He obtained bachelor degrees in trombone and composition from the San Francisco Conservatory in 1967. He later earned his Masters in composition from San Francisco State University.
Duke was widely known and respected for his unique style which was a fusion of jazz, R&B, funk, and Brazilian genres. Throughout his long career, he recorded with and produced for a great many jazz and pop musicians that included such big names as Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Jean-Luc Ponty, Cannonball Adderley, Barry Manilow, Frank Zappa, George Clinton, Gene Ammons, Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, Deniece Williams, and Phil Collins. His many credits included working with Michael Jackson on "Off The Wall" (1979) and producing and composing for several Miles Davis albums in the 1980s. He also recorded a long string of solo albums that included "After Hours" for which he received a Grammy nomination in 1999.
In 2012, Duke was inducted into the Soul Music Hall Of Fame at SoulMusic.com. He is survived by his sons, Rashid and John.
Source: George Duke, Legendary Jazz Keyboardist, Dies : The Two-Way : NPR
August 7, 2013: Bruce Springsteen To Wrap Up 'Wrecking Ball' Tour
Bruce Springsteen will be wrapping up his extensive and world-wide 'Wrecking Ball' tour (which began on March 18, 2012 in Atlanta, GA) this September in South America. Springsteen final performances for this tour include a show in Buenos Aires on September 14, 2013 and another at the Rock in Rio fest in Brazil on September 24.
Source: Bruce Springsteen Books Final Dates of 'Wrecking Ball' Tour | Music News | Rolling Stone
August 7, 2013: Bob Dylan To Release Album That Includes Lost Song From 1970
On August 27, 2013, Bob Dylan will be releasing "Another Self Portrait." This 35-track box set will include the lost song, "Pretty Saro," an 18th century English folk song Dylan recorded on Columbia in 1970 during the "Self Portrait" sessions which never made the final cut. A video for this song was also made by filmmaker Jennifer Lebeau.
Source: Bob Dylan's Lost 1970 Gem 'Pretty Saro' - Premiere - Video | Rolling Stone
August 8, 2013: Neil Young To Release Live Album From 1970
On September 6, 2013, Neil Young will be releasing "Live at the Cellar Door 1970" which includes live performances of some of his shows in Washington, D.C. in 1970. This 10-track album includes "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Old Man," and other hits.
Source: Neil Young To Release Live At The Cellar Door 1970
August 8, 2013: Robert Plant Strengthens Online Presence
Robert Plant recently joined Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus, and he has already amassed a large following on Twitter. The former Led Zeppelin lead vocalist has also redesigned his website. Plant is currently involved in a number of new projects that include an upcoming documentary on his trip to Mali.
August 8, 2013: 'Cowboy' Jack Clement Passes Away
Famed producer and singer-songwriter "Cowboy" Jack Clement died at his home in Nashville, TN on August 8, 2013 at age 82 after battling liver cancer. He was born Jack Henderson Clement in Memphis, TN and began playing guitar as a child. In 1956, he went to work for Sun Records as a producer and engineer. He worked with such up-and-coming artists as Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 1959, he joined RCA in Nashville to work as a producer for a couple of years before moving to Beaumont, TX to open a recording studio and publishing company. In 1965, he returned to Nashville permanently and established himself an important figure in country music where he opened another recording studio and publishing company. In 1972, he co-founded JMI Records.
As a songwriter, Clement is best known for the songs he penned for Johnny Cash, many of which became top hits. They included "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" (1957), "Guess Things Happen That Way" (1958), "The One On The Right Is On The Left" (1966). He also produced Cash's chart-topping "Ring of Fire" (1963) and wrote many other songs for such artists as Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Carl Perkins, Bobby Bare, and Elvis Presley. In 1978, Clement had two minor hits on the Country charts:"We Must Believe In Magic/When I Dream" and "All I Want To Do In Life." He also produced albums for a number of bands and artists including Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, and U2.
Clement's many honors over the years include being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Music City Walk of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is survived by a daughter, Alison, and a son, Niles.
August 8, 2013: Marilyn King Of The King Sisters Passes Away
Marilyn King, the youngest and last remaining member of the King Sisters, died in Laguna Niguel, CA on August 7, 2013 at age 82 after battling cancer. The King Sisters, whose real surname was Driggs, began in the 1930s as a vocal trio of sisters Louise, Maxine and Alyce, with a changing lineup over the years. They had a long string of hits in the 1940s and also appeared in many movies. In 1965, they began hosting their own TV variety show, "The King Family Show," which featured various family members and continued through 1969.
Marilyn King, who was born on May 11, 1931, began singing with her sisters at age 13 and officially joined the group in 1951. The tallest member of the group, she made many appearances on "The King Family Show." She also appeared on many other TV programs that included "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "Laugh-In." The King Sisters continued touring and performing to well into the 1980s and sang at President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985.
Marilyn King is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.
Source: Marilyn King, Last of the King Sisters, Dead at 82 | Billboard
August 10, 2013: Neil Young Cancels Remaining European Tour Dates
Neil Young and Crazy Horse had to cancel all remaining dates on their European tour due to a hand injury of one of the band members, guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro. Young released an apology to fans and Sampedro?s hand is expected to recover completely by the end of August, in time for the North American leg of his tour.
Source: Neil Young Cancels Remaining European Tour Dates
August 10, 2013: Willie Nelson Band Member Jody Payne Passes Away
Jody Payne, a singer, guitarist, and longtime member of Willie Nelson's band, died on August 10, 2013 in Stapleton, AL at age 77 from cardiac problems. He was born James L. Payne in Garrard County, KY. At around age 10-11, he began his music career singing with his sister Imogene and their father on a radio show on WHIR in Danville. As a teen, he played bluegrass music with Charlie Monroe on the road. Later on, he toured with Merle Haggard. He also recorded with Haggard, Hank Snow, Tanya Tucker and Leon Russell.
In 1973, Payne joined Willie Nelson's band, The Family, and played and toured with Nelson to 2008. He then retired to Stapleton, AL, with his wife Vicki, where he continued playing music and teaching guitar at a local music store. Over the years, he also appeared in a number of films and TV shows including "Monk" and "Austin City Limits."
Payne is survived by his wife Vicki and two sons, Waylon and Austin.
Source: Jody Payne, Willie Nelson Guitarist, Dies at 77 | Billboard
August 10, 2013: Eydie Gorme Passes Away
Famed traditional pop singer Eydie Gorme died on August 10, 2013 at age 84 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. She was born Edith Gormezano to Sephardic Jewish parents in New York City and grew up speaking English and Spanish. She was a cousin of singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka. Gorme made her singing debut at age 3 on a children?s radio show. While in high school, she sang in a band led by Ken Greengrass who later became her manager. After graduating from high school, she worked as an interpreter while taking night classes at the City College of New York.
In 1950, Gorme began touring with bandleader Tommy Tucker and then joined Tex Beneke's band before going solo. In 1952, she signed to Coral Records and scored a Top 20 pop hit in 1954 with "Fini." In 1953, her career took a major upswing when she was signed onto the "Tonight Show," then hosted by Steve Allen, where she met and partnered up with Steve Lawrence, her then-future husband and lifelong stage partner. Since then, she and Lawrence, whom she married in 1957, became a pop culture item. Gorme and Lawrence, who had their own variety show in 1958, performed comedy skits and sang on many TV shows and were a highly popular act for many years. They also performed extensively on the nightclub and theater circuits and recorded many albums together.
Throughout her career, Gorme also recorded many solo albums and had a long string of hits on the Adult Contemporary and Pop/Rock charts from the mid 1950s through most of the 1970s. They included her signature song, "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" (1963), "If He Walked Into My Life" (1966), and "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" (1966), plus many duets with Steve Lawrence. In 1964, she recorded with Trio Los Panchos the hugely popular Spanish album, "Amor," which became a big hit throughout Latin America and led to a huge following in the Latin pop market which she maintained throughout most of her life.
Over the years, Gorme received many awards and accolades including two Grammys and an Emmy. She is survived by her husband, Steve Lawrence, their son, David, and a granddaughter.
Source: Singer Eydie Gorme dies at 84 - CBS News
