February 25, 2013 by Amy Gold
During the week of February 17, 2013, the world bade a sad farewell to three oldies icons: Tony Sheridan, Cleotha Staples of the Staple Singers, and Otis "Damon" Harris of the Temptations.
Also, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry will be receiving two top honors this year: one from ASCAP and the other from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jackson Browne has announced upcoming tour dates for 2013, and David Bowie will be releasing the second single from his upcoming album, "The Next Day."
February 17, 2013: Tony Sheridan Passes Away
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tony Sheridan died on February 16, 2013 at age 72 in Hamburg, Germany. He is famous for his early influence on and collaborations with the Beatles when they were first starting out. The Beatles and Sheridan recorded a number of songs together in the early 1960s, two of which became hits in 1964: "My Bonnie (Lies Over The Ocean)" and "Why." Throughout the late 1950s and most of the 1960s, Sheridan toured in Europe with many top American acts that included Gene Vincent, Conway Twitty, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chubby Checker. Over the years, he recorded several albums, most recently “Vagabond” (2002) and "Chantal Meets Tony Sheridan" (2005), which includes "Tell Me If You Can," a song he wrote with Paul McCartney. Sheridan's survivors include two daughters and three sons.
Source: Tony Sheridan, Singer Backup Up by the Beatles, Dies at 72 - NYTimes.com
February 19, 2013: Paul McCartney, ZZ Top, And More To Play At Bonnaroo Festival
This year's Bonnaroo festival will take place in Manchester, TN June 13-16, 2013. Among the many bands and artists scheduled to perform at this event are Paul McCartney, ZZ Top, Billy Idol, and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Source: Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Mumford Sons to Play Bonnaroo | Music News | Rolling Stone
February 19, 2013: New David Bowie Documentary To Air On BBC
A new documentary, "David Bowie - Five Years," will be shown this May on BBC. This film will mainly cover five key years in Bowie's life and career: 1971, 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1983.
Source: New David Bowie Documentary, Five Years , To Air On BBC
February 20, 2013: Documentary About Beatles' Former Secretary To Premier
"Good Ol' Freda," a documentary about the Beatles' former secretary, Freda Kelly, will be premiering this March at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. In this film, which features original Beatles' songs, Kelly tells her stories for the first time in 50 years of her 11 years with the famed band.
February 20, 2013: Jackson Browne Announces Upcoming Tour
Jackson Browne announced his upcoming summer tour which begins June 19 in Salt Lake City, UT. Before that, he is slated to play in three special shows this May.
Source: Jackson Browne Announces 2013 Summer Tour
February 21, 2013: Billy Joel And Van Halen To Headline Australia's Stone Music Festival
Billy Joel and Van Halen will be headlining the Stone Music Festival on April 20 and 21 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Tickets go on sale February 21.
Source: Billy Joel And Van Halen To Headline Australia's Stone Music Festival
February 21, 2013: ASCAP To Honor Steven Tyler And Joe Perry
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will be honoring Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry with the ASCAP Founders Award at the 30th Annual Pop Music Awards. Ceremonies will take place on April 17, 2013 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.
Source: ASCAP To Honor Steven Tyler And Joe Perry
February 22, 2013: Cleotha Staples, The Staple Singers Eldest Sibling, Passes Away
Cleotha Staples died on February 21, 2013 at age 78 at her home in Chicago after battling Alzheimer's. She was the eldest sibling of the famed Staple Singers who had a long string of hits in the late 1960s-early 1980s on the Pop/Rock and R&B charts, including "Respect Yourself," "I'lll Take You There," "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," and "Let's Do It Again." Cleotha Staples was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Staple Singers in 1999 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Source: Cleotha Staples, eldest sibling in Staple Singers, dies at 78 - The Washington Post
February 22, 2013: Steven Tyler And Joe Perry Honored By Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmth will be among this year's inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 44th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. Ceremonies will take place June 13, 2013 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Source: SongHall - Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces 2013 Inductees
February 22, 2013: David Bowie Releases Second Single From His Upcoming Album
David Bowie announced on Facebook the release of "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)," the second single from his upcoming album, "The Next Day." Bowie released the first single, "Where Are We Now," on January 8, 2013, his 66th birthday.
Source: David Bowie Announces Second Single 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'
February 23, 2013: Allman Brothers Announce Lineup For Upcoming Peach Music Fest
The Allman Brothers will be headlining the second annual Peach Music Festival which will take place August 15-18 at the Montage Mountain and Sno Mountain Ski and Water Park in Scranton, PA. Tickets for this event will be available through Ticketmaster starting February 22.
Source: Allman Brothers Announce Lineup For Second Peach Music Fest
February 23, 2013: Temptations Singer Otis 'Damon' Harris Passes Away
Singer Otis "Damon" Harris died on February 18, 2013 at age 62 after battling prostate cancer. He was a member of the famed Temptations during the early 1970s and sang the lead on several of this group's hits, including "Masterpiece," "Take A Look Around," and most famously "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," a soul classic which won three Grammys in 1973 and ranks at #168 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. After Harris left the Temptations in 1975, he rejoined Impact, a group he formed in high school first known as the Young Tempts specializing in Temptations covers. Impact recorded two albums and had a hit in 1976 with "Give A Broken Heart A Break." In 1978, Harris released a solo album, "Silk," before retiring from music to finish college.
Source: Temptations Singer Otis 'Damon' Harris Dead at 62 | Music News | Rolling Stone
