October 13, 2013 by Amy Gold
During the week of October 6, 2013, oldies music fans mourned the passing of Cal Smith famous for the 1974 smash country hit, "Country Bumpkin."
Also that week, the nominees for the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced, and Paul McCartney gave a free concert in New York's Times Square (see video below).
The Rascals have taken their hit Broadway show titled "The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream" on the road. Later this month, Neil Young will be performing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at a benefit concert for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be holding a tribute concert for the Rolling Stones. This November, Stephen Stills will be headlining this year's benefit concert for Cal State Northridge's radio station, KCSN FM.
This year's "A Very Special Christmas" charity compilation CD, which includes John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" and songs by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Rod Stewart, is set to be released later this month. A box set titled "¡Released!" made up of live performances from past Amnesty International's Human Rights concerts with tracks by Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, and Joni Mitchell is scheduled for release this November.
Author Robert Hilburn has written a new biography of Johnny Cash which is scheduled for release later this month. A movie about the life and career of the Beatles manager Brian Epstein, titled "The Fifth Beatle," is currently in the works and due out in 2014.
Finally, a legal dispute between two bands over the use of the Clovers name has been resolved. The Clovers, famous for "Love Potion No. 9," have a long and complicated history since the group's official breakup in 1961. The disputing bands reached an agreement whereby Harold Winley, one of the original group members during the 1950s, will perform as Harold Winley and the Clovers, and the present-day group known as the Clovers will continue to go by that name.
October 6, 2013: Brian Epstein Biopic Is In The Works
A movie about Brian Epstein titled "The Fifth Beatle" is currently in the works and due out in 2014. It will cover the life and career of the legendary manager, who died in 1967 of an accidental drug overdose, and will also feature original Beatles songs.
Source: Brian Epstein Movie To Feature Beatles Songs
October 8, 2013: Neil Young To Perform At Silverlake Conservatory Of Music Benefit
On October 30, 2013, Neil Young will be performing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at a benefit concert for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. This nonprofit school was founded in 2001 by the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael Balzary (better known as Flea). Proceeds from the concert will go towards expanding the school's scholarship program and purchasing a permanent building.
Source: Neil Young To Perform At Silverlake Benefit
October 8, 2013: Rascals And Steven Van Zandt Take Hit Broadway Show On The Road
Last December, a show starring the Rascals and co-directed/produced by Steven Van Zandt, titled "The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream," made its debut at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, and since then, it has had a successful run on Broadway. This show features performances of classic Rascals hits by the original band members, plus film footage of the band from the 1960s. The Rascals and Steven Van Zandt are taking this show on the road starting October 10, 2013 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. For more info and show dates, go to rascalsdream.com.
Source: Rascals Once Upon A Dream - HOME
October 9, 2013: Led Zeppelin And Ray Davies Among Songwriters Hall Of Fame Nominees For 2014
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Ray Davies, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, John Mellencamp, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart are among those who have been nominated for the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame. The award ceremonies will take place on June 12, 2014 at New York's Marriott Marquis. Eligible voters have until December 16, 2013 to cast their votes.
Source: Madonna, Davies up for Songwriters Hall of Fame
October 9, 2013: Bruce Springsteen And Peter Gabriel Featured On Amnesty International Box Set
A new box set titled "¡Released!" made up of live performances from past Amnesty International's Human Rights concerts is set to be released on November 5, 2013. This collection, which features songs by Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, and other top bands and artists, will include six DVDs and two CDs of live recordings and never-before-released footage of concerts from 1986 and 1998. Proceeds will go towards Amnesty International.
Source: Bruce Springsteen And Peter Gabriel Featured On Amnesty International Box Set
October 10, 2013: Stephen Stills To Headline KCSN Radio Station Benefit
On November 3, 2013, Stephen Stills and his band, the Rides, will be headlining this year's benefit concert for KCSN FM, the radio station for Cal State Northridge. This event will take place at the university's Valley Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available to the general public starting on October 12.
Source: Stephen Stills, Lucinda Williams headline KCSN benefit Nov. 3 - latimes.com
October 10, 2013: Nils Lofgren And Others To Join Rolling Stones Tribute Concert
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be holding a tribute concert for the Rolling Stones as part of the Music Masters Series "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It): The Music of the Rolling Stones." This event will take place on October 26, 2013 at Cleveland's State Theater. Featured acts will include Merry Clayton of "Gimme Shelter" fame. Several other bands and artists have recently joined the lineup, including Nils Lofgren of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Source: Rolling Stones Tribute Concert Adds Chuck D Nils Lofgren | Music News | Rolling Stone
October 10, 2013: David Bowie Named Top Selling Artist In The U.K. For 2013
David Bowie was named this year's top selling artist for independent record stores in the U.K. by the Official Record Store Chart. The Official Record Store Chart is a weekly music chart based on physical sales of albums in 100 independent record stores in the United Kingdom. Each week's top seller is first announced on Sunday evenings on the OCC website.
Source: David Bowie Dubbed 2013's Top Selling Artist By Independent Record Stores
October 10, 2013: Paul McCartney Gives Surprise Concert In Times Square
On October 10, 2013, Paul McCartney gave a free impromptu concert in New York's Times Square. Along with classic Beatles tunes, he performed some songs from his upcoming album, "New."
Source: Paul McCartney Performs Brief Surprise Concert In Times Square - CBS New York
October 11, 2013: 'A Very Special Christmas' 2013 CD To Be Released
"A Very Special Christmas" is the title of an ongoing series of Christmas music compilation CDs that benefit the Special Olympics. Since 1987, this series has raised over $116 million. This year's album, which is set to be released on October 15, 2013, will include the John Lennon classic, "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," plus songs by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Rod Stewart, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Source: John and Yoko, Elvis, Aretha on 'A Very Special Christmas: Icon' CD - latimes.com
October 11, 2013: Cal Smith Passes Away
Country singer and guitarist Cal Smith died on October 10, 2013 at age 81 at his home in the Branson, MO area. He is most famous for "Country Bumpkin," which topped the Country charts in 1974 and received Song of the Year Awards from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
Source: 'Country Bumpkin' Singer Cal Smith Dies at 81 | Billboard
October 11, 2013: Bands Resolve Dispute Over The Clovers Name
The Clovers originally formed in 1946 in Washington, D.C. and became famous in the late 1950s for "Love Potion No. 9." Although the Clovers officially disbanded in 1961, the break-up resulted in the creation of two new groups, one known as the Fabulous Clovers featuring John "Buddy" Bailey, and the other, formed by Harold Lucas, one of the original Clovers group founders, that continued to use the Clovers as its group name. The present-day group known as the Clovers, which has undergone many personnel changes over the years, is more or less a descendent of the Clovers formed in 1961 by Harold Lucas who remained with the group until his passing in 1994. The Clovers group name was trademarked in the early 1980s, and Harold Winley, one of the original group members during the 1950s, sued earlier this year to be able to use that name when performing. The disputing parties reached an agreement whereby Winley will now perform as Harold Winley and the Clovers, and the present-day Clovers with continue to go by that name.
Source: Bands Resolve Dispute Over The Clovers Name - ABC News
October 12, 2013: New Johnny Cash Biography To Be Published
Author Robert Hilburn has written a new biography of the legendary Johnny Cash titled "Johnny Cash - The Life," scheduled to be released on October 29, 2013. In this interview, Hilburn, a former music critic for the L.A. Times, tells of his first meeting with Cash in 1968 at the famous Folsom Prison show and discusses the inspiration for his book.
Source: Delving into Johnny Cash's life story with biographer Robert Hilburn - latimes.com
