April 13, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of April 6, 2014, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, KISS, and the E Street Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Andrew Loog Oldham and the late Brian Epstein, who managed the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, respectively, were also among this year's inductees.
Also that week, oldies music fans bade a sad farewell to critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester who had a Top 40 hit in 1981 with "Say What." Winchester was most famous as a songwriter, penning many songs over the years since the 1970s for such top bands and artists as the Everly Brothers and Patti Page.
Paul McCartney announced that he will be touring the U.S. beginning this June. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company announced a co-headlining North American tour which begins this July. Aerosmith and Slash also announced upcoming summer dates for their joint tour. Stevie Wonder and Aerosmith will be headlining the London Calling Festival which will take place in late June. Also, Tom Jones will be headlining this year's British Summer Time Festival at London's Hyde Park this July.
The animated movie, "Rio 2," which came out on April 11, 2014, features a soundtrack by Sergio Mendes. Later this month, Billy Joel is set to be interviewed by Howard Stern on SiriusXM, and a new song by Pete Townshend will be premiering on the FX TV series, "The Americans."
Later this month, the Allman Brothers Band will be releasing "40," a live DVD of the 40th anniversary show the band gave in 2009. Also, an album from 1972 by the Doors with two rare B-sides is set to be re-released on Record Store Day (April 19, 2014).
Finally, below is a preview of the upcoming reissue of "Led Zeppelin" which is due out on June 3, 2014. This video includes an excerpt of "Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown" recorded live in Paris October, 1969.
April 7, 2014: Billy Joel To Be Interviewed By Howard Stern
On April 28, 2014, Billy Joel will be interviewed by Howard Stern on SiriusXM. Highlights of Joel's five decade career will be covered, and various surprise guests and performers whose lives were changed by Joel will also join this event.
April 7, 2014: New Song By Pete Townshend To Premiere On 'The Americans'
On April 30, 2014, a new song by Pete Townshend will premiere on the TV series, "The Americans." Titled "It Must Be Done," this song was co-written with composer Nathan Barr. "The Americans" is a TV drama series on FX set in the 1980s during the Cold War era.
Source: Pete Townshend Composes Song for 'The Americans' | Music News | Rolling Stone
April 8, 2014: Paul McCartney To Tour U.S.
Starting this summer, Paul McCartney will be touring the U.S., and so far, four show dates have been set. This June, he will give two shows, one in New Orleans on the 19th, and the other in Louisville, KY on the 26th. In July, he will give another two shows, one in Albany, NY on the 5th, and the other in Pittsburgh on the 7th. More U.S. show dates will be announced.
Source: Paul Gets Back #OutThere In The U.S.! - Paul McCartney Official Website
April 9, 2014: Doors 1972 Album With Rare B-Sides To Be Re-Released On Record Store Day
An album by the Doors is set to be re-released on Record Store Day, which takes place April 19, 2014. Titled "Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine," this album was first released on Elektra Records in 1972 and includes two rare B-sides, "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further" (b/w "Love Her Madly") and "Who Scared You" (b/w "Wishful Sinful").
Source: The Doors Releasing Special Record Store Day Vinyl
April 9, 2014: Stevie Wonder And Aerosmith To Headline London Calling Festival
Stevie Wonder and Aerosmith will be headlining the upcoming London Calling Festival. Aerosmith is set to play on the first day of the festival, and Wonder on the second. This event will take place June 28-29, 2014 at Clapham Common.
Source: Stevie Wonder To Headline London Calling Festival
April 9, 2014: "Rio 2" Movie Released With Soundtrack By Sergio Mendes
The animated movie, "Rio 2," set to premiere on April 11, 2014, features music by Grammy award winning composer Sergio Mendes who became famous in the 1960s for "Mas Que Nada," "Fool On The Hill," and other hits with his band, Brasil '66. Much like his previous work, Mendes' "Rio 2" film soundtrack incorporates rhythmic and other elements of music of his native Brazil.
Source: Sergio Mendes Captures The Sounds Of Brazil With Rio 2 | GRAMMY.com
April 10, 2014: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inducts New Members
The bands and artists inducted into this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), Linda Ronstadt, KISS, the E Street Band, Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, and Hall & Oates. Andrew Loog Oldham and the late Brian Epstein, who managed the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, respectively, were also among this year's inductees. The ceremonies took place on April 10, 2014 at New York's Barclays Center. This event will be televised on HBO May 31.
Source: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2014 ceremony: KISS among 9 inductees
April 11, 2014: Aerosmith And Slash Announce Upcoming Summer Tour Dates
Aerosmith and Slash will be touring together this summer in North America starting July 10, 2014 in Wantagh, NY. This 21-date tour, which ends on September 12 in Nova Scotia, will also include shows in Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, and Ontario.
Source: Aerosmith And Slash Announce 2014 Summer Tour Dates
April 11, 2014: Allman Brothers Band To Release Live DVD
On April 30, 2014, the Allman Brothers Band will be releasing "40," a live DVD of the 40th anniversary show the band gave in 2009 at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Featured songs include the Allman Brothers' classic "Midnight Rider."
Source: Allman Brothers Band To Release Live DVD Of 40th Anniversary Milestone
April 11, 2014: Singer-Songwriter Jesse Winchester Passes Away
Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester died on April 11, 2014 at age 69 at his home in Charlottesville, VA, after battling esophageal cancer. He had a Top 40 hit in 1981 with "Say What" and was best known for his songwriting, penning many songs for such top acts as the Everly Brothers, Patti Page, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, and Anne Murray.
He was born James Ridout Winchester on May 17, 1944 at Barksdale Army Air Field near Bossier City, LA. He began playing the guitar in high school, where he received many top academic honors, and continued through college. In 1967, he moved to Canada to avoid the draft and became a Canadian citizen in 1973. He later received amnesty in 1977 and resettled in the U.S. in 2002. He began his career in the late 1960s writing songs that he performed in coffee houses and released his first album in 1970. He had several hits on the Canadian charts throughout the 1970s and also had a minor U.S. hit in 1977 with "Nothing But A Breeze." He had his biggest hit in 1981 with "Say What," which became a Top 40 hit in both the U.S. and Canada.
Winchester was best known as a songwriter, and his works have been performed over the years by many top bands and artists. His most famous songs include "A Showman's Life," "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz," and "Mississippi, You're On My Mind." In 2007, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
Source: Singer/songwriter Jesse Winchester dies
April 12, 2014: Tom Jones To Headline 2014 British Summer Time Festival
Tom Jones will be headlining this year's British Summer Time Festival which takes place on July 13, 2014 at London's Hyde Park. Jones will be joined by 10cc, the Bootleg Beatles, and other acts.
Source: Tom Jones To Headline British Summer Time Festival
April 12, 2014: Lynyrd Skynyrd And Bad Company Announce Summer Co-Headlining Tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Company have announced a summer co-headlining North American tour that begins July 8, 2014 in Rama, Ontario. This tour, which ends on July 25 in Clarkston, MI, will also cover cities in Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
Source: Lynyrd Skynyrd And Bad Company Announce Summer Tour Dates
