December 15, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of December 7, 2014, Al Green was among those to receive this year's Kennedy Center Honors. Following the award ceremonies, a show hosted by Stephen Colbert in honor of the award recipients took place at the Kennedy Center. This event will be broadcast on December 30 on CBS. (Also see below for a recent video of Al Green on the Late Show with Dave Letterman.)
Also that week, Graham Nash announced a series of shows in Florida that begins next January. Carlos Santana will be extending his Corazon tour into 2015 and has announced a series of upcoming shows that kicks off next March. The Moody Blues will be launching a tour next spring that also begins next March. Also, the Doobie Brothers will be performing at the 2015 Lockn' Music Festival in Arlington, VA next September.
A massive collection of singles from the famed Stax/Volt label that originally came out during the late 1960s-early 1970s will soon be released digitally for the first time as two box sets, with the first volume due out later this month. Bob Dylan will be releasing an album titled "Shadows In The Night" of pop classics covers next February. Also, a new documentary titled "A Man For All Seasons: Jeff Beck In The 1960s" about the famed guitarist will be coming out that same month.
Also that week, Aretha Franklin was honored by Billboard Magazine with its Icon Of The Year award. Jimmy Page was named Rock God Of The Year by GQ Magazine. The Eagles made the #3 spot in Forbes’ list of highest-paid musicians for 2014. Also, the Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd made the Top 10 in TouchTunes' list of most frequently-played bands and artists for 2014 on jukeboxes nationwide.
Finally, Rick Springfield will be joining the 2nd season of HBO's "True Detective" which premieres next summer.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
See Al Green perform "Tired Of Being Alone/Let's Stay Together" on the Late Show With Dave Letterman (December 9, 2014).
December 8, 2014: Al Green Receives Kennedy Center Honors
On December 7, 2014, Al Green and Sting were among those to receive this year's prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. President Barack Obama presented the ceremonial ribbons to the honorees at the White House. This was followed by a show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosted by Stephen Colbert. The show will be broadcast on December 30 on CBS.
Source: Kennedy Center Honors In Photos: Tom Hanks, Sting, Al Green Among Those Honored By President Obama
December 8, 2014: Doobie Brothers To Perform At Lockn' Music Festival
The Doobie Brothers will be performing at next year's Lockn' Music Festival along with the String Cheese Incident. This event is set to take place September 10-13, 2015 in Arlington, VA.
Source: Doobie Brothers To Perform At Lockn' Music Festival
December 9, 2014: Bob Dylan To Release Pop Classics Covers Album
On February 3, 2015, Bob Dylan will be releasing an album of covers of pop classics made famous by Frank Sinatra. This upcoming album, titled "Shadows In The Night," features Dylan's rendition of ten pop classics, including "Some Enchanted Evening," "Autumn Leaves," and "That Lucky Old Sun."
Source: Bob Dylan Will 'Uncover' Frank Sinatra Classics on New Album
December 9, 2014: Stax/Volt To Issue Complete Singles Digitally
A massive collection of singles from the famed Stax/Volt label that originally came out during the late 1960s-early 1970s will soon be released digitally for the first time in two volumes. The last box set of Stax/Volt singles, Vol. 1 ("The Complete Stax/Volt Singles: 1959 - 1968") came out in 1991, and the upcoming box sets will pick up from where this one left off. The first new box set to be released, Vol. 2, is due out on December 16, 2014, and it will include all singles originally released from 1968-1971. The next box set after that, Vol. 3, which will cover 1972-1975, is expected out sometime this spring. These collections feature songs by such greats as the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas, Jean Knight, Shirley Brown, and Albert King.
Source: Stax/Volt to Issue Complete Singles Digitally for First Time
December 9, 2014: Santana Extends Corazon Tour Into 2015
Carlos Santana will be extending his Corazon tour into 2015 and has announced a series of upcoming shows that kicks off on March 8, 2015 in St. Petersburg, FL. This trek, which runs through March 19 in Corpus Christi, TX, will also cover various other cities in Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Afterwards, Santana will give three concerts in Mexico starting March 21 in Monterrey.
Source: Santana Extends Corazon Tour into 2015; Lines Up Mexico Shows with Journey
December 9, 2014: Graham Nash Announces Florida Tour Dates
Graham Nash announced a series of six shows in Florida that begins on January 12, 2015 in Clearwater and ends on January 18 in Santa Rosa Beach at the 30A Songwriters Festival. This festival, which starts on January 16, will also feature many other artists including Leon Russell, Craig Fuller of Pure Prairie League, and Rusty Young of Poco.
Source: Graham Nash Lines Up January Tour Dates in Florida
December 10, 2014: Moody Blues Announce Spring 2015 Tour
The Moody Blues will be launching a tour next spring in support of their recently released box set, "The Polydor Years 1986-1992." This 27-date trek will begin on March 19, 2015 in Worcester, MA and end on May 10 in Denver, CO and cover various other cities in North America, including Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Source: Moody Blues Announce Spring 2015 North American Tour
December 10, 2014: Jimmy Page Named GQ Magazine's Rock God Of The Year
Former Led Zeppelin guitarist and band leader Jimmy Page was recently named Rock God Of The Year by GQ Magazine as part of its yearly Men Of The Year list. Page was also interviewed at length by GQ in which he discussed his work with Led Zeppelin and other career milestones.
Source: Jimmy Page Honored as "GQ" Magazine's Rock God of the Year
December 10, 2014: Eagles Among Top Ranking Bands In Forbes' 2014 List Of Highest-Paid Musicians
The Eagles rank at #3 in Forbes’ list of highest-paid musicians for 2014 with earnings of an astounding $100 million due in large part to the band's recent "History Of The Eagles" tour. Other oldies bands and artists with high rankings are Bon Jovi at #4, Bruce Springsteen at #5, Paul McCartney at #8, the Rolling Stones at #19, Roger Waters at #20, and Elton John at #21. Dr. Dre topped this list at $620 million, followed by Beyonce at $115 million.
Source: The Eagles Soar on "Forbes" Magazine's 2014 List of Highest-Paid Musicians
December 11, 2014: New Jeff Beck Documentary To Be Released
On February 10, 2015, a new documentary about famed guitarist Jeff Beck will be coming out. This film, titled " A Man For All Seasons: Jeff Beck In The 1960s," covers Beck's career from his time with the Yardbirds through his appearance with Kelly Clarkson on American Idol in 2007. Highlights include interviews with ex-Yardbird members and commentary by former rock and roll groupie Pamela Des Barres.
Source: Jeff Beck Documentary Previewed Online
December 11, 2014: Rick Springfield Returns To Television
Rick Springfield will be joining the 2nd season of HBO's "True Detective" which will premiere sometime during the summer of 2015. The singer famous for the 1981 smash hit, "Jessie's Girl," also has a long list of acting credits that include his best-known role as Dr. Noah Drake on "General Hospital."
Source: Rick Springfield Joins Cast of "True Detective"
December 12, 2014: Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd Among Most Played Jukebox Bands In 2014
TouchTunes just came out with its list of most frequently-played bands and artists for 2014 as obtained from 60,000+ jukeboxes nationwide. Several oldies and classic rock bands made the Top 10, with Lynyrd Skynyrd ranking at #5 and the Rolling Stones at #8.
Source: AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Metallica Among Most Played Jukebox Artists of 2014
December 12, 2014: Aretha Franklin Receives Billboard Icon Of The Year Award
On December 12, 2014, Aretha Franklin was honored by Billboard Magazine with its Icon Of The Year award at the 2014 Billboard Women in Music event. The award ceremonies took place in New York City where Franklin was introduced by her longtime collaborator, Clive Davis. Stevie Wonder also paid his respects to Franklin by sending in a video of him performing a congratulatory song set to the melody of "My Cherie Amour." The Queen of Soul also performed "Happy Birthday" for Taylor Swift, one of the event's other honorees, who turns 25 on December 13.
Source: Stevie Wonder & Clive Davis Honor Aretha Franklin as Women in Music's Icon of the Year | Billboard
