February 2, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of January 26, 2014, the world mourned the passing of folk legend-activist Pete Seeger and businesswoman-songwriter Anna Gordy Gaye who was the ex-wife of Marvin Gaye and sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Also that week, it was announced that David Letterman will be hosting a week-long tribute to the Beatles starting February 3, 2014.
This February, a new musical featuring songs by Bob Marley will open at New York City's New Victory Theater. Ringo Starr announced a series of tour dates beginning this June in Ontario, Canada. Motley Crue will be calling it quits after over 30 years following the band's farewell tour this year, with Alice Cooper opening the shows. The tour will kick off in Grand Rapids, MI this July. The Allman Brothers announced that they will stop touring after 2014. The band will be giving several shows this March at New York City’s Beacon Theatre.
This February, a new album by Bobby Vee titled "The Adobe Sessions" is scheduled to be released. This March, Elton John will be re-releasing his classic 1973 album, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," on both CD and vinyl. Also, Christine McVie recently rejoined Fleetwood Mac, and the band is currently working on a new album.
This March, Elton John's Las Vegas show, "The Million Dollar Piano," will be showing in theaters worldwide. Also, a new Jimi Hendrix biopic titled "JIMI: All Is By My Side" will be premiering at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. This May, a 10-part documentary series co-produced by Tom Hanks titled "The Sixties" is set to be shown in its entirety on CNN.
Finally, congratulations go to Todd Rundgren for being honored with the Les Paul Award, and to Peter Frampton, Randy Bachman, Mike Curb, Buddy Guy, Barbara Mandrell, and the other performing artists who were inducted into this year's Musicians Hall Of Fame.
January 28, 2014: Legendary Folk Singer And Activist Pete Seeger Passes Away
Folk legend and activist Pete Seeger died on January 27, 2014 at age 94 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital surrounded by family members. A prolific songwriter who penned a long string of classics that included "If I Had a Hammer," "Turn, Turn, Turn," and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," he was also equally famous for his political views and his cheerful defiance of authority both onstage and off.
Seeger was born in Manhattan to professional classical musicians. He got his start in music as a boy playing the ukulele for his classmates. As a teenager, he heard the five-string banjo for the first time at a folk music festival. He fell in love with the instrument and spent the rest of his teenage years perfecting his technique. He enrolled in Harvard on a scholarship intending to study journalism but became increasingly involved in folk music and politics and dropped out after two years. He began his music career in the late 1930s leading school and college students in folk music sing-alongs, a format he maintained throughout his performing career. His first gig was at the Dalton School in Manhattan where his aunt was the principal.
By the 1940s, Seeger had become a regular on radio stations nationwide. During the 1950s, he had a string of hits with the Weavers that included the group's chart debut song, "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena" (1950), "On Top Of Old Smoky" (1951), "Wimoweh" (1952), and the chart topping "Goodnight, Irene" (1950). The Weavers' recording career was curtailed during the McCarthy Era when some of the group's members were blacklisted, but Seeger re-emerged in the 1960s and became famous for his many protest songs and causes. Seeger helped popularize the spiritual, "We Shall Overcome," which became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.
In a career spanning over 70 years, Seeger was a major influence on countless other activist singer-songwriters, and he amassed a huge following. His many awards and accolades include several Grammys and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as an early influence.
Seeger was married for almost 70 years to filmmaker, producer, and environmental activist Toshi Aline Seeger, who passed away last July. He is survived by his son, Daniel, his daughters, Mika and Tinya, two half-sisters, and eight grandchildren.
Source: Pete Seeger, Champion of Folk Music and Social Change, Dies at 94 - NYTimes.com
January 28, 2014: Alice Cooper To Open Shows For Motley Crue Farewell Tour
Motley Crue will be calling it quits after over 30 years following the band's farewell tour this year, with Alice Cooper opening the shows. The 72-city tour will begin on July 2, 2014 in Grand Rapids, MI and wrap up on November 21 in Vancouver, B.C., with a show on July 21 at the Hollywood Bowl.
Source: Motley Crue to Retire Following Massive Tour | Billboard
January 28, 2014: Ringo Starr Announces Summer Tour Dates
This summer, Ringo Starr will be touring in North America with his All Starr Band starting June 6, 2014 at the Ontario Rama Casino in Ontario, Canada. The tour will wrap up on July 19 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Current members of the famed and ever-changing All Starr Band include Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather of Toto, Richard Page of Mr. Mister, and Gregg Rolie of Santana.
Source: Ringo Starr Sets Summer Tour Dates With His All Starr Band | Music News | Rolling Stone
January 28, 2014: Bob Marley Musical To Open Off-Broadway
This February, a new musical featuring music by the late and great Bob Marley will open at the New Victory Theater in New York City. Titled "Bob Marley's Three Little Birds," it is based on a children's book co-written by Marley's daughter, Cedella Marley. "Three Little Birds," "Jamming," "Roots Rock Reggae," "Is This Love," and "I Shot the Sheriff" are among the Marley songs that will be part of this musical.
Source: Bob Marley musical for kids jammin' in New York
January 28, 2014: Todd Rundgren Honored With Les Paul Award
Todd Rundgren was honored with the Les Paul Award at the 29th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Award show which took place on January 24, 2014 during the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA. Established in 1991, this award is given to those recognized for their excellence in the creative application of audio technology.
Source: Todd Rundgren Honored With Les Paul Award
January 29, 2014: Peter Frampton, Randy Bachman, Mike Curb, Buddy Guy, Barbara Mandrell And Others Inducted Into Musicians Hall Of Fame
Peter Frampton, Randy Bachman, Mike Curb, Buddy Guy, and Barbara Mandrell were among the 12 musicians inducted into this year's Musicians Hall of Fame. The award ceremonies took place on January 28, 2014 in Nashville, TN. Founded in 2006, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum (MHOF) honors all types of performing artists, both famous names and behind-the-scenes session musicians, regardless of instrument or genre.
Source: Musicians Hall of Fame adds 12 members
January 29, 2014: Fleetwood Mac To Record New Album With Christine McVie
After leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1998, former longtime member Christine McVie has recently re-joined the band which is currently making preparations to record a new album. McVie wrote a number of early Fleetwood Mac hits that include "Don't Stop," "Say You Love Me," and "Everywhere."
Source: Fleetwood Mac To Record New Album With Christine McVie
January 30, 2014: Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Album To Be Reissued
On March 25, 2014, Elton John will re-release his classic 1973 album, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," as a deluxe edition on both CD and vinyl. This album will also be released as a box set with a 100-page book and DVD of "Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things," a movie made in 1973 by Bryan Forbes.
Source: Elton John Preps 'Yellow Brick Road' Reissue, Las Vegas Concert Screening - Video | Rolling Stone
January 30, 2014: Bobby Vee To Release New Album
In 2011, Bobby Vee was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and had to retire from performing, but he has recently recorded a new album while battling this disease. Titled "The Adobe Sessions," Vee's latest album, which is set to be released on February 3, 2014, features some of his favorite songs by Ricky Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot, and Townes Van Zandt, plus a cover of "The Man in Me" by the legendary Bob Dylan who got his start many years ago in Vee's band.
Source: Bobby Vee Braves Alzheimer's to Record Once More - ABC News
January 30, 2014: Elton John's 'The Million Dollar Piano' To Be Shown In Theaters Worldwide
Elton John's acclaimed Las Vegas show, "The Million Dollar Piano," will be shown on March 18 and March 26, 2014 at 500 theaters across the nation and 1,200 other theaters worldwide. "The Million Dollar Piano," which debuted in September 2011, features both classic Elton John hits and lesser known songs. Tickets and info on participating theaters are available at both Cinemalive.com and FathomEvents.com.
January 31, 2014: Documentary Series 'The Sixties' Debuts On CNN
Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog recently made a 10-part documentary series titled "The Sixties" which is set to be shown in its entirety this May on CNN. As part of a 50-year anniversary tribute to the Beatles' first visit to the U.S., "The British Invasion" episode was shown on January 30, 2014. This show features early footage of many top British Invasion bands including the Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Zombies, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Dave Clark Five, and the Kinks.
Source: Mick Jagger's Fiery Eyes and 11 More Highlights From 'The Sixties' | Movies News | Rolling Stone
January 31, 2014: Anna Gordy Gaye Passes Away
Businesswoman and songwriter Anna Gordy Gaye died on January 31, 2014 at age 92 in Los Angeles. She was the first wife of Marvin Gaye and older sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy.
The third eldest of eight children, she was born Anna Ruby Gordy in Milledgeville, GA, and moved with her family to Detroit as a child. In the early 1950s, she co-founded with her sister Gwen the photo concession at Detroit's Flame Show Bar. In 1958, she co-founded Anna Records with Gwen and Billy Davis shortly before her brother Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records, later to become a subsidiary of Motown. During its short tenure, Anna Records recorded such future greats as David Ruffin, Joe Tex, and Lamont Dozier (known at the time as Lamont Anthony). Anna Records is best remembered for its national distribution of Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," an oldies classic that became Motown's first national hit on both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts in 1960. Shortly thereafter, Anna Records and its artists were absorbed by Motown. Anna then joined her brother's label as a songwriter and also worked there in a number of other capacities.
Gordy first met future soul legend Marvin Gaye in 1960, and the two wed three years later. Before joining Motown, Gaye had worked as a drummer for Anna Records. Gordy was the inspiration for his early songs, "Pride and Joy" and "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," which he dedicated to her. She co-wrote two songs on Gaye's "What's Going On" album and also co-wrote "Just to Keep You Satisfied" on his "Let's Get It On" album. Their marriage was stormy, and in 1977, the couple divorced acrimoniously. Their tumultuous marriage became the subject of Gaye's 1978 album, "Here, My Dear," and Gordy threatened to file an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. By the early 1980s, Gordy and Gaye reconciled and remained friends until Gaye's death in 1984. She later accepted his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on his behalf.
Anna Gordy Gaye is survived by brothers Berry and Robert, son Marvin Gaye III, and grandsons Marvin IV and Dillon.
Source: Anna Gordy Gaye, Ex-Wife of Marvin Gaye, Dead at 92 | Music News | Rolling Stone
January 31, 2014: Jimi Hendrix Biopic To Premiere In U.S. This March
A new Jimi Hendrix biopic titled "JIMI: All Is By My Side" is among a number of music-related films set to premiere at the SXSW Film Festival which will take place March 7-16, 2014 in Austin, TX. This biopic, which first premiered last September at the Toronto Film Festival, stars Andre Benjamin (a.k.a. Andre 3000, one half of the American hip hop duo, OutKast) as the late guitar legend and focuses on the period 1966-1967 between Hendrix's days as a backup musician up to right before his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Source: Schedule | sxsw.com
January 31, 2014: Allman Brothers To Stop Touring After 2014
Gregg Allman announced that the Allman Brothers will stop touring after 2014 once Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks leave the band. The Allman Brothers are set to give a series of shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre this March. For more info, go to beacontheatre.com.
Source: Allman Brothers To Stop Touring After 2014
January 31, 2014: David Letterman To Take Part In Beatles Tribute
David Letterman will be hosting a week-long tribute to the Beatles starting February 3, 2014. Featured performers will include Sean Lennon, Sting, Flaming Lips, and Broken Bells who will give a show of all-Beatles songs. Letterman will also be interviewing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for the upcoming "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles" which will air February 9 on CBS.
Source: Letterman' Sets Beatles Week With Sting, Flaming Lips, Broken Bells | Billboard
