July 27, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of July 20, 2014, the Library of Congress announced that Billy Joel will be awarded this year's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Also that week, it was announced that a long-shelved album from the early 1960s by Sam Cooke's younger brother, soul-gospel singer L.C. Cooke, will be released later this month. (See below for a recent radio interview with Cooke.)
Peter Frampton announced more new show dates for the remainder of 2014. This year's Farm Aid annual benefit concert will take place in September in Raleigh, NC, with Neil Young and Willie Nelson among the featured artists. Also that month, the third annual Rock 'n' Blues Fest kicks off in Clarkston, MI, with featured performers that include Edgar Winter, Vanilla Fudge, Rick Derringer, and former Rare Earth drummer and lead vocalist, Peter Rivera.
A new reality show featuring KISS band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, titled "4th And Loud," premieres August 12, 2014 on AMC. KISS is also among the featured performers in the upcoming 2014 Fashion Rocks concert, to be held on September 9 and broadcast live on CBS. On August 16, Kenny Rogers will be giving an interview at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame which will be streamed live at CountryMusicHallofFame.org/streaming. Also, the new Brian Wilson biopic, "Love & Mercy," will be making its world premiere sometime this September at the Toronto International Film Festival.
A new Elton John biopic, "Rocketman," starring Tom Hardy in the title role, is currently in the making. This upcoming movie will cover both high and low points in Elton John's life and draw from the famed singer's personal diaries.
Finally, the first-ever auction at Graceland of Elvis Presley memorabilia will be held this August. Featured items include Presley's personal copy of the script from "Love Me Tender" and a rare signed library card.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Radio interview of L.C. Cooke by Charles Hightower (September 21, 2013):
July 20, 2014: Long-Shelved Album By L.C. Cooke To Be Released
An album of songs recorded from the late 1950s through early 1960s by Sam Cooke's younger brother, soul-gospel singer L.C. Cooke, will be coming out on July 29, 2014. Titled "The Complete SAR Records Recordings," this upcoming album includes all songs recorded by Cooke on his late brother's label, SAR Records, plus two songs recorded in 1959 for Checker Records, one song for the Destination in 1965, and other previously unreleased material. Most of these songs were first released as singles, and plans were made in the early 1960s to release an album, but the project got shelved after Sam Cooke's unexpected and untimely death in December, 1964.
Source: Long-Shelved Album by Sam Cooke's Brother to Be Released Later This Month
July 20, 2014: KISS Reality TV Series To Premiere On AMC
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS will be featured in an upcoming reality TV show series, "4th And Loud," which takes a behind-the-scenes look at LA KISS, a new Los Angeles-area Arena Football League team recently purchased by the band. This show premieres August 12, 2014 on AMC.
Source: AMC Reality Series About KISS Members' Arena Football Team Premiering August 12
July 22, 2014: Brian Wilson Biopic To Premiere At Toronto International Film Festival
The new Brian Wilson biopic, "Love & Mercy," will be making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 4-14, 2014. This movie, in which Paul Dano and John Cusack play a younger and older Wilson, respectively, is set in the late 1980s and focuses on Wilson's seminal work with the Beach Boys, his decades-long struggle with mental health issues and substance abuse, and the happiness he found after meeting his current wife, Melinda.
Source: Brian Wilson Biopic to Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival | Billboard
July 22, 2014: Billy Joel To Receive This Year's Library Of Congress' Gershwin Prize
The Library of Congress announced that Billy Joel will be this year's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Created in 2007, this prestigious award is given to a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music. The award ceremonies will take place this November in Washington, D.C., and the Piano Man will also be honored with a luncheon and musical performance.
Source: Billy Joel to Receive Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize
July 23, 2014: Edgar Winter To Pay Tribute To Late Brother Johnny During Upcoming Tour
On July 31, 2014, the third annual Rock 'n' Blues Fest kicks off at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI. Johnny Winter, who passed away unexpectedly last week, was supposed to headline this upcoming event which will now serve to pay tribute to the late and great blues guitarist. Featured performers will include brother Edgar Winter, Vanilla Fudge, Rick Derringer, Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds, and former Rare Earth drummer and lead vocalist, Peter Rivera.
Source: Edgar Winter Pays Tribute to Johnny: 'My Greatest Musical Hero'
July 24, 2014: Elton John Biopic In The Making
A new Elton John biopic, "Rocketman," starring Tom Hardy in the title role, is currently in the making. Written by Lee Hall, this upcoming movie will cover both high and low points in Elton John's life and draw from the famed singer's personal diaries during his time in rehab battling drug addiction. Filming is scheduled to begin sometime later this year.
Source: BBC News - Sir Elton John film is from 'birth to rehab' says writer
July 24, 2014: KISS Among Featured Performers At 2014 Fashion Rocks Concert
KISS and Duran Duran are among the featured performers at this year's Fashion Rocks concert, to be hosted by Ryan Seacrest. This event, which takes place on September 9, 2014 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, will air live on CBS at 9 PM ET.
Source: KISS and Duran Duran Among Stars Performing at 2014 Fashion Rocks Bash in September
July 24, 2014: Neil Young, Willie Nelson To Headline Farm Aid
Farm Aid, a benefit concert which has been held almost every year in different locations since 1985, will take place this year in Raleigh, NC at the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on September 13. Featured artists will include Neil Young and Willie Nelson, who are both members of the Farm Aid board. Tickets to this event go on sale August 1.
Source: Jack White, Neil Young, Willie Nelson to Headline Farm Aid
July 24, 2014: Graceland To Hold First-Ever Auction At Graceland
On August 14, 2014, the first-ever auction at Graceland of Elvis Presley memorabilia will be held. Bidders will be able to participate both online and at Graceland starting at 8:00 PM ET. Among the items to be offered are a Martin D-28 guitar, a 1977 Cadillac Seville, the King's personal copy of the script from his first film, "Love Me Tender," and a rare signed library card.
Source: Elvis Presley's Guitar, Library Card for Sale at Graceland Auction
July 25, 2014: Peter Frampton Adds More 2014 Show Dates
Peter Frampton has added a new series of show dates that begin on July 30, 2014 in Sterling Heights, MI and run through August 19 in Sandy, UT. These shows will be followed by a new installment of his Guitar Circus concerts that begin on August 21 in Jacksonville, FL and end on August 31 in Tucson, AZ, where he will be accompanied by various guest artists that include Buddy Guy. Frampton will also be headlining over a dozen shows starting September 14 in Telluride, CO and ending October 5 in Hollywood, FL.
Source: Peter Frampton Expands 2014 Tour, Adds New Special Guests to His Guitar Circus Dates
July 25, 2014: Kenny Rogers To Give Interview At Nashville's Country Music Hall Of Fame
On August 16, 2014, Kenny Rogers will be interviewed by the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in celebration of the new "Kenny Rogers: Through the Years" exhibit which will run from August 15, 2014-June 14, 2015. For those who cannot attend, this interview will be streamed live at 3:30 PM ET at CountryMusicHallofFame.org/streaming.
Source: Kenny Rogers Giving In-Depth Interview at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame Next Month
