November 23, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of November 16, 2014, oldies music fans bade a final farewell to Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin famous for the oldies classic, "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted."
Also that week, Pink Floyd's latest album, "The Endless River," made its debut on the Billboard 200 at #3.
Barry Manilow announced what is expected to be his final tour which is slated for February through June, 2015. The Who's 50th anniversary tour starts at the end of this month and wraps up next June. Also, Cher has been forced to cancel all remaining shows for her "Dressed To Kill" tour due to a viral infection that affected her kidneys.
Bruce Springsteen recently launched a new website where fans can purchase recordings of his albums and some live concerts in various formats. Also, Melissa Manchester will be releasing a new album titled "You Gotta Love The Life" which is due out next February.
Also that week, Mike Love of The Beach Boys announced his upcoming memoir which is expected to be out in 2016. Also, a new documentary titled "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" about the progressive rock band, Kansas, will be coming out next March.
Finally, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Joan Baez were among those honored at the ASCAP Centennial Awards. Also that week, Billy Joel was awarded the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress, and this event will be televised next January on PBS. The Piano Man was also honored at this year's Billboard Touring Awards, along with the Rolling Stones.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Below are excerpts from the upcoming Doors documentary, "Feast Of Friends." Originally shot in the summer of 1968 while on tour, this movie was the first and only one made about The Doors by The Doors.
November 17, 2014: The Who To Wrap Up 50th Anniversary Tour In Hyde Park
The Who will be launching a U.K. leg of their 50th anniversary tour on November 30, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. The final show for this tour will take place on June 26, 2015 in London's Hyde Park. This show will be part of next year's British Summer Time Hyde Park concert series which will also feature a number of other bands and artists. Tickets to the general public go on sale November 20, and pre-sale tickets can be purchased by members of The Who Fan Club.
Source: The Who Schedules Final UK Show of 50th Anniversary Tour in London's Hyde Park Next June
November 18, 2014: Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Joan Baez Honored At ASCAP Centennial Awards
On November 17, 2014, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Joan Baez were among those honored at the ASCAP Centennial Awards. The ceremonies took place at New York's Waldorf Astoria. Motown founder Barry Gordy and others paid tribute to Wonder, and Emmylou Harris gave a performance in honor of Joan Baez.
November 18, 2014: Bruce Springsteen Offers Downloads For Past Concerts
Bruce Springsteen recently launched live.brucespringsteen.net where fans can purchase recordings of various live concerts on CD, MP3, and other formats. Current offerings include a performance of "Born To Run" from a concert in New Zealand, a show from the 2012 Wrecking Ball tour, and most shows from the 2014 High Hopes Tour. This website also offers high quality digital downloads of every album in Springsteen's extensive catalog.
Source: Bruce Springsteen Launches Archival Concert Download Service
November 19, 2014: New Kansas Documentary To Be Released
A new documentary about the progressive rock band, Kansas, will be coming out next March. Titled "Miracles Out Of Nowhere," this film covers the band's founding in Topeka, KS and its rise to fame in the 1970s, and it also includes interviews of past band members.
Source: New Kansas Documentary DVD/CD Set, "Miracles Out of Nowhere," Being Released This March
November 19, 2014: Melissa Manchester To Release New Album
On February 10, 2015, Melissa Manchester will be releasing a new album titled "You Gotta Love The Life." Among those featured on this 14-track album are Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and various big name jazz artists that include Al Jarreau. Highlights include a cover of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" which is currently available as a free download from MelissaManchester.com.
November 19, 2014: Barry Manilow Announces 2015 Tour
Barry Manilow announced his upcoming 2015 tour, which he is expecting will be his final one. Dubbed "One Last Time," this trek begins on February 11, 2015 in Omaha, NE, and ends in Brooklyn on his birthday, June 17. Tickets start at an astounding low (by today's standards) $19.75 and go on sale starting November 24, 2014. American Express card holders can purchase tickets starting now.
Source: Barry Manilow Announces "One Last Time" Tour, Tickets Start at $19.75
November 19, 2014: Latest Pink Floyd Album Debuts At #3 On Billboard 200
Based on sales figures for the week ending November 16, 2014, Pink Floyd's latest album, "The Endless River," made its debut on the Billboard 200 this week at #3, making it the band's 10th album to reach the Top 10 for this chart. "The Endless River" also topped the U.K. charts earlier this week.
Source: Taylor Swift's '1989' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200 | Billboard
November 19, 2014: Jimmy Ruffin Passes Away
Legendary soul singer Jimmy Ruffin died on November 17, 2014 at age 78 in a Las Vegas hospital. He was a top Motown artist best remembered for such oldies classics as "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" (1966), which became his signature song. He was the older brother of the late David Ruffin who had been one of the lead singers for The Temptations.
Source: Jimmy Ruffin Dead: Soul Singer Dies at 78 | Rolling Stone
November 20, 2014: Mike Love To Publish Memoir
Mike Love of The Beach Boys announced a new memoir which is expected to be out in 2016. Tentatively titled "Good Vibration: My Life As A Beach Boy," this upcoming book covers Love's life since his early childhood, the founding of The Beach Boys, the band's rise to fame in the 1960s, and the band's trials and tribulations over the years.
Source: Beach Boy Mike Love to Publish Memoir in 2016
November 20, 2014: Cher Cancels Remaining Tour Dates
Cher has been forced to cancel all remaining shows for her "Dressed To Kill" tour on doctor's orders. These shows were scheduled through February, 2015, and were to take place in 22 cities in the U.S. and Canada, including Boston, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. Cher began her tour last March and had given 49 concerts before taking time off in July. Last September, just before she was about to resume her tour, she contracted a viral infection that affected her kidneys.
Source: Cher Cancels Remaining 'Dressed to Kill' Concert Dates | Billboard
November 20, 2014: Billy Joel Awarded Gershwin Prize From Library of Congress
On November 19, 2014, Billy Joel was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a tribute concert that took place in Washington, DC. The Piano Man was serenaded by Tony Bennett and many other top musicians, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor presented the award. This event will be televised January 2, 2015 on PBS.
Source: Billy Joel Receives Gershwin Prize From Library of Congress | Billboard
November 20, 2014: Rolling Stones, Billy Joel Receive Billboard Touring Awards
The Rolling Stones and Billy Joel were among those honored at the 11th Annual Billboard Touring Awards which took place on November 20, 2014 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. The Rolling Stones were awarded the Top Boxscore prize for a three-show gig at Japan's Tokyo Dome in late February-early March, 2014. For the second year in a row, Citi and MAC Presents received the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award for their part in Billy Joel's extended residency at New York's Madison Square Garden. Kool & the Gang also entertained the attendees with performances of many of their classic hits from the 1970s.
Source: One Direction, Lionel Richie & Katy Perry Win at Billboard Touring Awards | Billboard
