September 21, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of September 14, 2014, the world bade a final farewell to country legend George Hamilton IV famous for his signature song, "Abilene."
Also, it was announced that during the week of September 22, the late and great George Harrison will be the main featured topic on the late-night TBS TV talk show, "Conan." On each week night except for Friday, various bands and artists that include Paul Simon will perform songs by Harrison.
Darlene Love, Tommy James, and Alice Cooper are among those who will be performing at this year's Little Kid's Rock benefit which takes place this October in New York City. Bruce Springsteen is set to perform at this year's "Stand Up For Heroes" benefit which takes place this November, also in NYC. Gordon Lightfoot recently launched a tour where he will be covering various states in the Western U.S. before touring his native Canada. Also, Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) will soon be launching a tour in North America, his first one in 35 years. He is also set to release a new album next month titled "Tell 'Em I'm Gone."
Later this month, Aretha Franklin will be releasing a new album of covers by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Adele, and Alicia Keys. She will also be appearing on "Late Show With David Letterman" on September 29 and the "Today" show on October 3. This November, Johnny Mathis will be releasing a box set titled "The Complete Global Albums Collection" that includes all 10 albums he recorded from 1963-1967 for Mercury Records. Also that month, Marianne Faithfull is set to release a new album titled "Give My Love To London." A long-lost duet by Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury from 1981 is one of the main highlights of the upcoming "Queen Forever" album which is also due out this November.
Also that week, it was announced that a never-before-released documentary made in 1968 about the Doors titled "Feast of Friends" will be coming out this November on DVD and Blu-ray. Gregg Allman will be receiving the Living Legend Award from the U.K.-based Classic Rock magazine. Also, The Band is among those to be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Finally, September 23 was named as "David Bowie Day" in Chicago by Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of the windy city.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Below is an excerpt from Barbra Streisand's September 15, 2014 appearance on Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show":
September 14, 2014: Johnny Mathis Box Set To Be Released
On November 17, 2014, a new Johnny Mathis box set is scheduled for release. Titled "The Complete Global Albums Collection," this massive 13-CD collection includes all 10 albums Mathis recorded from 1963-1967 for Mercury Records, many of which he produced, plus some previously unreleased show tunes, non-album singles, and other rare recordings.
Source: New Johnny Mathis Box Set Featuring Crooner's Entire Global Imprint Catalog Due Out in November
September 15, 2014: Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) To Tour North America And Release New Album
For the first time in 35 years, the famed singer-songwriter formerly known as Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) will be launching a tour of North America. Dubbed "The Peace Train ... Late Again," this tour begins on December 1, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario. Other tour stops include New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The recently-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will also be releasing a new album titled "Tell 'Em I'm Gone," co-produced by Stevens on his Legacy Recordings label, which is due out on October 27.
Source: The Former Cat Stevens to Release New Music; Will Embark on First North American Tour in 35 Years
September 15, 2014: Darlene Love, Tommy James, Alice Cooper To Perform At 2014 Little Kids Rock Gala
Darlene Love, Tommy James, and Alice Cooper are among those who will be performing at this year's Little Kid's Rock benefit. This fundraising event, produced by Steven Van Zandt and his wife, will be held on October 23, 2014 in New York City at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The guest of honor will be Joan Jett who will be presented with the Rocker of the Year award.
Source: Darlene Love, Tommy James, Alice Cooper Among Stars Performing at 2014 Little Kids Rock Gala
September 15, 2014: 'George Harrison Week' To Air On TBS's 'Conan'
During the week of September 22, 2014, the late and great George Harrison will be the main featured topic on the late-night TBS TV talk show, "Conan." On each week night except for Friday, various bands and artists that include Norah Jones, Beck, and Harrison's son Dhani will perform songs by George Harrison. This week-long event begins on the same day his box set, "The Apple Years: 1968-75," is scheduled to be released.
Source: George Harrison Week Headed to 'Conan'
September 15, 2014: Doors Documentary From 1968 To Be Released
A never-before-released documentary about the Doors made during the band's 1968 summer tour, titled "Feast of Friends," is due out on November 11, 2014 on DVD and Blu-ray. This 46-year-old film, originally produced by the Doors themselves, is an unfinished work that was cut short after Morrison's arrest in Miami for indecent exposure during a concert. It has been remastered for release, and it also includes additional footage from the original film and elsewhere, as well as other bonus features.
Source: The Doors' 'Feast of Friends' Doc to Come Out This Fall
September 16, 2014: Bruce Springsteen To Perform At 'Stand Up For Heroes' Benefit
Bruce Springsteen is among those who will be performing at this year's "Stand Up For Heroes" benefit, an annual music and comedy show that raises money for wounded veterans and their families. This year's show takes place on November 5, 2014 at New York’s Theater at Madison Square Garden. Springsteen has played in every show since its founding in 2007.
Source: Bruce Springsteen to Headline 'Stand Up for Heroes'
September 17, 2014: September 23 Named 'David Bowie Day' In Chicago
September 23 was recently named as "David Bowie Day" in Chicago by Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of the famous windy city. This announcement coincides with a retrospective exhibit of David Bowie memorabilia (titled "David Bowie Is ...") which is set to open on that day at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. A documentary about this exhibit will also be showing that day at theaters across the nation.
Source: Fame: 'David Bowie Day' Is September 23rd in Chicago | Rolling Stone
September 17, 2014: The Band To Be Inducted Into Canada's Walk Of Fame
On October 18, 2014, The Band, the legendary Canadian-American rock group who famously collaborated with Bob Dylan during the late 1960s-mid 1970s, is among those to be inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. A tribute show will take place on September 19, and this event will be televised on December 19 in Canada on Global Television.
Source: Canada's Walk of Fame to Honor The Band
September 17, 2014: Aretha Franklin To Release New Album Of Covers
On September 30, 2014, Aretha Franklin will be releasing a new album of covers. Tentatively titled "Aretha Franklin Sings Songs Of The Great Divas," this collection includes Franklin's version of songs by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Adele, and Alicia Keys. The Queen of Soul will be appearing on "Late Show With David Letterman" on September 29 to discuss this album and perform Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," one of this album's tracks. Franklin is also set to appear on the "Today" show on October 3.
Source: Aretha Franklin Album Coming This Month | Billboard
September 18, 2014: Country Legend George Hamilton IV Passes Away
Country legend George Hamilton IV died on September 17, 2014 at age 77 in a Nashville hospital following a heart attack the previous week. He is famous for his many country hits that include his signature song, "Abilene."
He was born George Hege Hamilton IV in Winston-Salem, NC. He began his music career as a teen idol, scoring his first hit at age 19 with "A Rose And A Baby Ruth" which became a Top 10 pop hit in 1956. This was followed by a string of mostly pop hits through the early 1960s that also included "Why Don't They Understand" (1958) and "The Teen Commandments" (1959) before he switched to country in the early 1960s. In 1960, he joined the Grand Ole Opry and began recording for RCA. That same year, he scored his first hit on the Country charts with "Before This Day Ends" which was followed by a long string of hits through 1978 that also included "Three Steps To The Phone (Millions Of Miles)" (1961), "If You Don't Know I Ain't Gonna Tell You" (1962), "Fort Worth, Dallas Or Houston" (1964), "Early Morning Rain" (1966), "Urge For Going" (1967), "Break My Mind" (1967), "She's A Little Bit Country" (1970), and his most famous song, "Abilene," which topped the Country charts in 1963 and also became a pop hit.
Known widely as the "International Ambassador of Country Music," Hamilton toured and recorded extensively over the years, and he amassed a large worldwide following. He became extremely popular in Canada and hosted a number of TV shows in that country during the 1970s. He was also the first country singer to perform behind the Iron Curtain.
Besides his longtime membership in the Grand Ole Opry, Hamilton's many other honors and accolades also included being inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010. His survivors include a son, country singer George Hamilton V, with whom he had toured for many years.
Source: George Hamilton IV Dead: Country Legend Dies From Heart Attack at 77 | Rolling Stone
September 18, 2014: Marianne Faithfull To Release New Album
On November 11, 2014, Marianne Faithfull will be releasing a new album titled "Give My Love To London." This album features musical and production contributions from a variety of top musicians that include Brian Eno and Roger Waters, with the lyrics to each track all written by Faithfull.
Source: Marianne Faithfull Readies All-Star 'Give My Love to London'
September 18, 2014: Gregg Allman To Receive Living Legend Award From Classic Rock Magazine
The U.K.-based Classic Rock magazine named Gregg Allman as this year's recipient of its Living Legend Award. The ceremonies are set to take place on November 4, 2014 at The Avalon in Hollywood, making this the first time they have taken place outside of London.
Source: Gregg Allman to Receive "Classic Rock" Magazine's Living Legend Award Rock
September 19, 2014: Gordon Lightfoot Launches Tour
Gordon Lightfoot announced a tour that kicks off on September 19, 2014 in West Wendover, NV. This trek, which runs through October 4, will cover many states in the Western U.S., and then Lightfoot will tour his native Canada through the end of November before returning to the U.S. next February.
Source: Gordon Lightfoot Kicks Off New US Tour Tonight; Says His Performances Are "at a New Height"
September 19, 2014: Long Lost Freddie Mercury-Michael Jackson Duet Resurfaces
In 1981, Michael Jackson and Queen's Freddie Mercury recorded a duet titled "There Must Be More To Life Than This," but it had never been released. This long-lost song is included on the upcoming Queen album, "Queen Forever," which is due out on November 10, 2014. This 20-track album also includes two other rarities, both from 1984: "Love Kills," from the soundtrack to the 1984 restored version of the 1927 sci-fi film, "Metropolis," and "Let Me In Your Heart Again," an unfinished song from the Queen album, "The Works."
Source: "Queen Forever" to Include Freddie Mercury-Michael Jackson Duet
September 19, 2014: Paul Simon To Perform On 'Conan' During 'George Harrison Week'
It was announced that Paul Simon will be performing a song by George Harrison on September 25, 2014 on the late-night TBS TV talk show, "Conan." Simon is one of a number of bands and artists who will be paying tribute to Harrison as part of "George Harrison Week" which takes place on "Conan" the week of September 22.
Source: Paul Simon Added to Performers for George Harrison Week on "Conan"
