August 7, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of July 30, 2017, fans bade a final farewell to soul singer Bobby Taylor and Goldy McJohn of Steppenwolf.
David Crosby announced an East Coast tour beginning in late October in support of his soon-to-be-released album, "Sky Trails."
A previously-unreleased Neil Young album from 1976 titled "Hitchhiker" will be coming out in September. Also due out that month are reissues of The Rolling Stones' 1967 album, "Their Satanic Majesties Request," and ELO's 1977 album, "Out Of The Blue." Coming out in October is a new box set titled "The Who: Maximum As & Bs," a complete collection of singles released by the band spanning five decades.
Also that week, AXS TV announced an upcoming three-day series celebrating Cher's career beginning on August 10, 2017. The Jacksons will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Music Award at the Black Music Honors ceremony to take place on August 18, 2017 in Nashville, which will be taped and later aired in September on syndicated stations and also October 10 on Bounce TV. Also, a new documentary titled "Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars," which will make its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7-17, 2017, will air on Showtime sometime in 2018.
Finally, Patti LaBelle will be honored as this year's BMI Icon at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards to take place in late August. Also, Sister Sledge, Labelle, McFadden & Whitehead, and The Soul Survivors are among those to be inducted this October into the 2017 Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Below is the trailer for the upcoming "Grateful Dead Meet-Up At The Movies 2017" featuring the legendary band in concert performing in front of 40,000 fans in Washington, D.C. This one-night-only showing takes place August 1, 2017.
July 31, 2017: ELO To Reissue 'Out Of The Blue' On Vinyl
A vinyl picture disc reissue of Electric Light Orchestra's 1977 album, "Out Of The Blue," will be coming out on September 29, 2017 to commemorate its 40th anniversary. This album, which reached #4 on the Billboard 200, includes three of the band's Top 40 hits: "Turn To Stone," "Sweet Talkin' Woman," and "Mr. Blue Sky."
July 31, 2017: The Rolling Stones' 'Their Satanic Majesties Request' To Be Reissued
A classic 1967 psychedelic album by The Rolling Stones titled "Their Satanic Majesties Request" is set to be reissued as a deluxe box set on September 22, 2017 in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. Highlights include the Top 40 hit, "She's A Rainbow," and "In Another Land," the only song both written and performed by bassist Bill Wyman.
Source: The Rolling Stones' "Their Satanic Majesties Request" being reissued as deluxe box set in September
August 1, 2017: AXS TV To Air Series Featuring Cher
AXS TV will air a three-day series celebrating Cher's career. This event will begin on August 10, 2017 with a screening of "Moonstruck" for which Cher won an Oscar. The August 23 show will feature an episode of the 2016 series, "Rock Legends," covering Cher's start in show business while in her teens through her rise to fame. The series will conclude on August 24 with a screening of the 1990 movie, "Mermaids," starring Cher as a single mother to two daughters.
Source: AXS TV to celebrate Cher's career with three-day programming event this month
August 1, 2017: The Who To Release Singles Box Set
On October 27, 2017, The Who will release a career-spanning box set of singles beginning with the band's 1964 single, "I'm The Face," through the 2014 song, "Be Lucky." Titled "The Who: Maximum As & Bs," this 86-track collection includes every A-side, B-side, and EP track the band released on the Brunswick, Reaction, Track, and Polydor labels. Also included is a booklet with information about each track, plus photos and other memorabilia.
Source: The Who releasing career-spanning singles box set; Pete Townshend reissuing "Scoop" compilations
August 2, 2017: Patti LaBelle To Be Named BMI Icon At 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
Patti LaBelle will be honored as this year's BMI Icon at the performing rights organization's BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, to take place August 31, 2017 at The Woodruff Arts Center's Symphony Hall in Atlanta. The legendary R&B/soul singer is being honored both for her many achievements over her long career and her charity work.
Source: Patti LaBelle to be honored as a BMI Icon at 2017 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
August 3, 2017: The Jacksons To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award At Black Music Honors Ceremony
The Jacksons will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Music Award at the Black Music Honors ceremony to take place on August 18, 2017 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville. The Jacksons will also perform at this event which will be taped and later aired in September on syndicated stations and also October 10 on Bounce TV.
Source: The Jacksons to receive Lifetime Achievement award at Black Music Honors ceremony this month
August 3, 2017: Soul Singer Bobby Taylor Passes Away
Famed R&B/soul singer Bobby Taylor died in Hong Kong on July 22, 2017 at age 83 after battling cancer. He fronted Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, a group named after the city in which it was founded that had several hits during the late 1960s including "Does Your Mama Know About Me" (1968). Taylor was also the one who discovered Michael Jackson, and he helped sign The Jackson 5 to Motown Records and became the group's first producer.
Source: Bobby Taylor, Soul Singer Who Helped the Jackson 5, Dies - The New York Times
August 3, 2017: Goldy McJohn Of Steppenwolf Passes Away
Famed musician Goldy McJohn died of a heart attack on August 1, 2017 at age 72. He was the original keyboardist for Steppenwolf and played with the band from its founding in 1967 through 1974. Originally trained as a classical pianist, McJohn, who pioneered the use of organ in heavy metal, can be heard on such Steppenwolf hits as "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride." Born John Raymond Goadsby in Toronto, he had been a member of The Mynah Byrds before joining The Sparrows, a band that was fronted by John Kay that went on to become Steppenwolf. After his time with Steppenwolf, McJohn played with Humble Pie and, later on, various bands in the Seattle area.
Source: Founding Steppenwolf keyboardist Goldy McJohn dead at 72
August 3, 2017: New Eric Clapton Documentary To Premiere At Toronto Film Festival
A new documentary titled "Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars" will make its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7-17, 2017, and will air on Showtime in 2018. This upcoming film chronicles the guitar legend's long career from his days with The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Blind Faith through the present.
Source: Eric Clapton Documentary To Premiere At Toronto Film Festival
August 4, 2017: Sister Sledge, Labelle, McFadden & Whitehead Among This Year's Philadelphia Music Walk Of Fame Honorees
Sister Sledge, Labelle, McFadden & Whitehead, and The Soul Survivors are among this year's Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame honorees. The induction ceremony will take place October 4, 2017 along Philly's Avenue of the Arts, and the honorees will also be celebrated at a special gala event at the Fillmore Philadelphia. Patti LaBelle, who will be inducted alongside her Labelle bandmates, was also previously honored as a solo artist in 1990.
Source: Sister Sledge, Labelle, McFadden & Whitehead among the 2017 Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame honorees
August 4, 2017: Neil Young To Issue Previously Unreleased 1976 Album
A previously-unreleased Neil Young album titled "Hitchhiker" will be coming out on September 8, 2017. This 10-track collection, which was recorded live on August 11, 1976 at Indigo Studios in Malibu, CA, features stripped-down versions of various songs that would later appear on other Young albums. For more info, visit neilyoung.com.
Source: Journey Through the Past: Neil Young issuing previously unreleased 1976 studio album
August 4, 2017: David Crosby Announces Tour
David Crosby announced a fall tour in support of his latest album, "Sky Trails," which is due out on September 29, 2017. This upcoming 24-date trek will begin on October 30 in Chicago and end on December 9 in Clearwater, FL, covering many cities on the East Coast. Crosby also recently released two singles from his album: "Sell Me A Diamond" and "She's Got To Be Somewhere."
Source: David Crosby Sets Fall Tour to Support New LP 'Sky Trails'
