July 3, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of June 25, 2017, fans bade a final farewell to Gary DeCarlo of Steam famous for the 1969 smash hit, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."
John Fogerty announced an extension of his residency at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Casino's Encore Theater through January 2018, with two new series of shows lined up beginning in late September.
A new compilation titled "The Doors: The Singles" will be coming out in September in commemoration of the band's 50th anniversary. Also coming out that month on DVD is "Change Begins Within," a video that captures a 2009 benefit concert featuring a rare onstage reunion of ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Also that week, it was announced that a Grateful Dead concert film from 1989 will be shown at theaters across the country on August 1, 2017 as part of this year's Grateful Dead Meet-Up At The Movies. "The End Of The End," a documentary that captures Black Sabbath's final concert, will be shown at theaters worldwide on September 28.
Finally, Graham Nash will be honored with this year's Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony to take place in September.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Sam Moore of Sam & Dave gives a rousing performance of "Show For You," the new theme for the upcoming 2017 Department of Defense Warrior Games (to take place June 30-July 8, 2017 in Chicago).
June 25, 2017: Graham Nash To Receive Americana Lifetime Achievement Award
Graham Nash will be honored with this year's Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee will receive the Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award, co-presented by the First Amendment Center. The awards ceremonies will take place September 13, 2017 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium as a part of the 2017 Americana Music Festival. As previously announced, Van Morrison will be receiving the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at this event as well.
Source: Graham Nash To Receive Americana Lifetime Achievement Award
June 26, 2017: DVD Of 2009 Onstage Paul & Ringo Reunion To Be Released
A 2009 benefit concert featuring a rare onstage reunion of ex-Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be coming out September 1, 2017 on DVD and as a digital video. Titled "Change Begins Within," this concert took place on April 4, 2009 at NYC's Radio City Music Hall in which McCartney and Starr performed both separately and together. Donovan and Betty LaVette were also among the many featured performers at this event.
Source: DVD documenting 2009 concert where Paul & Ringo reunited coming in September
June 28, 2017: Black Sabbath Final Concert Documentary To Be Shown In Theaters
Black Sabbath's final concert, which took place on February 4, 2017 in Birmingham, England, is captured in the upcoming documentary, "The End Of The End." This concert film will be shown at over 1,500 theaters worldwide on September 28, 2017 for one night only. For more info, visit blacksabbathfilmtickets.com.
Source: Black Sabbath Document Final Concert With 'The End of the End' Film - Rolling Stone
June 28, 2017: John Fogerty Announces New Las Vegas Show Dates
John Fogerty announced an extension of his residency at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Casino's Encore Theater through January 2018. Two new series of shows have been lined up for September 20-October 7, 2017 and January 10-20, 2018. In addition, the former CCR frontman has several other U.S. concerts scheduled beginning July 14, 2017 in Aurora, IL. He is currently on tour in Europe.
Source: Rolling in the desert: John Fogerty schedules new Las Vegas dates in the fall and winter
June 28, 2017: Doors Singles Compilation To Be Released
A new compilation titled "The Doors: The Singles" will be coming out on September 15, 2017 in commemoration of the band's 50th anniversary. This collection includes all The Doors singles and their B-sides recorded between 1967-1971, plus several songs released after Jim Morrison's passing in 1971.
Source: Singles collection celebrating The Doors' 50th anniversary on the way
June 29, 2017: Gary DeCarlo Of Steam Passes Away
Famed singer and songwriter Gary DeCarlo died on June 28, 2017 at age 75 after battling lung cancer. With fellow studio musicians Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka, DeCarlo co-wrote and performed the 1969 Steam smash hit, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." This oldies classic is a longtime sports arena fixture that is often chanted as a taunt by fans of the winning team directed to the losing side.
Steam's complicated history began in the early 1960s with a short-lived Bridgeport, CT-based doo-wop group first known as The Glenwoods (then as The Citations, and finally as The Chateaus) whose members included DeCarlo, Frashuer, and Leka. After the group disbanded, the three continued to work together over the remainder of the 1960s on various projects. In 1968, DeCarlo recorded (under the name Garrett Scott) four songs at Mercury Records with Leka as producer, all of which were slated for the A-side. In need of a B-side, DeCarlo, Frashuer, and Leka came together again and, with DeCarlo as the lead vocalist, recorded a reworked version of a song they had written during their days as The Glenwoods originally titled "Kiss Him Goodbye." Upon its release in late 1969, the final version, renamed "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," was credited to Steam, although no such band officially existed at that time by that name. When this song unexpectedly topped the charts, Mercury assembled a different group of musicians to perform as Steam, and a self-titled album was released in 1970.
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" has been covered by many bands and artists over the years, and this song has also been featured in a number of movies, TV shows, and commercials. DeCarlo later included a new version on his 2014 album, "Long Time Comin."
Source: Steam singer Gary DeCarlo reportedly dead at 75; gained fame with "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"
June 29, 2017: Grateful Dead Concert Film To Be Screened In Theaters
Grateful Dead Meet-Up At The Movies 2017 will be offering a special event on August 1, 2017 for one night only at over 450 theaters across the country. This year's offering is a previously unreleased concert the band gave at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 1989. The set list included such old familiar concert favorites as "Sugaree," "Touch Of Grey," and "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)."
Source: Grateful Dead and fans Meet-Up at the Movies again
