December 4, 2017 by Amy Gold
During the week of November 26, 2017, fans bade a final farewell to famed and influential soul singer Wayne Cochran who co-wrote the oldies classic, "Last Kiss," as made famous by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers in 1964.
Also that week, Elton John scored his 40th Top 40 album with his latest release, "Diamonds."
Ringo Starr announced his upcoming 2018 tour with his All Starr Band to take place in Europe and Israel beginning next June. Also, The Eagles added seven new show dates to their recently announced 2018 North American tour which begins next March.
Also that week, ABC announced an upcoming TV special titled "The Year In Memoriam 2017" in honor of Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, and other celebrities who recently passed which will air on December 18, 2017. Also, the 60th Grammy Awards will be broadcast live January 28, 2017 on CBS. This year's nominees include Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens, plus the late Gregg Allman, Glen Campbell, and Leonard Cohen.
Finally, Bob Dylan, Gregg Allman, Robert Plant, and Fleetwood Mac members Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie were among those with albums in Rolling Stone's list of 50 best albums for 2017. Also, as part of this year's Billboard Women In Music gala, the magazine compiled four Greatest of All-Time charts for female artists in which several veteran performers made the Top 10, with Barbra Streisand receiving top honors as the all-time #1 female artist on the Billboard 200.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
Below is a recording of "Son Of Rumble," a long-lost instrumental rocker from ca. 1958 by the late guitar great, Link Ray (to be released April 13, 2018 on Easy Eye Sound).
November 26, 2017: Elton John Scores 40th Top 40 Album
Elton John recently scored his 40th Top 40 album. This milestone came with his latest release, "Diamonds," which made its debut on the Billboard 200 at #23 this week.
Source: Elton John Scores 40th Top 40 Album
November 26, 2017: Wayne Cochran Passes Away
Famed and influential soul singer and songwriter Wayne Cochran died on November 21, 2017 at age 78 after battling cancer. He co-wrote the oldies classic, "Last Kiss," as made famous by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers in 1964. As a performer, he had a minor hit in 1965 with his cover of "Harlem Shuffle," and he toured and recorded with the C.C. Riders through the mid 1980s before becoming an evangelist minister in Miami, Florida. Dubbed "The White Knight Of Soul," he was known for his flamboyant on-stage presence and white pompadour.
Source: Wayne Cochran, Influential Soul Singer, Dead at 78 - Rolling Stone
November 27, 2017: Bob Dylan, Gregg Allman In Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums Of 2017 List
This year's list of 50 best albums by Rolling Stone magazine includes releases by a number of oldies bands and artists. Among the top picks is Robert Plant's latest solo album, "Carry Fire," which ranked at #32. Bob Dylan came in at #35 with his third collection of traditional pop standards, "Triplicate." Fleetwood Mac members Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie's self-titled collaborative album ranked at #36, and Gregg Allman's final album, "Southern Blood," came in at #41.
Source: U2, Randy Newman, Robert Plant land on "Rolling Stone" magazine's 50 Best Albums of 2017 list
November 28, 2017: Gregg Allman & More Among This Year's Grammy Nominees
The 60th Grammy Awards will air live January 28, 2017 on CBS. Among this year's nominees are a number of veteran bands and artists that include Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens, plus the late Gregg Allman, Glen Campbell, and Leonard Cohen. For more info, visit Grammy.com.
Source: The late Gregg Allman and Leonard Cohen among artists with multiple Grammy nominations
November 29, 2017: ABC's 'The Year In Memoriam 2017' To Honor Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, & More
An ABC TV special titled "The Year In Memoriam 2017" that pays tribute to the many celebrities who passed away over the past year will premiere on December 18, 2017. Among those to be honored will be musicians Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, and Tom Petty, as well as a number of actors, comedians, and other entertainers. The hour-long show will feature Alice Cooper, Dolly Parton, and other famous guests who will pay homage.
November 30, 2017: The Eagles Add New Show Dates
The Eagles have added seven new show dates to their recently announced 2018 North American tour. The newly-announced concerts will take place beginning March 12 Indianapolis, IN and ending June 20 in New Orleans, LA, also covering St. Louis, MO, Des Moines, IA, and Tulsa, OK, plus Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB, Canada.
Source: The Eagles' 2018 tour to be a longer run than first announced
November 30, 2017: Ringo Starr Announces 2018 Tour
Ringo Starr announced a 2018 tour with his All Starr Band. This upcoming 21-date trek begins on June 6 and ends on July 11, with stops in Israel and many European countries. The All Starr Band will feature some changes in the lineup, with Colin Hay of Men At Work and Graham Gouldman of 10cc to replace Todd Rundgren and Richard Barnes of Mr. Mister.
Source: Ringo Starr announces 2018 All Starr Band tour dates; reveals new lineup
November 30, 2017: Barbra Streisand & More Receive Top Rankings From Billboard
As part of this year's Billboard Women In Music gala, which took place on November 30, 2017 in Los Angeles, the magazine compiled four Greatest of All-Time charts for female artists in which several veteran performers received top rankings. Among those in the top female Hot 100 artist category are The Supremes at #6, Olivia Newton-John at #7, and Aretha Franklin at #8. Top Billboard Hot 100 hits by women that have had the longest runs on that chart to date include Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" at #2 and Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" at #3. Barbra Streisand is the all-time top ranking female performer on the Billboard 200, with 34 Top 10 albums that include 11 chart-toppers since that chart was established in 1963. Top albums by female artists on the Billboard 200 with the longest runs include Carole King's "Tapestry" which ranks at #4.
