Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of April 7, 2019

April 15, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of April 7, 2019, Diana Ross made pop music history with her new remix track, "The Boss 2019," which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and set a record by becoming her fourth chart-topping remix in a row. The original version of this disco classic also topped that same chart almost 40 years ago.

Also that week, ASCAP announced that Jeff Lynne, the frontman for the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), will be honored with its prestigious Founders Award. The 36th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards will take place May 16, 2019 in Beverly Hills.

"Traffic: The Studio Albums 1967-1974," a new vinyl box set which features remastered versions of the famed English rock band's first six studio albums, will be coming out on May 17, 2019. Toto announced a CD edition of its 12-album 40th anniversary box set, "All In," which is due out on May 24. Also, King Crimson will stream all 13 of its studio albums on Spotify beginning June 10, the day the band kicks off its 50th anniversary world tour in Leipzig, Germany.

Kansas and The Doobie Brothers are among the headliners at the upcoming 19th annual Live At The Garden summer concert series in Memphis, TN. Kansas will kick off this series on June 6, 2019, and The Doobie Brothers will perform on July 13. The Association, Chicago, Foghat, Chaka Khan, The Spinners, and Styx are among the featured performers at the 2019 edition of Milwaukee's annual Summerfest which will take place June 26-30 and July 2-7 at Henry Maier Festival Park in downtown Milwaukee. Also, Joan Baez, Elton John, Tom Jones, Tower Of Power, ZZ Top, and other veteran acts will perform at the 2019 edition of Switzerland's 16-day Montreux Jazz Festival which kicks off on June 28.

ZZ Top announced a U.S. tour in commemoration of the band's 50th anniversary. This trek, which has 30 show dates scheduled so far, will begin on August 16 in Ridgefield, WA and is currently mapped out through October 16 in West Palm Beach, FL. Cheap Trick will also perform at most of the concerts, and Lynyrd Skynyrd will open two late August shows.

Graham Nash has scheduled eight new fall concerts from September 20, 2019 in Morristown, NJ through October 6 in Bethlehem, PA, with stops in several other Northeastern states. Rod Stewart will reunite with guitar great Jeff Beck for a special performance on September 27 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Also, The Who added a new show to its North American trek to take place October 9 in San Francisco.

Bob Dylan also announced the upcoming launch of the Heaven's Door Distillery and Center for the Arts in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his first country rock album, "Nashville Skyline" (1969). The new complex, to be located in downtown Nashville, is expected to open sometime in the fall of 2020.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to famed R&B singer and O'Jays co-founder, Bill Isles (January 4, 1941 - March 28, 2019). The band's many hits include "Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)" (1965), "Back Stabbers" (1972), and the chart-topping disco classic, "Love Train" (1973).

(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)