Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of November 10, 2019

November 18, 2019 by Amy Gold

During the week of November 10, 2019, Billboard announced the Top 125 Artists of All Time, a new chart in honor of the magazine's 125th anniversary. The Beatles took the top spot as would be expected, followed by The Rolling Stones (no. 2) and Elton John (no. 3). Paul McCartney and George Harrison also appear on this chart as solo artists, with McCartney at no. 12 and Harrison at no. 124. Other veteran acts to make this chart's upper rankings include Barbra Streisand (no. 6), Michael Jackson (no. 7), Stevie Wonder (no. 9), Chicago (no. 10), Elvis Presley (no. 13), Rod Stewart (no. 15), Billy Joel (no. 19), Herb Alpert (no. 21), and Bruce Springsteen (no. 24).

Also that week, Paul McCartney was interviewed by Billboard in which he discussed various Beatles-related topics that include an upcoming movie about the Fab Four in the works. When asked how he felt about The Beatles being ranked at #1 in Billboard's Top 125 Artists of All Time chart, he replied, That's fantastic. They were a great group.

Smokey Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy were honored at a special event commemorating the label's 60th anniversary which took place November 11, 2019 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Beverly Hills, CA. Berry received the Power of Love Award, and Robinson was presented with the Legendary R&B Pioneer and Humanitarian Award.

Don McLean was honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars alongside Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and other pop icons. The unveiling ceremony took place on November 14, 2019 in front of the Paris Hotel and Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Madison Square Garden announced that Billy Joel will continue his record-breaking monthly residency at the famed venue on March 19, 2020 with his 74th consecutive show. Joel also announced a concert at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH to take place September 11. In addition, the Piano Man will take part in a special Q&A event at the Faena Theater in Miami Beach to be broadcast live on December 5, 2019 via his SiriusXM channel. Titled "Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions and Answers...and a little music too," this event will feature Joel in front of a piano taking questions from SiriusXM subscribers in the audience as well as from call-ins.

KISS announced the final shows of its farewell tour that are set to begin February 1, 2020 in Manchester, NH and end October 2 in Fort Worth, TX, also covering many states across the country. This final 44-date leg will be followed by the 2020 KISS Kruise taking place October 30-November 4 before the band gives its last-ever concert on July 21, 2021 in New York City.

Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith announced a 2020 North American tour to kick off April 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dubbed "An Evening With The Monkees," this trek, which is currently mapped through an April 26 concert in Nashville, TN, will also cover Alabama, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Washington State. The band also announced its first-ever live album which is due out on April 3. Titled "The Monkees -- The Mike & Micky Show Live," this recording captures March 2019 performances from Nesmith and Dolenz's previous tour, "The Monkees Present: The Mike And Micky Show."

Tommy Roe released a new 4-track EP titled "EP 2020 Vision" available as a digital download. Also, a new archival compilation of rare Sly Stone recordings from the early 1960s was recently released on vinyl. Titled "Sly Before The Family Stone," this collection includes his work with The Viscaynes, a doo-wop group he joined while still in high school, plus various other songs he recorded prior to forming Sly & The Family Stone in 1966.

Also that week, Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming film, "Holiday Rush," starring Romany Malco and featuring the legendary Darlene Love in a supporting role. This new holiday movie will premiere November 28, 2019.

Finally, a previously-unseen collection of black and white photos of The Rolling Stones dating from 1963 will go on display at The Curtain in East London from November 18 to December 2, 2019. Excerpts of this exhibit can be previewed from this article in Folha de S. Paulo.

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