Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of April 12, 2020

April 19, 2020 by Amy Gold

During the week of April 12, 2020, fans bade a final farewell to singer, songwriter, and guitarist Steve Farmer (December 31, 1948 - April 7, 2020) of The Amboy Dukes. With bandmate Ted Nugent, he co-wrote the 1968 psychedelic rock classic, "Journey To The Center Of The Mind," as well as many of the band's other songs.

Also that week, ABC announced the premiere of "Jersey 4 Jersey," a benefit concert in support of COVID-19 relief for New Jersey to air on April 22. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Tony Bennett are among the many featured performers and celebrities. For more info, visit nj.com.

ABC also announced that John Oates of Hall & Oates will appear in an upcoming episode of "The Goldbergs" to be broadcast on April 22. In this episode, Barry Goldberg tries to impress a girl by promising her that he can get Hall & Oates to perform at an Earth Day telethon at his college. Oates plays a janitor working backstage.

A live streaming event heralding the release of "Tribute: Cocker Power," a new photo book by rock photographer Linda Wolf that covers the late rocker's 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tour, will take place April 26, 2020 at 4 PM ET. This event, to be hosted by Wolf, can be accessed via YouTube, Facebook, and CockerPowerBook.com. Participants will include Rita Coolidge, Dave Mason, and others who took part in the 1970 tour and/or 2015 homage.

The new David Bowie biopic, "Stardust," originally slated to premiere at New York City's Tribeca Film Festival which has been postponed due to COVID-19, instead made its debut online on April 15, 2020. Set in 1971, this movie, which stars Johnny Flynn as David Bowie, focuses on the events leading to the creation of the late rock legend's famous Ziggy Stardust alter ego.

Finally, April 17, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Paul McCartney's debut solo album, "McCartney." In this entirely self-produced recording, he performed all the instrumental and vocal tracks apart from some contributing backing vocals from his wife, Linda, who also took the photos for the album cover. "McCartney," which includes such classics as "Maybe I'm Amazed," spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 beginning in May, 1970 before being overtaken later that year by The Beatles' final album, "Let It Be."

Newly-Announced Recordings:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)

Cancelled & Postponed Events:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Original Dates - Rescheduled Dates)

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