Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 30, 2020

September 6, 2020 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 30, 2020, Jerry Lee Lewis was inducted into the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Hall Of Fame along with the late Tammy Wynette, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, and author Margaret Walker. Jerry Lee Lewis III accepted the honors on behalf of the 84-year-old rock & roll legend who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Also that week, a kind-hearted Rod Stewart helped out nursing student Natasha Jenkins who recently recovered from COVID-19 with a gift of $6,500. When I saw what Rod Stewart had sent me I was absolutely gob-smacked, says Jenkins, who will require 12 months of rehab. It was a really, really lovely kind thing for him to do.

The 35th annual Farm Aid festival will be held online this year due to COVID-19 concerns. Dubbed "Farm Aid 2020 On The Road," this upcoming three-hour event, to take place September 26, will be headlined by Farm Aid co-founders Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Willie Nelson, along with board member Dave Matthews. For more info, visit farmaid.org.

September 2020 marks the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the passings of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, respectively, and in commemoration, two new books by Greg Prato about these late rock icons have just been published. "Avatar Of The Electric Guitar: The Genius Of Jimi Hendrix" features interviews by a number of musicians who discuss what made him so great. "Bonzo: 30 Rock Drummers Remember The Legendary John Bonham" features interviews with various fellow drummers who reflect on his lasting musical contributions.

Finally, fans bade a final farewell to Ireland-born musician Ian Mitchell (August 22, 1958 - September 2, 2020), a former Bay City Rollers guitarist who joined the band in 1976 while still only 17, replacing founding member and bassist Alan Longmuir. Mitchell can be heard on the Bay City Rollers' 1976 album, "Dedication," which includes their hit cover of Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want To Be With You." He also co-wrote a song from "Dedication" titled "Write a Letter" and contributed lead vocals to the album's title track. After leaving the Bay City Rollers in 1977, Mitchell played for Rosetta Stone for several years before forming his own band.

New & Upcoming Releases:
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Canceled & 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.)