March 30, 2020 by Amy Gold
Manu Dibango, a saxophonist from Cameroon whose 1972 hit "Soul Makossa" arrived at the dawn of the disco era on dance floors across the world, died on Tuesday at age 86. A statement on his Facebook page said the cause was Covid-19.https://t.co/brigkpqoDk
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 24, 2020
During the week of March 22, 2020, fans bade a final farewell to jazz and funk saxophonist Manu Dibango (December 12, 1933 - March 24, 2020) and bluegrass musician Eric Weissberg (August 16, 1939 - March 22, 2020). Best known for the 1973 disco smash, "Soul Makossa," Dibango died after contracting COVID-19. Weissberg, who passed away after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's, was best known for the instrumental hit, "Dueling Banjos," which was used as the theme to the 1972 movie, "Deliverance."
Also that week, the Library of Congress added to its National Recording Registry 25 new songs and albums considered to be culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
Among this year's song entries are "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" by Allan Sherman (1963), "Make The World Go Away" by Eddy Arnold (1965), "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell (1968), and "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People (1978). Also included in the list are albums by Cheap Trick, Dusty Springfield, and Tina Turner.
John Lennon's "Imagine" made a return to the Billboard charts after a COVID-19-inspired video showing various celebrities singing this classic went viral. "Imagine" re-entered the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at #15, making it this song's most recent appearance on this chart since February 2018 after its performance during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. "Imagine" originally became a hit in 1971 when it reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced that its 2020 induction ceremony, originally set to take place May 2, has been moved to November 7 and will air live on HBO. Other events that have been rescheduled due to COVID-19 include the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic, "Respect," starring Jennifer Hudson. This movie, originally set to open on October 9, will now make its premiere on Christmas Day with a wide theatrical release beginning January 15, 2021.
"Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute To Prince" will air April 21, 2020 on CBS. This tribute special in honor of the late pop legend, which was taped earlier this year, will feature performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, Mavis Staples, and more.
Also that week, AXS TV announced the schedule for the upcoming spring season of "The Big Interview": Huey Lewis (April 15), Debbie Harry (April 22), Don Felder (April 29), Robbie Robertson (May 6), Ian Anderson (May 13), and Don McLean (May 20). In addition, Sammy Hagar's AXS TV reality series, "Rock & Roll Road Trip," will begin a new season on April 19, with guests to include Def Leppard, Brian May of Queen, Ted Nugent, and Joe Walsh.
Finally, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and James Taylor are among a growing number of music artists providing aid to those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other New Jersey residents and natives, Springsteen and Bon Jovi recently launched the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund to aid citizens of the Garden State in need of medical, social, and economic assistance. Also, Boston native James Taylor and his wife Kim donated $1 million to Massachusetts General Hospital to assist in the battle against COVID-19.
Newly-Announced Recordings:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)
Bob Dylan - Murder Most Foul (single) - digital download, streaming - March 27, 2020
Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues - One Summer Day/My Juliette - digital EP - March 27, 2020
Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You: The Atco/Cotillion/Atlantic Recordings 1973-1985 - CD - March 27, 2020
Andy Williams - Emperor Of Easy: Lost Columbia Masters 1962-1972 - CD - April 3, 2020
The Everly Brothers - Down In The Bottom: The Country Rock Sessions 1966-1968 - CD - April 3, 2020
Todd Rundgren, Arthur Brown, & more - A Tribute To Keith Emerson & Greg Lake - CD, vinyl, digital download - April 10, 2020
Cancelled & Postponed Events:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Original Dates - Rescheduled Dates)
The Eagles - Tour (Hotel California) - U.S. - February 2-April 26, 2020 - September 18-October 25, 2020
Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band - Tour - U.S., Canada - Spring, 2020 - Spring, 2021
Steve Miller Band, KC & The Sunshine Band, & more - Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI - June 24-28 and June 30-July 5, 2020 - September 3-5, 10-12, and 17-19, 2020
(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)
And that's not all from @RealGoneMusic ! Coming in March: @Andy_Williams ' "Emperor of Easy: Lost Columbia Masters 1962-1972" collects 20 unreleased tracks and rarities in one deluxe CD package! https://t.co/3BRd8G5aup pic.twitter.com/fYfSBaMVJ6
— The Second Disc (@TheSecondDisc) February 25, 2020
Music News: Star-studded tribute album saluting ELP’s Greg Lake and Keith Emerson due out in April https://t.co/7BiY5Tmd3x More @ https://t.co/u9twSRpzVO pic.twitter.com/fOZKYMn0GX
— X101 Always Classic (@X101_wxhc) March 23, 2020
Eric Weissberg, the 'Blood on the Tracks' musician whose "Dueling Banjos" cover from the 1972 film 'Deliverance' became an enduring pop culture touchstone, has died at the age of 80 https://t.co/gYCQAAr2G2 pic.twitter.com/13iib7IJ6P
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) March 23, 2020
Milwaukee’s Summerfest has been postponed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/Fpp0JOa33c
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) March 24, 2020
Manu Dibango, a saxophonist from Cameroon whose 1972 hit "Soul Makossa" arrived at the dawn of the disco era on dance floors across the world, died on Tuesday at age 86. A statement on his Facebook page said the cause was Covid-19.https://t.co/brigkpqoDk
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 24, 2020
#SisterSledge - 'Thinking Of You' (1973-1985) reviewed Sister Sledge’s recorded output is a fine body of work, as represented by this comprehensive collection from @CherryRedGroup: https://t.co/CpDbWUmoPx #disco #soul #Atlantic #ATCO #NileRodgers #Chic
— WE ARE CULT: MUSIC, FILM, TELEVISION AND MORE (@wearecultonline) March 24, 2020
The @rockhall induction ceremony has been rescheduled to November 7th. https://t.co/Ce4VDt7M6Q
— WXRT Chicago (@93XRT) March 25, 2020
Music News: James Taylor donates $1 million to bolster Mass General’s COVID-19 efforts https://t.co/hDh0mR6bup More @ https://t.co/u9twSRpzVO pic.twitter.com/ZvrXEnJBud
— X101 Always Classic (@X101_wxhc) March 25, 2020
With the new coronavirus going around, it's not the best idea to stay at the Y.M.C.A., but that didn't prevent the Library of Congress from inducting the signature tune from Village People into the National Recording Registry.https://t.co/Zj10dOHCnG
— AMIA (@AMIAnet) March 25, 2020
Music News: Prince tribute special, featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, Sheila E. and more stars, to air April 21 https://t.co/vtC9Oond14 More @ https://t.co/u9twSRpzVO pic.twitter.com/ecH4S3VNKo
— X101 Always Classic (@X101_wxhc) March 25, 2020
Music News: New season of Sammy Hagar’s ‘Rock & Roll Road Trip’ to feature Def Leppard, Joe Walsh, Brian May and more https://t.co/YiBcCq5Pqt More @ https://t.co/u9twSRpzVO pic.twitter.com/zldKi867pa
— X101 Always Classic (@X101_wxhc) March 25, 2020
NP Reissue of the Week The Everly Brothers "Down In The Bottom" @WhisperingBob @BBCRadio2 @BBCSounds @CherryRedGroup pic.twitter.com/syesTcSYG3
— The Country Show with Bob Harris (@BHarrisCountry) March 26, 2020
Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi are among the celebrity New Jesery natives supporting a relief fund aimed to aid vulnerable citizens in need of medical, social and economic assistance because of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/DPgx9vlClw
— WXRT Chicago (@93XRT) March 26, 2020
John Lennon's 'Imagine' Returns to Charts Following Gal Gadot-Led Celebrity Cover - Billboard https://t.co/5FI4mfczet
— X-Entertainments (@x_enters) March 27, 2020
The Big Interview With Dan Rather returns to AXS TV for its eighth season, April 15 https://t.co/eYdXYklfKv
— Chase Hunt (@CChaning) March 27, 2020
Bob Dylan surprise-released his first original song in eight years. Hear the dizzying 17-minute song "Murder Most Foul" https://t.co/d86ee1Kp97 pic.twitter.com/1CHqqZNDsY
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) March 27, 2020
The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward releases the softly hopeful two-song EP One Summer Day/My Juliette to all digital outlets.https://t.co/NOCnDtWwn1
— Den of Geek News! (@DenofGeekUS) March 27, 2020
We’re going to have to wait "just a little bit" longer to get some R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
— SNYDE (sorry, not sorry celebrity news) (@snydenydn) March 27, 2020
The highly anticipated film chronicling the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin has been rescheduled.https://t.co/0c85xKcysH
The Eagles reschedule 'Hotel California' dates to September: #VanMusic #MusicNews https://t.co/ucM4NPrk67
— 927 The Van (@927thevan) March 28, 2020
Ringo Starr Pushes 2020 All Starr Band Tour to 2021 Due to Coronavirus - https://t.co/EZYHCXu3r8 pic.twitter.com/MinTVMY6Xb
— e-news.US (@e_newsUS) March 28, 2020