The Library of Congress has announced this year’s selection of 25 “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” pieces of recorded music to archive into the National Recording Registry, led by albums from Green Day, The Notorious B.I.G., and Blondie.
In addition to Green Day’s seminal Dookie, The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic debut Ready to Die, and Blondie’s commercial breakthrough Parallel Lines, other albums preserved among “the defining sounds of history” include Abba’s Arrival and The Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces. Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and The Cars’ self-titled debut also made the list.
Songs include Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “LA-di-Da-Di,” Perry Como’s “Catch a Falling Star,” Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” See the full list below and take a look at the Library of Congress’ full registry here.
In addition to Green Day’s seminal Dookie, The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic debut Ready to Die, and Blondie’s commercial breakthrough Parallel Lines, other albums preserved among “the defining sounds of history” include Abba’s Arrival and The Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces. Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and The Cars’ self-titled debut also made the list.
Songs include Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “LA-di-Da-Di,” Perry Como’s “Catch a Falling Star,” Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” See the full list below and take a look at the Library of Congress’ full registry here.
- 4/16/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Other than making records, what do Green Day, the Notorious B.I.G., classic crooners Perry Como and Johnny Mathis, Latin music giant Héctor Lavoe, and the late Bill Withers have in common? Not much, until today: Works by all those musicians, and over a dozen more, were announced as the latest additions to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.
Signed off on by then-president Bill Clinton in 2000, the Registry has aimed to collect recordings —musical performances, speeches, and other audio — deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically important.” The first...
Signed off on by then-president Bill Clinton in 2000, the Registry has aimed to collect recordings —musical performances, speeches, and other audio — deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically important.” The first...
- 4/16/2024
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
In the middle of August this year, three legends of the music industry died within 72 hours of each other: founder of A&m Records Jerry Moss; music lawyer Abe Somer; and my father, the “Black Godfather” himself, Clarence Avant. These three men helped define the recording industry of the past six decades, and what’s more, they were inseparable best friends.
Somer, Moss, and Avant met in New York City in the early 1960s, and in the six decades since, never left one another’s side, never once let their “soul contract” expire.
Somer, Moss, and Avant met in New York City in the early 1960s, and in the six decades since, never left one another’s side, never once let their “soul contract” expire.
- 10/28/2023
- by Nicole Avant
- Rollingstone.com
A version of this response appeared on the Black Rock Coalition’s website.
When Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner made offensive comments in The New York Times about women and Black artists, the Black Rock Coalition, which has battled stereotypes and musical categorizations about what rock is “supposed to be” since 1985, felt obligated to speak out and condemn his misogynistic and racist statements. While we were among many organizations and individuals to call out Wenner, he also had a number of supporters, citing his contributions to popular culture and to the world of music journalism.
When Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner made offensive comments in The New York Times about women and Black artists, the Black Rock Coalition, which has battled stereotypes and musical categorizations about what rock is “supposed to be” since 1985, felt obligated to speak out and condemn his misogynistic and racist statements. While we were among many organizations and individuals to call out Wenner, he also had a number of supporters, citing his contributions to popular culture and to the world of music journalism.
- 10/23/2023
- by LaRonda Davis, Earl Douglas and Darrell M. McNeill
- Rollingstone.com
Rick Astley has released his ninth studio album, Are We There Yet?, via BMG. Stream it via Apple Music or Spotify below.
The English singer wrote, recorded, played, and produced the follow-up to 2018’s Beautiful Life at his home in London. Preceded by the singles “Dippin My Feet” and “Never Gonna Stop,” Are We There Yet? was influenced by the likes of Bill Withers, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye, as well as the live instrumentation of the famed R&b scene in Muscle Shoals. Pick up your physical copy here.
In support of the album, Astley will play a handful of UK shows, including a pair of gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He will return to the road in early 2024 for a UK and Ireland arena tour, featuring Belinda Carlisle, The Lottery Winners, and Scouting for Girls opening on select dates. See the schedule below, and tickets are available here.
The English singer wrote, recorded, played, and produced the follow-up to 2018’s Beautiful Life at his home in London. Preceded by the singles “Dippin My Feet” and “Never Gonna Stop,” Are We There Yet? was influenced by the likes of Bill Withers, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye, as well as the live instrumentation of the famed R&b scene in Muscle Shoals. Pick up your physical copy here.
In support of the album, Astley will play a handful of UK shows, including a pair of gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He will return to the road in early 2024 for a UK and Ireland arena tour, featuring Belinda Carlisle, The Lottery Winners, and Scouting for Girls opening on select dates. See the schedule below, and tickets are available here.
- 10/13/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Ed Sheeran was found not liable in the copyright lawsuit trial that accused his song “Thinking Out Loud” of infringing on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On.”
After three hours of deliberations that followed a two-week trial in New York from April to May, the jury announced their verdict in favor of Sheeran, finding that he independently created his 2014 single and did not copy Gaye’s hit.
While Sheeran was pleased with the outcome (he won’t have to retire now, as he threatened during his testimony), he...
After three hours of deliberations that followed a two-week trial in New York from April to May, the jury announced their verdict in favor of Sheeran, finding that he independently created his 2014 single and did not copy Gaye’s hit.
While Sheeran was pleased with the outcome (he won’t have to retire now, as he threatened during his testimony), he...
- 9/25/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The Black Music Action Coalition will honor Keke Palmer, Jermaine Dupri and the late Clarence Avant at its 2023 gala.
The fete, presented by Live Nation, is a yearly celebration honoring those in Black music who have exemplified positivity and helped promote equity in the community. The coalition was started in 2020 to help fight systemic racism in the music business on behalf of Black artists, producers, lawyers and many Black professionals in the music industry.
Avant, known as “The Godfather of Black Music,” will be honored with a special tribute from the coalition. The legendary music executive was also a member of the Bmac board along with Quincy Jones and Irving Azoff, among others.
“Bmac will always be honored to have had him on our Advisory Board,” coalition co-founder Shawn Holiday said in a statement. “His life, and contributions to the industry, are unparalleled, his legacy will live on forever.”
The...
The fete, presented by Live Nation, is a yearly celebration honoring those in Black music who have exemplified positivity and helped promote equity in the community. The coalition was started in 2020 to help fight systemic racism in the music business on behalf of Black artists, producers, lawyers and many Black professionals in the music industry.
Avant, known as “The Godfather of Black Music,” will be honored with a special tribute from the coalition. The legendary music executive was also a member of the Bmac board along with Quincy Jones and Irving Azoff, among others.
“Bmac will always be honored to have had him on our Advisory Board,” coalition co-founder Shawn Holiday said in a statement. “His life, and contributions to the industry, are unparalleled, his legacy will live on forever.”
The...
- 8/23/2023
- by Xennia Hamilton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the “Black Godfather” of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.
Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.
Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”
“He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts...
Avant, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, according to a family statement released Monday.
Avant’s achievements were both public and behind the scenes, as a name in the credits, or a name behind the names. Born in a segregated hospital in North Carolina, he became a man of lasting and wide-ranging influence, in part by minding two pieces of advice from an early mentor, the music manager Joe Glaser: Never let on how much you know, and ask for as much money as possible, “without stuttering.”
“He exemplified a certain level of cool and street smarts...
- 8/15/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
A myriad of notable Hollywood stars and figures are remembering the late Clarence Avant.
Known as the “Godfather of Black Music,” Avant died at the age of 92 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said. “The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
The recording industry insider inspired multiple generations of artists and executives. Among the notable names he advised are Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Jay-Z, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Pharrell Williams, Whitney Houston, Antonio “L.
Known as the “Godfather of Black Music,” Avant died at the age of 92 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said. “The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
The recording industry insider inspired multiple generations of artists and executives. Among the notable names he advised are Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Jay-Z, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Pharrell Williams, Whitney Houston, Antonio “L.
- 8/14/2023
- by Lexy Perez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Clarence Avant, the music executive and film producer who was known unofficially as “The Godfather” of Black entertainment, died on Sunday in his Los Angeles home. He was 92.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” a statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander, as well as his son-in-law Ted Sarandos read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant began his music industry career in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He would later go on...
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” a statement from his children, Nicole and Alexander, as well as his son-in-law Ted Sarandos read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
Avant began his music industry career in the 1950s as a manager of Teddy P’s Lounge in Newark, New Jersey. He would later go on...
- 8/14/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Clarence Avant, the veteran music and entertainment executive known as the “Black Godfather” who was hailed for his influence and guidance by Quincy Jones, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, and others, died at home in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 92.
Avant’s death was announced Monday through a statement shared by his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music,...
Avant’s death was announced Monday through a statement shared by his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant,” the statement read. “Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Larisha Paul and Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Clarence Avant, the trailblazing record executive known as the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died at the age of 92.
Avant passed away on Sunday, August 13th, according to a statement from his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
The North Carolina native rose the ranks to become one of the preeminent Black executives in music. After managing local jazz musicians in New Jersey, he relocated to Los Angeles to assist clients in the increasing lucrative field of movie soundtracks.
Avant passed away on Sunday, August 13th, according to a statement from his family. “It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.”
The North Carolina native rose the ranks to become one of the preeminent Black executives in music. After managing local jazz musicians in New Jersey, he relocated to Los Angeles to assist clients in the increasing lucrative field of movie soundtracks.
- 8/14/2023
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Music
Clarence Avant, who was dubbed the “Godfather of Black Music,” died Sunday in Los Angeles, his family has confirmed. He was 92.
A statement provided by his family including son-in-law Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-ceo, announced Avant’s passing “with a heavy heart,” and said he had “passed away gently.”
“Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” the statement said. “Top artists and executives like Quincy Jones, JayZ, Whitney Houston, Pharrell Williams, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Sean Combs, L.A. Reid, Suzanne de Passe, Kenny ‘Baby Face’ Edmonds, Jon Platt, Irving Azoff, Snoop Dogg Reginald Hudland, Benny Medina and Queen Latifah all credit Avant for his inspiration and guidance.”
The news comes almost two years after the shooting death of his wife, Jackie Avant, during a break-in at the family’s Beverly Hills home...
A statement provided by his family including son-in-law Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-ceo, announced Avant’s passing “with a heavy heart,” and said he had “passed away gently.”
“Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” the statement said. “Top artists and executives like Quincy Jones, JayZ, Whitney Houston, Pharrell Williams, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Sean Combs, L.A. Reid, Suzanne de Passe, Kenny ‘Baby Face’ Edmonds, Jon Platt, Irving Azoff, Snoop Dogg Reginald Hudland, Benny Medina and Queen Latifah all credit Avant for his inspiration and guidance.”
The news comes almost two years after the shooting death of his wife, Jackie Avant, during a break-in at the family’s Beverly Hills home...
- 8/14/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Clarence Avant, the beloved recording industry insider whose work as an executive, label owner, dealmaker and mentor earned him the nickname the “Godfather of Black Music,” has died. He was 92.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
Avant died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a statement. His death came 20 months after his wife of 54 years, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed by an intruder in their Beverly Hills home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1, 2021.
Survivors include their daughter, Nicole Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, and their son, Alexander, a producer (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!) and talent rep.
“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come,” the Avant/Sarandos family said.
- 8/14/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sixto Rodriguez, the Mexican-American singer-songwriter who languished in obscurity for decades before his brilliant music was rediscovered and chronicled in the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, died on Tuesday. He was 81.
Rodriguez’s death was announced Wednesday on his official website. “It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today,” the statement read. No cause of death was provided, but Rodriguez reportedly dealt with health issues in recent years.
Rodriguez only released two studio albums: 1970’s Cold Fact and 1971’s Coming From Reality.
Rodriguez’s death was announced Wednesday on his official website. “It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today,” the statement read. No cause of death was provided, but Rodriguez reportedly dealt with health issues in recent years.
Rodriguez only released two studio albums: 1970’s Cold Fact and 1971’s Coming From Reality.
- 8/9/2023
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Ringo Starr took the lead on The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” but he didn’t initially want to sing it. While his bandmates wrote the song with Starr’s vocal range in mind, he felt that the high note at the end was beyond his capabilities. His bandmates rallied around him to help him sing the song in its entirety.
The Beatles had to convince Ringo Starr to sing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote “With a Little Help From My Friends” for Starr to sing. When it came time to record the vocals, though, he was hesitant. He attempted to leave the studio before he could record it.
“He was at the halfway point [of the stairs] when we heard Paul’s voice call out. ‘Where are you going, Ring?'” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
The Beatles had to convince Ringo Starr to sing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’
Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote “With a Little Help From My Friends” for Starr to sing. When it came time to record the vocals, though, he was hesitant. He attempted to leave the studio before he could record it.
“He was at the halfway point [of the stairs] when we heard Paul’s voice call out. ‘Where are you going, Ring?'” engineer Geoff Emerick wrote Here, There and Everywhere: My Life...
- 7/8/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The story of Stax records has long been smoothed over and sculpted into a neat bundle of Southern aphorism and marketing copy: The Memphis home of “Soul Man” and Shaft and the Staple Singers was the more authentic (insert adjective like “gritty” or “greasy” or “Southern-fried” here), counterpart to the pop-oriented Motown; a rare space of multiracial utopia in a segregated Sixties South; a locus, for Blacks in Memphis at the time, for the expressions and dreams of a better American future that lost its way in 1968 when those dreams...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jonathan Bernstein
- Rollingstone.com
New York, May 2 (Ians) Ed Sheeran had strong words for a musicologist on Monday (U.S. East Coast Time) as the court hearing over alleged similarities between his hit ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and R&b and soul singer Marvin Gaye’s classic ‘Let’s Get It On’ entered its second week, reports ‘Variety’.
“I think what he is doing is criminal,” Sheeran said of the prior testimony from Alexander Stewart, a musicologist hired as an expert witness by Gaye’s estate, according to the ‘New York Times’. “I don’t know why he’s allowed to be an expert.”
Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing are being sued by three heirs of Ed Townsend, who is the credited co-writer with Gaye on the 1973 song.
As he did last week, notes ‘Variety’, Sheeran played his guitar to refute Stewart’s testimony, in which he argued that one of the...
“I think what he is doing is criminal,” Sheeran said of the prior testimony from Alexander Stewart, a musicologist hired as an expert witness by Gaye’s estate, according to the ‘New York Times’. “I don’t know why he’s allowed to be an expert.”
Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing are being sued by three heirs of Ed Townsend, who is the credited co-writer with Gaye on the 1973 song.
As he did last week, notes ‘Variety’, Sheeran played his guitar to refute Stewart’s testimony, in which he argued that one of the...
- 5/2/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Ed Sheeran spent another day in court attempting to convince non-musicians that “Thinking Out Loud” didn’t rip off Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” On Monday, the singer whipped out his guitar once again, this time running through four acoustic song mashups between his song and ones from Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Blackstreet, and Van Morrison to try to prove a point against musicologist Alexander Stewart’s claims about his melodies and intentions.
According to the Daily Beast, Sheeran said that while creating “Thinking Out Loud,...
According to the Daily Beast, Sheeran said that while creating “Thinking Out Loud,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the newly released “Spinning Gold,” the outrageous 1970s tale of the founding of Casablanca Records by Neil Bogart. Currently in theaters, since March 31st.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
The mover and shaker of Casablanca Records was Neil Bogart (Jeremy Jordan), ardently characterized as a mid 20th Century con man, in a sense. After having a minor pop music hit in the 1960s, he joined the record industry later in the decade as a “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” kind of a music maven. When he splits off his own label … Casablanca Records … in the early 1970s, he starts in massive debt but digs it out with a new artist, Donna Summer. (Taya Parx), and a new sound … disco. But he also scored in other music, as Bogart introduced rockers Kiss, soul singers Bill Withers (Pink Sweat$) and Gladys Knight...
Rating: 3.5/5.0
The mover and shaker of Casablanca Records was Neil Bogart (Jeremy Jordan), ardently characterized as a mid 20th Century con man, in a sense. After having a minor pop music hit in the 1960s, he joined the record industry later in the decade as a “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” kind of a music maven. When he splits off his own label … Casablanca Records … in the early 1970s, he starts in massive debt but digs it out with a new artist, Donna Summer. (Taya Parx), and a new sound … disco. But he also scored in other music, as Bogart introduced rockers Kiss, soul singers Bill Withers (Pink Sweat$) and Gladys Knight...
- 4/3/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The film year of 2022 pretty much ended with a “music biopic”, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (at least I’m making it the “year’s end” as it was the last advance screening I attended). It did fairly well at the box office but didn’t come close to the critical and award accolades of Bohemian Rhapsody or Judy. But that’s not going to halt Hollywood from “mining” this material, and so we’re getting a tune-filled “true” tale at the end of 2023’s first quarter. Oh, but this has a twist in that it doesn’t center around a beloved performer. No, this concerns the head of a record company. Yeah kids, in those ancient days before streaming and downloading, people went to brick-and-mortar stores and bought discs produced by these companies Aka recording labels. And one of the biggest of them in the mid-...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"The artists worked with us, not for us. We were family." Hero Ent. is releasing this music history movie in theaters nationwide later this week - Spinning Gold, opening on March 31st. The film is actually a biopic feature, not a documentary or musical, about 1970s record producer Neil Bogart, co-founder of Casablanca Records. It's written and directed by producer / filmmaker Timothy Scott Bogart, who just so happens to be Neil Bogart's son. We featured the first trailer late last year, and here's one more before it opens. Telling a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical journey of Neil Bogart and how his Casablanca Records created the greatest soundtrack of our lives. Jeremy Jordan stars as Neil, along with Michelle Monaghan, Peyton List, Jason Isaacs, Lyndsy Fonseca, Sebastian Maniscalco, Dan Fogler, Caylee Cowan, and Winslow Fegley. Featuring musicians like Kiss,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Enter the contest below for the chance to win a pair of passes to attend an advance screening of Spinning Gold on Tuesday, March 28th at 7:00pm at the Mjr Troy!
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band Kiss? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time. Along with a rag tag team of young music lovers, Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true,...
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band Kiss? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time. Along with a rag tag team of young music lovers, Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true,...
- 3/25/2023
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Two all new celebrities in disguise took on returning champ Squirrel for “Sesame Street Night” on Wednesday’s “The Masked Singer.” After a performance of “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers, Squirrel was dethroned in third place behind Fairy and Jackalope. The nutty performer pulled off her mask to reveal herself as model and actress Malin Akerman. Panelist Jenny McCarthy correctly guessed the iconic DJ, but Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger were off the mark.
“I totally forgot about ‘Couples Retreat,'” Ken said of the film he starred in with Malin. “I cannot believe it!” During her unmasked interview with host Nick Cannon, Malin said, “I was just so excited to get to do this and watch it with my son, who’s actually here in the audience tonight. And my dad is here from Sweden! The Swedish meatball! It’s so fun.
“I totally forgot about ‘Couples Retreat,'” Ken said of the film he starred in with Malin. “I cannot believe it!” During her unmasked interview with host Nick Cannon, Malin said, “I was just so excited to get to do this and watch it with my son, who’s actually here in the audience tonight. And my dad is here from Sweden! The Swedish meatball! It’s so fun.
- 3/16/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Tonight on “The Masked Singer,” Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, The Count and Abby Cadabby bring the fun in a special “Sesame Street” episode. Grammy Award-winning superstar entertainer Jennifer Nettles joins the panelists as three celebrities sing their way through the competition.
The Season 9 contestants boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, 6 Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, 4 Golden Globe nominations, 5 medals, 26 books, 2 Tony Award mominations, 5 lifetime achievement awards, 4 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a combined 95,231,000 records sold.
Play along with host Nick Cannon and celebrity panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke. Two new characters enter the competition to face off against Squirrel and two will be unmasked in the all-new “Sesame Street Night” episode of “The Masked Singer” airing Wednesday, March 15 (8:00-9:01 Pm Et/Pt) on Fox.
See See all 135 (and counting) ‘The Masked Singer’ costumes and celebrity reveals through the...
The Season 9 contestants boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, 6 Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, 4 Golden Globe nominations, 5 medals, 26 books, 2 Tony Award mominations, 5 lifetime achievement awards, 4 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a combined 95,231,000 records sold.
Play along with host Nick Cannon and celebrity panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke. Two new characters enter the competition to face off against Squirrel and two will be unmasked in the all-new “Sesame Street Night” episode of “The Masked Singer” airing Wednesday, March 15 (8:00-9:01 Pm Et/Pt) on Fox.
See See all 135 (and counting) ‘The Masked Singer’ costumes and celebrity reveals through the...
- 3/16/2023
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band Kiss? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time. Along with a ragtag team of young music lovers, Neil and Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical journey of Neil Bogart and how his Casablanca Records created the greatest soundtrack of our lives.
Spinning Gold opens in theaters on Friday,...
Spinning Gold opens in theaters on Friday,...
- 3/14/2023
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The greatest Artists of all time seem to have emerged fully formed from the ether of musical legend as if their success had been simply undeniable and preordained. As if Donna Summer didn’t so much write “Love to Love Ya Baby,” as manifest it; as if Kiss’ timeless anthem “Rock N’ Roll Nite” wasn’t so much composed, as delivered fully-realized from hard rock Valhalla directly to Paul Stanley and Gene Simmon’s fingertips.
But history knows better. And the story of Neil Bogart, the explosive, perpetual motion machine behind superstars Donna Summer,...
But history knows better. And the story of Neil Bogart, the explosive, perpetual motion machine behind superstars Donna Summer,...
- 3/13/2023
- by Ted Brown
- Rollingstone.com
The official trailer for the forthcoming film Spinning Gold is now readily available and you can check it out right here on CinemaNerdz!
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band Kiss? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time. Along with a rag tag team of young music lovers, Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical...
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band Kiss? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time. Along with a rag tag team of young music lovers, Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical...
- 3/6/2023
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Sade, Jeff Lynne, Glen Ballard, Teddy Riley and Liz Rose have been chosen to join the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a class that includes the writers of such varied hits as “Man In the Mirror,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.”
The seven songwriters from the class of 2023 will be inducted at a gala June 15 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Read More: Snoop Dogg Says Dionne Warwick ‘Outgangstered’ Him And Tupac Over Misogynistic Lyrics
Snoop Dogg, whose hits include “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin & Juice,” will be joining such rappers as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z in the hall. Estefan is credited for popularizing Latin rhythms with such crossover smashes as “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Let’s Get Loud.”
The inductees include soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo,...
The seven songwriters from the class of 2023 will be inducted at a gala June 15 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Read More: Snoop Dogg Says Dionne Warwick ‘Outgangstered’ Him And Tupac Over Misogynistic Lyrics
Snoop Dogg, whose hits include “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin & Juice,” will be joining such rappers as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z in the hall. Estefan is credited for popularizing Latin rhythms with such crossover smashes as “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Let’s Get Loud.”
The inductees include soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Casablanca Records is one of the most influential music labels in history, but the story of its founder, Neil Bogart, isn't as well-known as it should be. Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, Bill Withers, and the rock band Kiss all rose to great heights thanks to Bogart and were signed to the label that would become the most successful independent record company in history. Now, the film "Spinning Gold" looks to transport audiences back to the 1970s, when disco reigned supreme, funk was beginning to pick up steam, and Neil Bogart was on top of the world. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming music producer biopic, and more.
Spinning Gold Release Date And Where You Can Watch It
"Spinning Gold" will be available in theaters starting March 31, 2023. The film is being distributed by Hero Entertainment and Howling Wolf Films,...
Spinning Gold Release Date And Where You Can Watch It
"Spinning Gold" will be available in theaters starting March 31, 2023. The film is being distributed by Hero Entertainment and Howling Wolf Films,...
- 12/24/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Jeremy Jordan stars as Neil Bogart, the founder of Casablanca Records, in a new trailer for Spinning Gold. The film, in theaters March 31, 2023, follows Bogart’s success with artists like Donna Summer, Kiss, Parliament, Gladys Knight, the Isley Brothers, the Village People and Bill Withers.
The trailer is narrated by a dramatized version of Bogart as he showcases the rise of Casablanca Records. Glimpses of various artists can been seen in the clip, including Summer as played by Tayla Parx. “We knew what Casablanca could be,” Bogart intones. “We were 7 million in debt…...
The trailer is narrated by a dramatized version of Bogart as he showcases the rise of Casablanca Records. Glimpses of various artists can been seen in the clip, including Summer as played by Tayla Parx. “We knew what Casablanca could be,” Bogart intones. “We were 7 million in debt…...
- 12/15/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
The official trailer for Spinning Gold has dropped and it explores the rise of Neil Bogart as the founder of Casablanca Records. Watch the preview in the video posted above.
Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have one thing in common with the rock band Kiss — they all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear Bogart, the founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time.
Along with a rag-tag team of young music lovers, Neil and Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical journey of Neil...
Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have one thing in common with the rock band Kiss — they all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear Bogart, the founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all time.
Along with a rag-tag team of young music lovers, Neil and Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever. Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical journey of Neil...
- 12/15/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.
The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote Ragtime and Anastasia, as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”
Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith — whose songs include “Because the Night” and “Dancing Barefoot” — and Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It.” Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.
Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees...
Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.
The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote Ragtime and Anastasia, as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”
Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith — whose songs include “Because the Night” and “Dancing Barefoot” — and Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It.” Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.
Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees...
- 11/14/2022
- by Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Timothy Scott Bogart’s movie Spinning Gold about his music producer father, Neil Bogart, and the iconic label he built, Casablanca Records, will hit theaters on Friday, March 31, 2023.
The release and distribution will be handled by Hero Partners in partnership with Howling Wolf Films, with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment distributing across transactional home entertainment.
Neil Bogart saw the rise and fall of Casablanca Records, which in its heyday from the mid-to-late 1970s was a powerhouse in the disco sphere with artists such as Donna Summer, pop bands like The Village People and hard rock with Kiss. The boom of the music scene and opulence of the drug era took its toll on Casablanca. The label was ultimately put into a strenuous financial position, and was in need of hits; their desperation relying on a 1974 two-record set of audio highlights from TV’s The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, entitled...
The release and distribution will be handled by Hero Partners in partnership with Howling Wolf Films, with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment distributing across transactional home entertainment.
Neil Bogart saw the rise and fall of Casablanca Records, which in its heyday from the mid-to-late 1970s was a powerhouse in the disco sphere with artists such as Donna Summer, pop bands like The Village People and hard rock with Kiss. The boom of the music scene and opulence of the drug era took its toll on Casablanca. The label was ultimately put into a strenuous financial position, and was in need of hits; their desperation relying on a 1974 two-record set of audio highlights from TV’s The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, entitled...
- 10/28/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
On the red carpet outside the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gala Saturday night, the organization’s president and CEO Paul Viviano explained how, if this were a typical event, the musical headliner would deliver a “low-ley” performance of two or three songs. But this year’s installment, held at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, was anything but routine.
That was all thanks to Justin Timberlake as the 41-year-old crooner not only agreed to show up, but also to put on a show — a 40-minute mini-concert of 10 songsm including his tracks “Suit & Tie,” “Señorita” and “Can’t Fight the Feeling,” mixed in with classic hits and soul classics from artists like Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Bill Withers and Sam Cooke.
“We’re privileged to have him,” Viviano gushed of Timberlake’s showing at the event, Chla’s first in-person fundraiser in three years.
On the red carpet outside the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gala Saturday night, the organization’s president and CEO Paul Viviano explained how, if this were a typical event, the musical headliner would deliver a “low-ley” performance of two or three songs. But this year’s installment, held at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, was anything but routine.
That was all thanks to Justin Timberlake as the 41-year-old crooner not only agreed to show up, but also to put on a show — a 40-minute mini-concert of 10 songsm including his tracks “Suit & Tie,” “Señorita” and “Can’t Fight the Feeling,” mixed in with classic hits and soul classics from artists like Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Bill Withers and Sam Cooke.
“We’re privileged to have him,” Viviano gushed of Timberlake’s showing at the event, Chla’s first in-person fundraiser in three years.
- 10/9/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sophia Nomvete, who plays fan-favorite Disa the Dwarf princess in "The Rings of Power," has her breakout moment in the fourth episode of "Rings of Power," which was released Sept. 16. There's a tragic accident in the mines of Moria, and many of the miners are trapped underneath layers of rock. No one knows if they've survived.
And then Disa starts to sing. It's a gorgeous, stunning scene, her voice rising above and capturing the anguish, fears, worries, and hopes of the Dwarves. After, she tells Elrond (Robert Aramayo) that the song was a "plea to the rocks" to free the trapped miners. And it works - all of them are rescued alive.
Nomvete tells Popsugar that when she auditioned for the show and had to sing, she chose Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." She knew nothing then about the scene for which her vocals would be used, but she loves the coincidence now.
And then Disa starts to sing. It's a gorgeous, stunning scene, her voice rising above and capturing the anguish, fears, worries, and hopes of the Dwarves. After, she tells Elrond (Robert Aramayo) that the song was a "plea to the rocks" to free the trapped miners. And it works - all of them are rescued alive.
Nomvete tells Popsugar that when she auditioned for the show and had to sing, she chose Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." She knew nothing then about the scene for which her vocals would be used, but she loves the coincidence now.
- 9/21/2022
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
The Season 2 premiere of “Euphoria” opens with a 10-minute prologue that is, even by the fearless standard set in that show’s first season, astonishingly provocative. In telling the origin story of drug dealer Fezco, writer-director Sam Levinson breathlessly races through a sex-, violence-, and cocaine-fueled set piece with camera moves as propulsive as any conjured by Scorsese at his most frenetic. What binds the incendiary content and dynamic visuals is the music, an in-your-face parade of 10 anthemic songs that range from Billy Swan covering Elvis to Poison’s hair metal hit “I Want Action,” with some Harry Nilsson and Bo Diddley thrown in for good measure.
And that’s just the prologue — then the opening title comes up to the tune of 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” and we’re in an entirely new musical register that leads into two dozen more equally varied and original song choices over the course of an hour.
And that’s just the prologue — then the opening title comes up to the tune of 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” and we’re in an entirely new musical register that leads into two dozen more equally varied and original song choices over the course of an hour.
- 6/13/2022
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Peacock released the trailer for Season 2 of “Rutherford Falls,” which premieres all eight of its episodes on June 16. From co-creators Sierra Teller Ornelas, Michael Schur and Ed Helms, the series follows best friends Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) as they tackle their careers, love lives and big changes to their small town and the Native American reservation it borders, brought on by casino executive Terry Thomas (Michael Greyeyes).
Ornelas said in a statement, “Ed Helms, Mike Schur, and I had an absolute blast making a show that’s heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny, and depicts Native Americans in ways you never see on television. Also, a lot of people get punched/kicked in the face. We hope you enjoy Season 2.”
Ornellas is showrunner and writer, and executive produces alongside Mike Falbo, David Milner and Morgan Sackett. The cast includes Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh, Dustin Milligan,...
Ornelas said in a statement, “Ed Helms, Mike Schur, and I had an absolute blast making a show that’s heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny, and depicts Native Americans in ways you never see on television. Also, a lot of people get punched/kicked in the face. We hope you enjoy Season 2.”
Ornellas is showrunner and writer, and executive produces alongside Mike Falbo, David Milner and Morgan Sackett. The cast includes Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh, Dustin Milligan,...
- 6/2/2022
- by Sasha Urban and Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
“The thing we most had to wonder about was making sure that the sound world fit the storytelling,” admits Roahn Hylton about bringing 1960s-set “The Wonder Years” back to TV. His fellow composer Jacob Yofee adds, “We definitely wanted to stay in that Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, late 60s, R&b, Motown, rhythm section. It was a ton of fun, and not something you really hear on network comedy.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
“The Wonder Years” is a reimagining of the Emmy-winning series from the late 1980s. While still set in the late 1960s, this incarnation tells the story of a middle class African-American family in Alabama. It is told from the perspective of 12-year-old Dean (Elisha Williams) and narrated by Don Cheadle, who plays adult Dean. Hytlon says, “Our show has its own being. We wanted to make sure that it’s authentic to that family while...
“The Wonder Years” is a reimagining of the Emmy-winning series from the late 1980s. While still set in the late 1960s, this incarnation tells the story of a middle class African-American family in Alabama. It is told from the perspective of 12-year-old Dean (Elisha Williams) and narrated by Don Cheadle, who plays adult Dean. Hytlon says, “Our show has its own being. We wanted to make sure that it’s authentic to that family while...
- 5/6/2022
- by Matt Noble
- Gold Derby
The man who gunned down philanthropist Jacqueline Avant with an Ar-15 style rifle at the Beverly Hills residence she shared with her music legend husband Clarence Avant was sentenced to 190 years to life in prison Tuesday.
Aariel Maynor, 30, pleaded no contest last month to Avant’s Dec. 1 murder and the attempted murder of a security guard, who was not injured when Maynor fired at him four to eight times.
Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila said Avant was shot in the back after she was ambushed in the dark of her home.
Aariel Maynor, 30, pleaded no contest last month to Avant’s Dec. 1 murder and the attempted murder of a security guard, who was not injured when Maynor fired at him four to eight times.
Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila said Avant was shot in the back after she was ambushed in the dark of her home.
- 4/19/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
“American Idol” Top 24 performances continued as planned on Monday night, but there was one shocking moment viewers weren’t expecting. About 30 minutes into the episode, Platinum Ticket winner Kenedi Anderson took the stage to sing “Human” by Christina Perri. Afterwards, the 17-year old’s critique from judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie was edited out. Instead, host Ryan Seacrest cut in for an announcement.
See ‘American Idol’: How to vote for your favorite Top 24 artist of Season 20
“Well you might have noticed that there was no voting information for Kenedi’s performance just now,” Seacrest was filmed saying from his radio studio. “Since we taped these shows in Hawaii earlier, Kenedi has decided to withdraw from our show for personal reasons. We send her well wishes and, needless to say, we have incredible talent on this historic season with more iconic ‘Idol’ performances coming up right now.
See ‘American Idol’: How to vote for your favorite Top 24 artist of Season 20
“Well you might have noticed that there was no voting information for Kenedi’s performance just now,” Seacrest was filmed saying from his radio studio. “Since we taped these shows in Hawaii earlier, Kenedi has decided to withdraw from our show for personal reasons. We send her well wishes and, needless to say, we have incredible talent on this historic season with more iconic ‘Idol’ performances coming up right now.
- 4/12/2022
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
“American Idol” continues on April 3 for its fifth season on ABC and 20th overall. As always, Ryan Seacrest hosts the reality TV competition series while country superstar Luke Bryan, pop princess Katy Perry and Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Lionel Richie make up the judging panel. In this episode Hollywood Week continues with contestants pairing up for the Duets challenge. If they survive this round they will make it to Round 3: Hollywood Showstoppers.
See ‘American Idol’ episode 7 performances ranked: All 28 Hollywood Week singers (we saw) from worst to best
This season the judges embark on yet another nationwide search for America’s next singing sensation. Auditions were held in Nashville, Tennessee, Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, California. If given a golden ticket, hopeful idols advanced to the Hollywood round. In a new twist this season, three contestants were given a Platinum Ticket, which allowed them to skip the first phase of Hollywood week.
See ‘American Idol’ episode 7 performances ranked: All 28 Hollywood Week singers (we saw) from worst to best
This season the judges embark on yet another nationwide search for America’s next singing sensation. Auditions were held in Nashville, Tennessee, Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, California. If given a golden ticket, hopeful idols advanced to the Hollywood round. In a new twist this season, three contestants were given a Platinum Ticket, which allowed them to skip the first phase of Hollywood week.
- 4/4/2022
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
Looking back 50 years at anything that isn’t related to geology, evolution or astronomy feels like a glimpse at a long-bygone age. That’s especially so for the 14th annual Grammy Awards, which took place on March 14, 1972 at the Felt Forum in New York’s Madison Square Garden and were broadcast on ABC.
The show was hosted by virtuoso easy-listening singer Andy Williams; presenters included Ed Sullivan, the Fifth Dimension, the Carpenters and “Brady Bunch” star Florence Henderson. Carly Simon won Best New Artist; Kris Kristofferson won Best Country & Western Song for “Help Me Make It Through the Night”; and in a horrifying-in-retrospect accolade, best children’s album went to “Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs.”
However, in uncharacteristically hip moves, Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” won Best Original Score for a Motion Picture; Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and Ike & Tina Turner won R&b categories; Cheech and Chong, nominated for Best Comedy Album,...
The show was hosted by virtuoso easy-listening singer Andy Williams; presenters included Ed Sullivan, the Fifth Dimension, the Carpenters and “Brady Bunch” star Florence Henderson. Carly Simon won Best New Artist; Kris Kristofferson won Best Country & Western Song for “Help Me Make It Through the Night”; and in a horrifying-in-retrospect accolade, best children’s album went to “Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs.”
However, in uncharacteristically hip moves, Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft” won Best Original Score for a Motion Picture; Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and Ike & Tina Turner won R&b categories; Cheech and Chong, nominated for Best Comedy Album,...
- 4/1/2022
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety Film + TV
A California man pleaded guilty Thursday to the shocking home-invasion slaying of philanthropist Jacqueline Avant inside the Beverly Hills residence she shared with her music legend husband Clarence Avant.
Aariel Maynor, 30, gave his open plea in a Los Angeles courtroom, admitting he broke into the famous couple’s Trousdale Estates home in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 1 and used an “assault long barrel pistol” to gun down Avant and shoot at a security guard who wasn’t injured.
Maynor is now facing up to 170 years to life in prison for...
Aariel Maynor, 30, gave his open plea in a Los Angeles courtroom, admitting he broke into the famous couple’s Trousdale Estates home in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 1 and used an “assault long barrel pistol” to gun down Avant and shoot at a security guard who wasn’t injured.
Maynor is now facing up to 170 years to life in prison for...
- 3/3/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
The home invasion that resulted in the shooting death of Jackie Avant this morning might not have been a “random attack,” Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said at a news conference this afternoon.
“I don’t think that it’s a random attack,” Stainbrook said, “but I can’t speculate on that right now.” The new police chief declined to speculate on a motive for the home invasion, or whether robbery was the intended crime.
Stainbrook, who was sworn in as chief on Tuesday, called the Avant family’s contributions to the entertainment and Beverly Hills communities “unmatched” and said today was “a difficult day for our city.”
Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant and mother-in-law of Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos, died around 2:30 a.m. today after being shot at the couple’s Trousdale Estates home near Beverly Hills. Stainbrook would not comment on the number of intruders,...
“I don’t think that it’s a random attack,” Stainbrook said, “but I can’t speculate on that right now.” The new police chief declined to speculate on a motive for the home invasion, or whether robbery was the intended crime.
Stainbrook, who was sworn in as chief on Tuesday, called the Avant family’s contributions to the entertainment and Beverly Hills communities “unmatched” and said today was “a difficult day for our city.”
Avant, the wife of legendary music executive Clarence Avant and mother-in-law of Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos, died around 2:30 a.m. today after being shot at the couple’s Trousdale Estates home near Beverly Hills. Stainbrook would not comment on the number of intruders,...
- 12/1/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Jacqueline Avant, the 81-year-old wife of veteran music executive Clarence Avant, was shot and killed in a home invasion robbery at the couple’s Beverly Hills-area house last night.
According to reports, confirmed by Deadline, Jacqueline Avant was killed when multiple shots were fired during an attempted robbery at the Avant home in the Trousdale Estates near Beverly Hills.
Jacqueline and Clarence Avant are the parents of Nicole Avant, who is married to Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
Beverly Hills police confirmed a shooting death in the neighborhorhood, but have not yet confirmed the name of the victim. Police received a call about a shooting at 2:23 a.m. and arrived to find a victim with a gunshot wound. The suspect or suspects were no longer at the scene.
Beverly Hills Fire Department paramedics transported the shooting victim to a local hospital, but the victim did not survive.
Netflix confirmed that the victim was Jacqueline Avant.
According to reports, confirmed by Deadline, Jacqueline Avant was killed when multiple shots were fired during an attempted robbery at the Avant home in the Trousdale Estates near Beverly Hills.
Jacqueline and Clarence Avant are the parents of Nicole Avant, who is married to Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
Beverly Hills police confirmed a shooting death in the neighborhorhood, but have not yet confirmed the name of the victim. Police received a call about a shooting at 2:23 a.m. and arrived to find a victim with a gunshot wound. The suspect or suspects were no longer at the scene.
Beverly Hills Fire Department paramedics transported the shooting victim to a local hospital, but the victim did not survive.
Netflix confirmed that the victim was Jacqueline Avant.
- 12/1/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Throughout 2021, we will continue to update this In Memoriam photo gallery with major celebrity deaths from film, television, theater and music. The first major entertainment figures to be honored in the 2021 gallery are talk show host Larry King, Emmy and Tony winner Hal Holbrook, Oscar and Emmy winner Cloris Leachman, Emmy winners Peter Scolari, Cicely Tyson and Jessica Walter, Oscar champ Olympia Dukakis, Oscar/Tony/Emmy winner Christopher Plummer and legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, an Oscar, Tony and Grammy winner.
The previous year of 2020 suffered many losses, including:
Actors Chadwick Boseman, two-time Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland, Oscar champ Sean Connery and honorary Oscar recipient Kirk Douglas
TV legends Carl Reiner, Diana Rigg, Jim Lehrer, Hugh Downs, Gene Reynolds, Alex Trebek and Regis Philbin.
Grammy champs John Prine and Kenny Rogers, plus Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Eddie Van Halen, Little Richard, Bill Withers and Neil Peart, plus...
The previous year of 2020 suffered many losses, including:
Actors Chadwick Boseman, two-time Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland, Oscar champ Sean Connery and honorary Oscar recipient Kirk Douglas
TV legends Carl Reiner, Diana Rigg, Jim Lehrer, Hugh Downs, Gene Reynolds, Alex Trebek and Regis Philbin.
Grammy champs John Prine and Kenny Rogers, plus Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Eddie Van Halen, Little Richard, Bill Withers and Neil Peart, plus...
- 11/27/2021
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Inspired by the 1988 comedy of the same name, “The Wonder Years” rewinds to 1968 for a coming-of-age series starring Elisha “Ej” Williams as Dean Williams and Saycon Sengbloh as Lillian Williams.
Music plays a major role in show, seeing as the character of Dean’s dad is a working musician, and co-composers Jacob Yoffee and Roahn Hylton were tasked with creating a sonic landscape to connect the era with the story.
“Our hope is that people feel the humanness of the music,” says Yoffee. “It’s been important to us that every piece can be performed by a band without heavy use of ‘studio magic.’ Within the world of show, the father has his own band, and our vision is that the entire score could be performed by that band. So we’re using instruments that would have been common in jazz, funk, soul, and R&b at the time. It...
Music plays a major role in show, seeing as the character of Dean’s dad is a working musician, and co-composers Jacob Yoffee and Roahn Hylton were tasked with creating a sonic landscape to connect the era with the story.
“Our hope is that people feel the humanness of the music,” says Yoffee. “It’s been important to us that every piece can be performed by a band without heavy use of ‘studio magic.’ Within the world of show, the father has his own band, and our vision is that the entire score could be performed by that band. So we’re using instruments that would have been common in jazz, funk, soul, and R&b at the time. It...
- 9/24/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Just past the halfway point in the documentary Mr. Soul!, poet Felipe Luciano calls Ellis Haizlip “the most effective, insidious revolutionary that I have ever met.” It isn’t meant as a specific accolade, but it is a badge of honor for a man who honored the true meaning of sedition. Subversion in the arts is a skill which can be expressed as simply as putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Seditious political expression is rarely so subtle. The creator and host of the all-too-short lived public television variety program Soul! achieved a dream mix of diverse thought, some which went under the radar, some designed to be unnoticed, all of which was riveting, and everything absolutely accessible.
Soul! captured everyday insurrection. Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 independent feature Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song proclaimed to be unapologetically Black, Haizlip saw no reason to bring apology into the equation. Nothing he was doing,...
Soul! captured everyday insurrection. Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 independent feature Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song proclaimed to be unapologetically Black, Haizlip saw no reason to bring apology into the equation. Nothing he was doing,...
- 7/31/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Clarence “Mac” McDonald, a keyboardist, producer, songwriter and arranger who collaborated with the likes of Ray Charles, Bill Withers, James Taylor and Cheech & Chong, has died. He was 76.
McDonald died Wednesday in Las Vegas after a long battle with cancer, a family spokesperson said.
In the 1960s, McDonald served as the musical director and pianist for The Vocals — an opening act for Charles that was a forerunner of The 5th Dimension — and later played keyboards on “Movin’ on Up,” the theme song to the 1975-85 CBS sitcom The Jeffersons that was performed by actress ...
McDonald died Wednesday in Las Vegas after a long battle with cancer, a family spokesperson said.
In the 1960s, McDonald served as the musical director and pianist for The Vocals — an opening act for Charles that was a forerunner of The 5th Dimension — and later played keyboards on “Movin’ on Up,” the theme song to the 1975-85 CBS sitcom The Jeffersons that was performed by actress ...
- 7/27/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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