2013

Robert Calvin “Bobby” Bland (January 27, 1930 – June 23, 2013), also known as Bobby “Blue” Bland, was an American singer of blues and soul. He was an original member of the Beale Streeters, and was sometimes referred to as the “Lion of the Blues”.  Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B.  An imitator of Frank Sinatra, he was also known as the “Sinatra of the blues”; his music was also influenced by Nat King Cole.

Bland was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1981, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

Bland was born in the small town of Rosemark, Tennessee.  Later moving to Memphis with his mother, Bland started singing with local gospel groups there, including amongst others The Miniatures.  Eager to expand his interests, he began frequenting the city’s famous Beale Street where he became associated with an ad hoc circle of aspiring musicians named, not unnaturally, the Beale Streeters.

Bland died on June 23, 2013 at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, after an ongoing illness. He was 83.

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bland

 

 

Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. (January 20, 1923 – June 19, 2013), known professionally as Slim Whitman, was an American country music and western music singer/songwriter and instrumentalist known for his yodeling abilities and his smooth high octave falsetto.  He sold in excess of 120 million records.

He was consistently more popular throughout Europe, and in particular Britain, than in his native America, especially with his covers of pop standards, movie songs, love songs, folk tunes and gospel melodic hymns.  His 1955 hit single “Rose Marie” held the Guinness World Record for the longest time at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart until Bryan Adams broke the record in 1991 after 36 years.  In the US his “Indian Love Call” (1952) and “Secret Love” (1953) both reached number 2 on the Billboard country chart.  Whitman had a string of hits from the mid-1960s and into the 1970s and became known to a new generation of fans through television direct marketing in the 1980s.

In 1955 in the United Kingdom, he had a No.1 hit on the pop music charts with “Rose Marie.” With 11 weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, the song set a record that lasted for 36 years. Soon after, Whitman was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1957, along with other musical stars, he appeared in the film musical Jamboree. Despite this exposure, he never achieved the level of stardom in the United States that he did in Britain, where he had a number of other hits during the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout the early 1970s, he continued to record and was a guest on Wolfman Jack’s television show The Midnight Special.

After 1957 Whitman lived at Woodpecker Paradise, in Middleburg, Florida, a city located south of Orange Park, Florida in Clay County.

Whitman’s wife of 67 years, Alma “Jerry” Crist Whitman, was a songwriter and embroiderer as well as the daughter of a church minister. She died in 2009 as a result from complications arising from kidney failure.  They had a daughter Sharon, and a son Byron K. Whitman, who is also a performer and who toured and recorded with Whitman on numerous occasions.

Slim Whitman died of heart failure on June 19, 2013 surrounded by family at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, Florida. He was 90.

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Whitman

Joey Covington of Jefferson Airplane

Joseph “Joey” Edward Covington (June 27, 1945, East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania – June 4, 2013, Palm Springs, California)was an American drummer, best known for his involvements with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.

A self-taught drummer since the age of 10, Covington (also known in his childhood as Joey Michno) helped found Blues-rock group Hot Tuna in 1969, alongside Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, while the latter band was still in its beginnings.

However, the recordings he did for Tuna were unreleased and he eventually rejoined Casady and Kaukonen at the Airplane and featured on three studio albums, the first being Volunteers, as he replaced Spencer Dryden midway through the recording process. He wrote and sang the last hit for Jefferson Airplane, 1971’s “Pretty As You Feel”, featured on the Bark album.

Covington was well-known around the Palm Springs area as a talented musician who delighted his audience by playing free gigs whenever possible. His last performance was for a Marilyn Monroe celebration in Palm Springs June 1, 2013. Covington thrilled his audience and signed autographs following the performance.

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Covington

Music Charts Magazine Live Celebrity Interview with “Sleepy Man Banjo Boys”

( As seen on David Letterman Show, The Today Show, & The Mike Huckabee Show )

 

Celebrity Interview with “Sleepy Man Banjo Boys” by Music Charts Magazine’s Big Al Weekley.  The interview and performance is LIVE!

– 13th Annual Country Bluegrass Show in North Plattes, NE – April 25-27, 2013

Please listen and watch the video below

If you are a fan of “Sleepy Man Banjo Boys” this video is a must hear & see!

 

 

Forty-five minutes from New York City in the western hills of New Jersey live the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys.  With a combined age younger than music’s Hip-Hop era, eleven-year-old Jonny Mizzone on banjo, along with his brothers Robbie (14) on fiddle, and Tommy (15) on guitar are determined to bring their up-tempo acoustic string music to the next generation.  Inspired by the 1950’s music of Flatt & Scruggs & The Stanley Brothers, the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys are passionate about sharing their God-given musical gifts and invite you to watch them grow.  Released in October, their second album “The Farthest Horizon”, charted at #4 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart.

www.SleepyManBanjoboys.com

 

 

Anthony Kiedis And Mike Shinoda To Present Awards At Live Benefit Concert On May 30, Bobby Lee To Host, Mix Master Mike To DJ And Andy Dick To Make Special Appearance

Benefit Concert To Raise Funds For MusiCares’ Addiction Recovery Services

WHO:            

Honorees: Chester Bennington, lead vocalist of two-time GRAMMY®-winning band Linkin Park, and Tony Alva, legendary skateboarder, surfer, musician and original member of the skateboarding team Dogtown Z-Boys at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on May 30. Bennington will be presented with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award by Mike Shinoda, co-lead vocalist and producer of Linkin Park, for his dedication and support of the MusiCares MAP Fund®, and for his commitment to helping other addicts with the addiction recovery process. Alva will be presented with the MusiCares® From the Heart Award by Anthony Kiedis, lead vocalist of multi-GRAMMY-winning band Red Hot Chili Peppers, for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization. All proceeds will benefit the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.

Host:

Mad TV’s Bobby Lee, who performs stand-up comedy across the United States, is a regular on “Chelsea Lately” and Comedy Central’s “The Burn With Jeff Ross,” and was last seen in the 2012 comedy The Dictator.

Performers:

Chester Bennington with special guests; Tony Alva and his band Chicken Noodle Project featuring Ray Barbee and Matt Rainwater; Early Morning Rebel featuring vocalist Nathan James, guitarist Dustin Bath and drummer Joshua Mervin; rock musician and songwriter Ida Maria with drummer Dave Krusen, bassist Jenni Tarma, and guitarist Stefan Tornby; and GRAMMY-winning musician and songwriter Slash. Artist Mix Master Mike will DJ and comedian Andy Dick will make a special appearance.

WHAT:          

The MusiCares Foundation® offers programs and services to members of the music community, including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent, utilities and car payments; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; psychotherapy; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with health care professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms, supported by the Bohemian Foundation, offer a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events. MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. The MusiCares Sober Touring Network is a database of individuals across the United States who can take music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.

TICKETS:     

This special dinner and concert offers Living Room Sets that seat 10 for $12,500, Individual Floor Seats for $1,250 per person, and VIP Balcony Seats for $100 per person; contact Wynnie Wynn for ticket information at 310.392.3777 or wynniew@grammy.com. General Admission Balcony Seats for $40 per person are available only through AXS at www.axs.com.

Out of respect for the clients the MusiCares MAP Fund serves, the event will be alcohol-free. This event is made possible with the generous support of Caravents, Goldenvoice, Jackson Limousine Service, and Swing House.

PARTNER:    

The life and times of Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein were an all too brief story of triumph, tragedy, and inspiration. His amazing style and innovation were a bridge between the DJ world that came before him, and the electronic dance music revolution that has transformed the music industry as we know it today. Thanks to the vision and generosity of his mother Andrea Gross, family, and colleagues, through the Memorial Fund created in his name, MusiCares will be receiving support to provide addiction recovery services to our clients. This crucial financial support is being provided as a means to recognize both DJ AM’s profound contribution to the music industry, and his commitment to sobriety, helping others free themselves of the stigma and challenges of substance abuse. It will provide much needed resources to get music people into treatment for their addictions. MusiCares will name the opening DJ set in his honor. It is a fitting tribute given Adam was the first celebrity DJ to play at the fifth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert.

WHERE:       

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015 *Parking available in Olympic East Garage for $25

WHEN:          

Thursday, May 30, 2013

5:30 p.m.                     Media Check-in

6:15 p.m.                     Red Carpet Arrivals

7 p.m.                          Buffet Dinner

8 p.m.                          Awards Presentation & Concert

MEDIA R.S.V.P. MANDATORY: christina.cassidy@grammy.com or 310.581.8670 (email preferred)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you are interested in covering this event, you MUST request credentials no later than 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 23. Credentials will be picked up at media check-in on the day of the event. ALL MEDIA MUST BRING PHOTO I.D. All crews must be self-contained, ENG crews. All satellite truck/van parking must be coordinated with Christina Cassidy no later than May 23. ALL MEDIA MUST BE CREDENTIALED for this event. NOTE: To plug into mult-box, media must bring XLR cable with a deck.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like “MusiCares” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/musicares, follow MusiCares on Twitter @MusiCares at www.twitter.com/musicares, and join us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/musicares.

 

Everyone knows the great country music legend Charley Pride…

Dion Pride ( Charley Pride’s son ) is Music Charts Magazine’s 1st Independent Artist Interview.  – Music Charts Magazine History – March 9th, 2013

Dion has opened for Charley for many years on the road, sings full time and has toured various countries.

 

 

 

Chick the play button to hear the best of Dion Pride. ~

 

 

www.MusicChartsMagazine.com

 Dion Pride has entertained the troops on USO tours in Panama, Honduras, Guantanamo Bay and the island of Antigua. He has sung and performed for audiences around the world in countries like England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada and all the continental United States.

 

 

  

The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxine Angelyn “Maxene” (January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie “Patty” Andrews (February 16, 1918 – January 30, 2013). Throughout their long career, the sisters sold well over 75 million records (the last official count released by MCA Records in the mid-1970s). Their 1941 hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues or jump blues.

The Andrews Sisters’ harmonies and songs are still influential today, and have been covered by entertainers such as Bette Midler, The Puppini Sisters, Christina Aguilera, and The Three Belles.

Patty Andrews died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California on January 30, 2013, just 17 days before her 95th birthday. Walter Wechsler, her husband of 60 years, died on August 28, 2010, at the age of 88. Patty and Walter were parents to foster daughter Pam Dubois.  The sisters were interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, close to their parents.

Read more at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andrews_Sisters

LADY ANTEBELLUM, WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY, TRACE ADKINS, HUNTER HAYES, AND MORE ANNOUNCED AS INAUGURAL TASTE OF COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMERS
 
Hunter Mountain to Host 3-Day Festival June 13–15, 2013
 
HUNTER, N.Y. – Townsquare Media Group and Chet-5 Festivals are pleased to announce the inaugural Taste of Country Music Festival featuring Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson & Family, Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, Hunter Hayes, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Gloriana, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, Blackberry Smoke and more June 13-15, 2013 at Hunter Mountain Resort in the scenic Catskills Mountains. The 3-day music festival was announced earlier today at a press conference held at Hunter Mountain Resort.  Ticket packages begin at just $120 and afford fans three days of live music from today’s hottest acts in country music in a picturesque locale less than two hours from New York City.  Early Bird Discounted Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Friday, February 1 at 10 a.m. EST on www.tasteofcountryfestival.com. VIP ticket options, mountainside camping, resort accommodations and more are available online.
 
TasteofCountry.com and our partners at Chet-5 Festivals are delighted to bring the Northeast’s first large-scale multi-day country music festival to Hunter Mountain,” shared Dhruv Prasad, Executive Vice President, Live Events of Townsquare Media Group, the owner of TasteofCountry.com. “We are focused on the audience experience – delivering our folks the artists and music they love in a beautiful setting that delivers world-class resort and camping accommodations, outdoor recreation and top-notch food and beverage service.”
 
“We are very excited about our new partnership with the Townsquare Media Group,” said Gary Chetkof, founder of the Mountain Jam Music Festival. “Combining our experience producing the Mountain Jam Music Festival along with Townsquare Media Group’s assets makes for a powerful partnership that will produce a world-class country music event for many years to come.”
 
The Taste of Country Music Festival will be held the weekend following the ninth annual Mountain Jam Music Festival that is scheduled for June 6-9, 2013. Mountain Jam is one of the top music festivals in the country and will feature Phil Lesh & Friends, Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Primus, Dispatch, The Avett Brothers and more. Additional information can be found on www.MountainJam.com.
 
More information can be found online by visitingwww.tasteofcountryfestival.comwww.facebook.com/tasteofcountryfestival 
or by following @TOCFestival on Twitter. 
 
Suggested Twitter copy: Today @TOCFestival reveals @LadyA, @WillieNelson @HunterHayes & more as performers June 13-15. bit.ly/ViohC3 #tocfest
 
Taste of Country Music Festival is produced by Townsquare Media Group and by Gary Chetkof’s Chet-5 Festivals, LLC, in association with TasteofCountry.com.
 
About Chet-5 Festivals
Chet-5 Festivals produces the Mountain Jam Festival as well as dozens of concerts in and around the Hudson Valley. It is also the sister company of Radio Woodstock.
 
Radio Woodstock is a global multi-media company that includes the award-winning radio station, Radio Woodstock 100.1, Woodstock’s hometown radio station, as well as internet radio stations, Radio Woodstock 69, and Radio Woodstock LIVE. All three are available online at RadioWoodstock.com.
 
Listen online: www.radiowoodstock.com
 
About Townsquare Media Group
Townsquare Media Group is a diversified media, entertainment and digital marketing services company that owns and operates radio, digital and live event properties. The company specializes in creating and distributing original entertainment, music and lifestyle content. Its assets include 244 radio stations, 250 local companion websites in 51 small to mid-sized markets, 350 live music and non-music events annually and certain national digital properties including Taste of Country, Diffuser.fm, Ultimate Classic Rock, Loudwire, The FW, GuySpeed, ScreenCrush and PopCrush, as well as a network of music and entertainment digital properties reaching over 60 million U.S. unique visitors and E-commerce business Seize the Deal. Additionally, Townsquare Media Group also operates Townsquare Cares, a non-profit organization that seeks to better the lives of troops and their families.  www.townsquaremediagroup.com
 
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