Billy Preston News

Today, we're getting to know Broadway vet Will Connolly, with whom you can book a shoutout today!

2020 was a trying year for all of us, and pianist Yoko Miwa suffered more than her fair share of challenges. Like most musicians during this unprecedented pandemic, she suddenly found herself without the opportunity to perform. The recording of her new album was postponed and her trio's longtime home base, Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro in Boston, closed its doors for good. Worst of all, her father passed away after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes the film soundtrack for One Night in Miami..., volume two of the Jason Robert Brown musical collection songbook, the Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia, and more!

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes a new album from Marisha Wallace, Six By Sondheim documentary, My Broken Language memoir by Quiara Alegría Hudes, and more!

On Monday, December 28 at 7 p.m. EST, Baltimore-based pianist, composer and bandleader Lafayette Gilchrist will perform a livestream solo piano concert presented by An Die Musik in Baltimore. 

It’s been three decades since Ringo Starr founded his All Starr supergroup and took the stage with some of rock and roll’s biggest luminaries, creating an exceptional legacy of performances of some of the greatest hits of all time.

“You're Still Up” is the latest track from Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas' debut(ish) album Material Flats. Due this Friday, October 9, their self-described 'windy, Black girl desert-punk record' is the first release on Tawny's imprint Fine Alpinist Records--a completely DIY project, written this summer amidst protest, fire and unrest.

Bethany Thomas and Tawny Newsome have been singing together for 15 years, and are releasing MATERIAL FLATS, their debut(ish) album together.

Acclaimed pianist and composer Lafayette Gilchrist previews his upcoming double-disc NOW in a special Baltimore pre-release live streaming concert on Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m. as part of the Baltimore-based An Die Musik Quarantine Concert Series.

WORLD GOES ROUND, a supergroup which formed in the late 80s but whose recordings were never released, will be releasing a never-before-heard track titled 'Big House' on Viper Records on May 29.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Beatles songs, including some of the fab four's solo works. They're all here: 'Twist and Shout,' 'In My Life,' 'Helter Skelter,' 'Imagine,' 'Something,' 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' 'Let It Be.' See if your favorites made the grade!

Ton-Up, Inc. is pleased to announce the debut of Eddie Star's 'College of Rock-n-Roll Knowledge' podcast. Star, who launched his career working with Producer, Arthur G. Wright, (The Righteous Bros., Ike & Tina Turner, Billy Preston), will discuss the bands and music scene that influenced him growing up and his development as an artist.

Lyricist and director Richard Maltby, Jr. and composer David Shire will be honored at the 35th annual Bistro Awards where they will be receiving the Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award, the Bistro Award's highest honor, for their more than 50 years of musical accomplishments.

Art Lab (Meg Fofonoff, Executive Producer) just announced the development of a new musical, shAme, written by Mark Governor, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter. Tony Award Winner Kathleen Marshall is set to direct.

Veteran Punk Rocker, Eddie Star, roars back on to the music scene as the Creative Director for the new O-Broadway musical, 'Rockquiem for a Wrestler.' The musical, inspired by the life of legendary wrestler Ivan Kolo? (The Russian Bear), was written by Actor, Singer, Writer, and Director Philip Paul Kelly (Elf the Musical, Ragtime on Ellis Island, Titanic the Musical).

Northrop announces its 2019-20 Film Series, featuring several award-winning films with diverse artistic voices from around the world. From a film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby to the Beatles fan favorite Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the more recent The Hate U Give, the series includes cult classics and notable works exploring history, social issues, and arts performances.

The Folger Shakespeare Library will host the DC premiere of Ghost Light, a new dark comedy by filmmakers John Stimpson and Geoffrey Taylor. The film, a Feature Film Award-winner at the Austin Film Festival, will be shown in the historic Folger Theatre located on Capitol Hill. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.folger.edu/talks or by calling the Folger Box Office at 202.544.7077.

Freeloader is a young rock band from the Florida panhandle whose twin-guitar attack is reminiscent of some of the finest hard-rock bands of the 70s. Their relentless touring schedule has made them intimately familiar with the roadhouses, truck stops and Waffle Houses of the South. They are scraggly van-sleepers who rarely do their laundry, but who nevertheless pride themselves on their irresistible attraction, and can't pass a woman sitting alone at the bar without trying their luck…

Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole/book by Colman Domingo & Patricia McGregor/music supervision:John McDaniel/directed by Patricia McGregor/Geffen/Gil Cates Theater/through March 17 A much anticipated musical in Los Angeles has been Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole, which has received previous tryouts back east. Penned by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, who also directs the piece, the show is supposedly based on real facts from Cole's life and includes most of his standard hits arranged by John McDaniel. Currently onstage at the Gil CatesTheater of the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Lights Out is spectacular entertainment, especially from Dule Hill as Cole and Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. but its book is in need of some major retooling. It is December 17, 1957 in the NBC Studio in Burbank where Cole's final  30 minute TV variety show is about to be presented live with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Randy Van Horn Singers. Fifteen minutes to air time, Cole is in a deep state of depression over this being the final show. Why? He has millions of fans. Southern states have refused to continue paying for advertising on the show. Cole is a Negro, pure asnd simple. In spite of his fame, it's Lights Out for him. Guest star Peggy Lee has not shown up and friend Sammy Davis Jr. comes in to replace her with his amazing style of frantic comed

'Bring it On' meets 'Dreamgirls' in the girl-group musical, 'Betty and the Belrays' by William Electric Black aka Ian Ellis James, which will be presented by Theater for the New City January 31 to February 17. The piece tells the story of three white female singers from Detroit who struggle to change a racially divided society by singing for a black record label. Book and lyrics are by William Electric Black. Music is by Black, Valerie Ghent (arranger/keyboards for Ashford & Simpson) and Gary Schreiner. Choreography is by Jeremy Lardieri. Director is Mr. Black.