Billy Preston News

'I just wanted to be honest about everything, from my musical influences to my story,' muses Neal Francis. After years of dishonest living -- consumed by drugs, alcohol, and addiction -- such sincerity is jarring from the 30-year-old Chicago-based musician. Liberated from a self-destructive past and born anew in sobriety, Francis has captured an inspired collection of songs steeped in New Orleans rhythms and Chicago blues. His music evokes a bygone era of R&B's heyday while simultaneously forging a new path on the musical landscape. Ohio-based Karma Chief Records (a subsidiary of rising soul label Colemine Records) will release two songs, 'These Are The Days' and 'Changes, Pt. 1,' in early 2019 with the full LP to follow in summer 2019.

'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.

Geffen Playhouse today announced the full cast for its production of Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole

Mac Miller's Spotify Singles were released earlier this week, marking the first release from Miller since his untimely passing. As a part of the Spotify Singles program—where artists record a new take on one of their top songs, as well as a cover by their own favorite musicians—the late artist performed Swimming highlight 'Dunno,' as well as a cover of Billy Preston's 'Nothing From Nothing'

THE GOAT (or Who Is Sylvia?) is a Tony Award winning play by Edward Albee which opened on Broadway in 2002. It also won the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, and was a finalist for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In it, Albee uses a married couple and their son to give audiences the opportunity to examine and hopefully question their own moral judgments on what society has labeled as taboo. Martin (Robert Pierson), his wife Stevie (Rebecca Robinson), and their son Billy (Preston Ruess), find their lives crumbling when Martin reveals he has fallen in love with a goat...the Sylvia of the title. Sylvia is a reference to the song 'Who is Sylvia?' from Shakespeare's play The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Proteus sings this song, hoping to woo Silvia. It was also referred to in Finding the Sun, a work by Albee from 1982.

Broadway In Chicago, the producers of HEARTBREAK HOTEL, and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises today, are delighted to announce the full casting for HEARTBREAK HOTEL, a musical premiere that will ignite the stage of the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) beginning June 30, 2018.

Broadway In Chicago, the producers of HEARTBREAK HOTEL, and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises today, are delighted to announce the full casting for HEARTBREAK HOTEL, a musical premiere that will ignite the stage of the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) beginning June 30, 2018.

ArtsEmerson today announced the principal cast and full creative team for the New England Premiere of Born for This - A New Musical, which plays a limited summer engagement at Boston's Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre from June 15-July 15, 2018.

Contemporary keyboard artistry will be at its peak Tuesday, June 5th at 7:30 p.m., when the Barn Players again welcome internationally celebrated pianist Eric Bikales to their new down-town Kansas City home at the Arts Asylum: 1000 East 9th, (off Harrison Street), Kansas City, MO 64106.

ArtsEmerson today announced the principal cast and full creative team for the New England Premiere of Born for This - A New Musical, which plays a limited summer engagement at Boston's Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre from June 15-July 15, 2018.

The newly revamped national tour of 'Let It Be' includes a fantasy 'reunion' of the group on John Lennon's 40th birthday, October 9, 1980, two months before his murder. The group combined note-perfect renditions of two dozen Beatles songs as well as songs from the group members' solo careers during the 1970s in a generally entertaining, nostalgic trip to the glory years of the Fab Four.

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) and the Santa Rosa Symphony announced the lineup for the 2018-19 Symphony Pops Series, to be presented in the Ruth Finley Person Theater at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa). Now in its 14th year, the Sunday afternoon concert series introduces audiences to the great depth and range of sounds of the Santa Rosa Symphony and acclaimed soloists, through the music of legendary Motown artists, dynamic divas, and tributes to pop sensations.

In honor of George Harrison's 75th birthday (February 25), the Grammy -winning, 8-times platinum release CONCERT FOR GEORGE, will be available for the first time on vinyl, released as a 4-LP Box Set, as well as a Limited Edition Deluxe 10-disc Box Set via Concord Music.

Abramorama, in association with Concord Music, announced today (2/8) they will present a special limited theatrical run of Concert for George, remastered in 5.1 Stereo Surround Sound beginning February 20, 2018. February 25th marks what would have been George Harrison's 75th birthday. Due to an overwhelming response from theaters in North America, the film has already been booked into more than 75 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, with the list growing daily. The International roll-out of the film will be announced next week.  

Abramorama, in association with Concord Music, announced today (2/8) they will present a special limited theatrical run of Concert for George, remastered in 5.1 Stereo Surround Sound beginning February 20, 2018. February 25th marks what would have been George Harrison's 75th birthday. Due to an overwhelming response from theaters in North America, the film has already been booked into more than 75 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, with the list growing daily. The International roll-out of the film will be announced next week. 

In honor of George Harrison's 75th birthday (February 25), the Grammy -winning, 8-times platinum release CONCERT FOR GEORGE, will be available for the first time on vinyl, released as a 4-LP Box Set, as well as a Limited Edition Deluxe 10-disc Box Set via Concord Music.

LIGHTS OUT: NAT 'KING' COLE runs through December 3 at People's Light Theatre, and the critics are weighing in!

Alan Simon is a French folk-rock musician and composer best known for his rock operas which are performed with collaboration from other noted rock musicians. Simon is associated with Breton Celticism, and his most ambitious works are typically on themes linked to Celtic myth and history. Simon has also branched out into film-making. Alan Simon is the creator of the legendary EXCALIBUR: THE CELTIC ROCK OPERA.

The music of American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington will be celebrated at Music Theater Works, October 6-15, 2017, at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston.

The times and networks for the Big 12/SEC Challenge presented by Sonic have been revealed, tipping off at noon ET on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, with four of the 10 games on ESPN, four on ESPN2 and two on ESPNU.