Feature: October Monthly Musical Birthday Tribute " It's a Quiz!
What star turned down CABARET? What two cabaret stars were born on Halloween? What cabaret club was named for a character in a musical? What Broadway lyricist turns 100 this month? Take the multiple-choice quiz and see what you know (or might guess correctly) about so many talented folks ALL born in October.
Diana Panton to Release 11th Album 'soft winds and roses'
Diana Panton has announced the October 25 release of her eleventh album, soft winds and roses. A departure from Diana Panton’s more recent albums, soft winds and roses features modern classics composed from the 1960s onward, including songs by Lennon and McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Gordon Lightfoot, and more.
Review: The Groovy Sounds of the 60's and 70's Resound at 54 Below
This reviewer was thrilled with Carole J. Bufford's groovy and fabulous trip back through the years! If only the walls could talk they would tell of all they heard on this cool evening of September 4, 2024 at the famed 54 Below. Bufford joyously took the audience on a trip down memory lane with her show, Come Together - When the 60’s Met the 70’s.
Don McLean Releases New 'American Boys' Album
Don McLean, GRAMMY winner, Songwriter Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, and Music City Walk of Fame honoree, is proud to celebrate the release of his latest album ‘American Boys’ an ode to the originators of modern rock ‘n roll. Listen to the album now!
Home Free Team With All-American Icon Don McLean for Reimagined 'Vincent'
Country’s only all-vocal band, Home Free, teams with an all-American legend, offering a masterful new take on the Don McLean classic, “Vincent.” Home Free remake the track in their signature harmony blend, adding a rich sonic texture to match the song’s inspiration. An official music video is also out now and features McLean, as the collaborators pay homage to impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh and world-famous artwork like The Starry Night. Watch the video here!
Don McLean Drops Latest Single 'The Gypsy Road' From Forthcoming 'American Boys' Album
The Gypsy Road, the latest single from Grammy-award honoree Don McLean, is available to stream now. The album is available for pre-order, along with “The Gypsy Road” and the title track, which features Home Free. Paying tribute to his rock and roll heroes, McLean's new single honors those who paved the way. With thirteen tracks, American Boys is exactly what every Don McLean fan has been waiting for. Listen to the song here!
Review: AN EVENING WITH ARI AXELROD Presents a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man at Birdland
If you were asked to describe yourself in 14 songs, what would they be? That is the challenge that singer Ari Axelrod set for himself in his show which opened at Birdland last night entitled simply enough, AN EVENING WITH ARI AXELROD. What emerged from that question is a portrait of an artist who is intelligent, sensitive, somewhat anxious, and remarkably contemplative for someone just on the cusp of 30.
Don McLean Releases Remastered 'Jerusalem'
Friday, November 13, legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean released a remastered version of his iconic song 'Jerusalem.' This timeless track is now available for streaming and download on various platforms, with all proceeds generously earmarked for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (@JDC) during these challenging times.
HEATHER ANNE LOMAX Releases 'The Doman Tracks'
HEATHER ANNE LOMAX releases 'The Doman Tracks' and shares music video for 'Bits And Pieces' in new announcement. The album consists of eight collaborative songs recorded with the late Michael Doman, formerly the singer-songwriter-producer of the noted ‘80s L.A. rock band Broken Homes.
Kean Stage Announces 2023-2024 Season
Kean Stage has announced its 2023-2024 season line-up featuring a diverse mix of Broadway, classic rock, jazz, dance, holiday and family programming. Additional artists will be announced later this season.
Don McLean Brings American Pie Tour to FIM Capitol Theatre
Grammy award honoree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Don McLean is set to embark on his American Pie 50th Anniversary Tour, which will include a stop in Flint at the FIM Capitol Theatre on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $45-65.
Individual Performance Tickets For FIM 2023-24 Season On Sale Now
Individual performance tickets for FIM's upcoming season are on sale. This includes all performances that are part of FIM Flint Repertory Theatre, FIM Flint Symphony Orchestra, FIM presents at Capitol Theatre and Whiting Auditorium. This year's season runs from August until June 2024.
Review: BUDDY THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL
What did our critic think of BUDDY THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL? The current production at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is Buddy the Buddy Holly Story. It was the first of the jukebox musicals premiering in 1989. It’s not just the story of the short-lived life of Buddy Holly but it also tells the story of rock ‘n roll in its infancy and the pioneers who created the sound.
Review: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY: The Legend and the Legacy Live in MSMT's New Production
There are certain moments of history that become emblazoned in our collective human psyches. Fans of American popular music all remember with a searing certainty the day when Charles Hardin Holley was killed in a plane crash at age twenty-two, his pioneering meteoric rock ‘n’ roll career brought to a tragic end. But if Feb 3,1959, was “the day the music died “ - as Don McLean wrote - MSMT’s Buddy Holly STORY turns that trope on its head. The new production, staged by Angela C. Howell makes clear that the legacy of Buddy Holly lives, and if MSMT’s production of the jukebox musical about Holly’s legend and his legacy rocks the Pickard Theater to the rafters with its visceral musical energy, it also speaks volumes about the warmth and heart of the Holly story.
Interview: A Conversation with BUDDY HOLLY's Andrew Harvey and Jayson Elliott
“To do this show, you’ve got to have a bag of tricks. Everybody in the cast has to be multi-instrumentalists, as well as actors and singers.” Actor Jayson Elliott is talking about the complexities of performing THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, which MSMT will present on its main stage beginning June 28. Elliot is reprising his role of J.P. Richardson, known as “The Big Bopper,” and he and MSMT newcomer, Andrew Harvey, who essays the title role, are discussing the intricacies and appeal of this juke box musical and its inspiration, rock and roll legend, Buddy Holly.
Harvey and Elliott have worked together before on this show with director Angela C. Howell at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah, and both actors have considerable experience with their roles. Elliott says he has played The Big Bopper some twenty times; Harvey has four productions under his belt, and they both note that the MSMT cast of eighteen can cumulatively claim to have performed in some one hundred productions. Harvey says, “ I have worked with quite a few of these people before, and I am enjoying being together again. They are all insanely talented musicians – which you have to be in this kind of juke box musical.”