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Aerosmith Singer is Auctioning Off an EJAF Oscar Evening--Posted by editor_usa
Friday
3 February 2012 @ 16:55 - GMT
How would you like to dine with Steven Tyler and his bride-to-be, Erin Brady . . . at the EJAF Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 26?
Tickets include a cocktail reception, dinner by Cat Cora beginning promptly with the Oscar telecast, a live auction and the after-show party featuring a performance by Foster thePeople.
Proceeds from this package, which Tyler has donated to Charity Buzz, go to Elton's AIDS foundation.
“All of us at EJAF are deeply grateful to Steven for his tremendous generosity over the past several years,” stated the organisation's Executive Director, Scott Campbell.
Bidding ends on February 21.
Breaking News About The Rocket Man's Michigan Gig--Posted by editor_usa
Friday
3 February 2012 @ 16:18 - GMT
As mentioned in yesterday's news (see ''Wings'' for details), Elton is playing Kalamazoo's Wings Stadium on March 21.
The venue has a capacity between 5,000 and 8,000, depending on what is taking place there. Since Elton can easily attract four times as many attendees, the stadium's events coordinator feels fortunate.
It's also a matter of persistence, says Andrea Pluta, who has been striving since September to make this show a reality.
“It’s definitely the biggest show in the 20-plus years. We are absolutely thrilled,” she declares. “Kalamazoo fit into the routing of the tour. The focus of the tour is to keep it fresh and play smaller facilities than have been able to work with Elton John before.”
The show's promoter Frank Productions reached out to Wings Stadium about the possibility of a concert. Pluta said they quickly put together a proposal to secure Elton. Pluta, who had competition from other venues in the Midwest for this engagement, said the office was buzzing Thursday morning as people started hearing of the concert coup.
Meanwhile, Newschannel 3 is giving away 5 pairs of tickets to see the Wings Stadium concert.
To win, watch the morning show from 5 a.m.-7 a.m. each weekday morning between February 6-10. A call now number will be displayed on the screen and the 33rd caller will win two tickets to see Elton.
Wisconsin Wonder--Posted by editor_usa Another Stop Has Been Added to The ''Greatest Hits'' Tour Friday
3 February 2012 @ 16:11 - GMT
Elton and his band are heading for Madison, Wisconsin's Alliant Energy Center on Thursday, March 22.
The event will feature number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton’s incredible five-decade career.
The public on-sale will begin Friday, February 10, at 10 a.m.
“Whenever Elton John appears in our area, it is always a memorable experience not to be missed,” says Bill DiCarlo, Executive Director of Alliant Energy Center. “From his wondrous catalog of songs to his tremendous stage presence, it all adds up to a magical night.”
Tickets are $139.00, $79.00, $39.00 and will be available at Ticketmaster.com, at the Alliant Energy Center box office, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.
A service charge is added to each ticket.
There is an 8 ticket limit per patron.
$ellebrity--Posted by editor_usa Documentary About Fame Features Names From Music and Cinema Friday
3 February 2012 @ 15:44 - GMT
$ELLEBRITY is a new movie offering an all access pass to life behind the velvet rope and in front of the camera.
There are interviews with Elton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez among others, and the aim is to take viewers inside the blurred lines of privacy, pliable journalism, and fame as well as to depict what it feels like to be consumed.
The director is Kevin Mazur, a top rock photographer from Brooklyn.
The world premiere is to be held at next month's South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
Roberts, Ford--Posted by editor_usa Elton to Perform in Evansville, His First Visit Since 2000 Thursday
2 February 2012 @ 17:13 - GMT
Elton and his bandmates will be playing a Greatest Hits Live concert in Evansville, Indiana, on March 20.
Tickets for the Ford Center event will be priced from $40 to $140 (not including additional fees), and go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13. They’ll be available at the establishment's box office, through Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. There is an eight- ticket limit per customer.
This will be the rocker's first performance in Evansville since 2000, when he played to more than 10,000 people in Roberts Stadium.
Elton performed to a sold out Roberts in 1997, as well.
Last night, Elton (seen in a couple of photos, below) gave his first concert in Peru and was cheered by thousands at Lima's National Stadium.
Elton opened the show with Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting).
Other numbers included Crocodile Rock, Bennie and the Jets, and Nikita.
Elton was greeted at the event by Peru's first lady Nadine Heredia, who presented him with a tee shirt bearing the country's logo.
Wings--Posted by editor_usa A Kalamazoo Venue Has Been Added to Elton's Itinerary Thursday
2 February 2012 @ 16:22 - GMT
Elton and his band are playing Kalamazoo, Michigan, next month.
They will be at Wings Stadium on Wednesday, the 21st of March, at 8 p.m.
The public on-sale will begin on Saturday, February 11, at 10 a.m.
''This will be one incredible evening. Sir Elton John ranks arguably as one of the top artists to play our venue,'' says Ron Elenbaas, President and CEO of Greenleaf Hospitality Group. ''I am sure we are in for one amazing night when this world-renowned artist performs in Kalamazoo.''
Tickets are $139.00, $79.00, $39.00 and will be available online at Ticketmaster.com at Wings Stadium Ticket Office, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. A service charge is added to each ticket. There is an 8 ticket limit per customer.
2012 Could Prove a Record Setter For Live Shows--Posted by editor_usa
Thursday
2 February 2012 @ 16:01 - GMT
Music fans have already exhibited a healthy appetite for concert tickets in the first month of 2012, which is putting the year on track to be another strong one at the box office — and perhaps a record-setting one. It's a reflection, concert industry veterans told the Los AngelesTimes, of an improving economy as well as a powerhouse slate of performers who will be touring this year. Those include such longtime favourites as Elton (who also has a series of Million Dollar Piano gigs in Las Vegas), Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
Michael Rapino, president and chief executive of Live Nation Entertainment, the world's largest concert promoter, said business is up so far this year 14% to 15%, in terms of ticket sales and the number of shows the company is promoting.
"At this point we're optimistic about 2012," he said.
"We can foresee this being a record year for revenue certainly, and possibly even for attendance," declared Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the concert-industry tracking magazine Pollstar. "We're really going to be blessed with riches. It's going to be great year with a wide array of artists out there working."
Beyond the heritage acts that typically turn in the highest-grossing tours year in and year out, a number of more recently minted stars have proved capable of matching their predecessors, including tours planned for 2012 such as Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber.
A Showbiz Legend is Believed to Have Committed Suicide--Posted by editor_usa
Wednesday
1 February 2012 @ 17:08 - GMT
Don Cornelius, who created the long-running R&B and dance-music showcase Soul Train (but which also featured some guests from the rock world, like Elton and David Bowie), was found dead this morning.
Law enforcement officials in Sherman Oaks, California, believe he shot himself in the head.
The 75-year-old was trained as a journalist on WVON, an African-American talk radio station in his native Chicago. He came up with the idea for Soul Train during the Civil Rights movement, noting there was no showcase for black music on national television.
The show debuted in 1971 and quickly became a popular stop for major acts such as James Brown and Michael Jackson. Cornelius hosted the programme from its inception until 1993; Soul Train ended its long run in its original form in 2006.
The show had a huge influence on popular culture and the pop charts. One of its themes, TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),became a hit record, and references to Cornelius and Soul Train have appeared in dozens of songs over the years.
In his later years, Cornelius had a troubled marriage. In 2009, he was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor spousal battery. In his divorce case that year, he also mentioned having significant health issues.
Upon hearing about his friend, Quincy Jones said he was shocked and called him a ''visionary.''
Elton's South American Tour Begins --Posted by editor_usa
Wednesday
1 February 2012 @ 16:17 - GMT
Andina has revealed Elton is expected to perform 28 songs during a nearly 3-hour show tonight in Lima.
He will stay at the Marriott Hotel, located in Miraflores district and will be able to sample some of Peru's famous dishes such as lomo saltado and tiradito.
Lalo Martins, the chef who will prepare the catering during his stay, said:
"Lomo saltado will be mixed with the gnocchi, an Italian dish made with potato, while the lomo saltado is a typical Peruvian dish. The treatment has been very careful as there are plenty of seasonings because the foreign palate is different from ours. I hope that Elton John will try them."
Martins will also prepare tiradito (more raw fish dressed in Asian or Peruvian-inspired sauces) with a green chili cream as well as causa (a yellow potato mash dish), which will be presented as a snack.
As for the concert itself, Elton will be joined by his band, the 2Cellos and four backing vocalists (Rose Stone,Tata Vega, Lisa Stone and Jean Witherspoon).
After Lima, Elton goes on to to Costa Rica for an appearance on February 3 at the RicardoSaprissa Stadium.
He'll also play Panama on February 4 and Venezuela on the 5th.
A Producer Looks at The Power of Music--Posted by editor_usa
Wednesday
1 February 2012 @ 15:47 - GMT
The Telegraph has reported on the results on a new poll revealing 84 percent of males aged between 18 and 24 have become tearful to music. But in the 55 plus age group, the figure dropped to 74%.
The study also asked people where they were most likely to cry to a sad song.
Most broke down at home, but another emotional trigger was music played at weddings, with four in ten females admitting they had sobbed.
For men, music at nuptials proved less emotional – only 20 percent said they had shed a tear when a song was played as friends or family tied the knot.
It seems some melodies on the car radio can reduce many to tears, with 23 percent of men and 33 percent of ladies admitting to crying behind the wheel.
“I was really interested in finding out a bit more about the power of music and how it affects us all,” said theatrical producer David King, who conducted the survey.
“To be honest I wasn’t one bit surprised that men have such a strong reaction to music.
“I have been in and around music all my life and I know just what a powerful effect it can have on people.”
Below are the Top 20 Saddest Songs, as voted in the poll, which includes Candle in theWind.
1. Everybody Hurts – REM
2. Candle in the Wind – Elton
3. The Living Years – Mike and the Mechanics
4. I will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
5. Nothing Compares to You – Prince/Sinead O’Connor
6. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen/Alexandra Burke/Jeff Buckley
7. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
8. Fix You – Coldplay
9. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
10. Without You – Harry Nilsson
Sad News For Nigel And His Wife--Posted by editor_usa
Tuesday
31 January 2012 @ 17:33 - GMT
Nigel Olsson's father-in-law died January 20 of natural causes.
Songwriter and musician Larry Butler was 69.
The Pensacola native began playing piano at age 4 and performed in a band in Florida before moving to Memphis to become a member of the Gentrys, who scored a Top 10 pop hit in 1965 with Keep on Dancin'.
In Nashville, Butler was a top session musician, working with Conway Twitty and Bobby Goldsboro. He produced records for Capitol and CBS before being named head of United ArtistsRecords' Nashville division in 1973. This was where he played a major role in launching KennyRogers' solo career by producing hits such as The Gambler.
Larry and co-writer Chips Moman won a Grammy in 1975 for best country song for (HeyWon't You Play) AnotherSomebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, a major hit for B.J.Thomas. Butler won another Grammy in 1979 for overall producer of the year in the nonclassical division. Another honour was being inducted into the Country Music Hall ofFame’s Walkway of Stars.
Butler maintained ties to the Gulf Coast, helping to found the Frank Brown InternationalSongwriters Festival in 1984. He moved back to the area in 2000. After Hurricane Ivan devastated the region in 2004, he contacted his friend Willie Nelson about doing a benefit concert for Rebuild Northwest Florida. Along with local singer Will Hedgecock, they raised over a half-million dollars for the organisation.
He continued to work and perform locally until his death. He is survived by his spouse Peggy Butler and daughter Schanda Butler Olsson.
Elton to Play Fewer Shows When His Son Begins Classes--Posted by editor_usa
Tuesday
31 January 2012 @ 16:49 - GMT
Elton is planning to cut back on his tour commitments in the coming years so he can be by his young son's side when he starts school.
The hitmaker has been busy travelling the globe with his partner David Furnish and 13-month-old Zachary. But Elton admits that's all going to stop soon.
He explains, "At the moment, he's portable so he can come with us. He's been to Hawaii twice, Australia, Italy, France, Singapore, Canada. He comes where we go. That's going to be a little more difficult when he's four years old and we take him to school. I want to be there much more when he's in school."
