Danny Aiello turns his grief into stage fuel
AP By MARK KENNEDY – AP Drama Writer NEW YORK (AP) — These days, Danny Aiello is pouring his personal tragedy into a national one. The Academy Award-nominated actor, still reeling from the death last year of his 53-year-old son from pancreatic cancer, has found solace in the strangest of places: Sept. 11, 2001. The […]
A Word With: Danny Aiello – Emotional Guy, Speaking for Others
By FELICIA R.LEE Danny Aiello, a big guy with a big New Yawk accent, is best known for roles like Sal, the boisterous pizzeria owner in Spike Lee’s 1989 film, “Do the Right Thing,” which won him an Oscar nomination. In the play “The Shoemaker,” which is now in previews and opens on Sunday at […]
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will swing into Meijer Gardens on Thursday
By Laura Michels | The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy thrives on the energy generated from playing in front of a live audience, said trumpeter Glen “The Kid” Marhevka. IF YOU GO Big Bad Voodoo Daddy When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday Where: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline […]
Blues you can use
What do you get when you cross some of the world’s great blues artists and a summer weekend in Maine? Why, the North Atlantic Blues Festival, of course. By Ray Routhier rrouthier@mainetoday.com Staff Writer Robert Cray likes blues festivals. As a guitarist and singer known mainly for the blues, he’ll readily admit that he doesn’t […]
Aiming for ‘the emotional G-spot’
Article by: BRITT ROBSON , Special to the Star Tribune Jubilant jazz singer Rene Marie has come a long way from her door-knocking days as a Jehovah’s Witness. Onstage, jazz vocalist Rene Marie is spontaneous, feisty and soulful, dressed with a charismatic flair. Those who see her Tuesday at the Dakota Jazz Club might have […]
René Marie – July 7-10 at the Jazz Standard
Written by Derek Harrison Colorado-based jazz singer René Marie credits music with giving her the confidence to leave an abusive marriage at the age of 40 and dive into a singing career. Now, 15 years later, she is an accomplished recording artist, performer and composer. Her latest album “Voice of my Beautiful Country” is a […]
Stephen Marley Coming to the Electric Factory
By DeWayne Walker Stephen Marley, the son of reggae legend Bob Marley will be bring his “jammin” sounds to the Electric Factory on July 17. He will be celebrating the release of his new album “Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life.” “Reggae music has influenced hip hop and so many other kinds of music,” […]
Lift Every Voice and Sing/The Star Spangled Banner
In 2008, vocalist Rene Marie changed up “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Denver City Hall performance by singing the song’s melody and interpolating James Weldon Johnson’s lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often dubbed “The Black National Anthem.” Marie had no idea that her interpretation would touch off a media firestorm that even compelled […]
Jazz singer Rene Marie talks about the past and her future
By Jon Solomon A few years ago, jazz singer René Marie was called an American during an interview in Russia. Marie, without even thinking, wanted to correct the journalist and say, “I’m not American,” since she didn’t feel like an American. Singer René Marie says her time in Denver has been life-changing. Details René Marie […]
Stephen Marley Talks New Album & Collabs With Buju Banton, Rakim And Dead Prez
Reggae isn’t all about winding and gun shots. VIBE caught up with Jamaica’s finest Stephen Marley to chat it up about his third album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life, his reaction to longtime friend Buju Banton’s sentencing and he stays dedicated to humanity. VIBE: Just by the title alone, you can tell this […]
To Robert Cray, the music is a band effort no matter the label
By Mark Bialczak/The Post-Standard Sure thing, Robert Cray quickly says, it was quite wonderful to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame this spring. But that doesn’t mean it’s a breach of style for The Robert Cray Band to perform Friday at the M&T Jazz Fest at Onondaga Community College. “We’re blues. Rock. All […]
Grammy-winning bluesman at Metropolis
By Dan Pearson Contributor Robert Cray may not have been present at the birth of the blues, but he was there for the birth of the Blues Brothers. The 57-year-old, five-time Grammy Award-winner blues master will be at Metropolis on June 18, and will share some cultural history he knows well. It happened when he […]
‘DMC’ Celebrate’s Black Music Month on Sirius XM
Rock Box with D.M.C. Tonight 7:00 pm ET The legendary D.M.C. stops by Backspin to talk about and play his favorite rock/hip-hop collaborations of all time. Find out why Run-D.M.C. were originally hesitant to record “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith. Hear Rage Against the Machine cover Afrika Bambaataa, Ice-T’s controversial “Cop Killer” and much more! […]
On the record: The Marley legacy continues
What’s hot and what’s not in this week’s new releases. By Polly Weeks. Stephen Marley – Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life. The spirit of Bob Marley & The Wailers has little chance of waning as the legend’s legacy lives on in the sentiments and musical direction of his sons Ziggy, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ […]