NEW RELEASE FROM BEN E KING FEATURES BOOTSEY COLLINS!!

Funk Icon BOOTSY COLLINS, Guitar Master RONNIE EARL & Others Form A Supernatural Alliance With Soul Legend BEN E. KING On New Recordings!

Los Angeles, CA – Ben E. King’s influence as both a songwriter and performer is undeniable. Beginning with his tenure in the legendary vocal band The Drifters, where he sang lead on such classics as “There Goes My Baby,” “This Magic Moment” and “Save The Last Dance,” and on through his solo career highlighted by timeless treasures such as “Stand By Me” and “Spanish Harlem,” King crafted a singing style, soulful and smooth, that continues to echo today.

Recently a group of friends and admirers have lent their talents on a set of recut versions of King's most beloved hits, creating a cross-temporal collaboration like no other! King's voice sounds as good as ever on this collection which features funky bass icon Bootsy Collins breathing new life into “Supernatural Thing, Part 1” while up-and-coming R&B artist Bette Smith joins blues guitar phenom Ronnie Earl on a rousing version of "Stand By Me!" Bringing some Latin flavor to the mix, flamenco guitarist Rafael Riqueni steps in for an inspired take on the classic “Spanish Harlem.” All of this and more can be found on Supernatural Soul, which is available now on all formats including both CD and vinyl!

Order the CD & vinyl: https://cleorecs.com/store/?s=ben+e+king+supernatural+soul&post_type=product
Stream/download the digital: https://orcd.co/a8a2l51

Track List:
1. Stand By Me feat. Bette Smith & Ronnie Earl
2. Supernatural Thing, Part I feat. Bootsy Collins
3. Spanish Harlem feat. Rafael Riqueni
4. Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
5. Amor
6. Do It In The Name Of Love
7. I Had A Love
8. Seven Letters
9. Stand By Me
10. Supernatural Thing, Part I feat. Bootsy Collins (Instrumental)
11. Drifters Medley: This Magic Moment / Dance With Me / There Goes My Baby / Save The Last Dance For Me

POP SOUL SINGER MAJOR. IN DETROIT 10-21 AT THE FOX THEATRE

"The Hope Dealer" in a world full of darkness and negativity, MAJOR.s music and message speaks toward light, positivity, and love.

MAJOR. had an immense single last year titled "Why I Love You" that was praised by Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and more as the next biggest wedding song of all time, MAJOR. released another timeless classic this year titled , “Honest” late last year.

#EvenMoreMAJOR

Even More is executive produced by Grammy Award winning Harmony Samuels (Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, Ciara) and offers features from newcomers such as Kris Kasanova and NSTASIA.



With over 5 Million streams on Spotify and 6 Million on Apple Music, MAJOR. Is generating a lot of buzz and is set to be one to watch for in 2019 and isn’t slowing down any time soon!

Buy CD Here

MAJOR. - Even More // ALBUM

Album Release: 9/7/18

LISTEN HERE

Genre: RnB

Album Features: NSTASIA, Andre Troutman, Kris Kasanova

MAJOR. Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

BANG! THE BERT BERNS STORY: NEW DOCUMENTARY

Bert Berns with Van Morrison

We have Bert Berns to thank for some of the greatest soul music ever made.

Bert Berns was an amazingly unknown (to the mainstream) soul/pop songwriter/producer during the early 1960s from the Bronx. He literally wrote the soundtrack of my life to be sure!! Here is a short list of his music legacy, click on each one to hear the song, you'll be glad you did!

"You'll love this movie!" -- The New York Times

BANG! now available for the first time on DVD!

Exclusively at www.bangthebertbernsstory.com

Atlantic braintrust: Jerry Wexler, Bert Burns, Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun

Songwriter/producer

"A Little Bit of Soap", The Jarmels (1961)

"Cry to Me", Solomon Burke (1962)
"Twist and Shout", The Isley Brothers (1962)
"Cry Baby", Garnet Mimms (1963)
"Tell Him" The Exciters" 1963
"Under the Boardwalk", The Drifters (1964)
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", Solomon Burke (1964)
"Hang on Sloopy", The McCoys (1965)
"Piece of My Heart", 1968 Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin "Twenty Five Miles", Edwin Starr (1968)

Producer:

"Nobody but Me", The Isley Brothers- Human Beinz (1963)
"Here Comes the Night", them (1964)
"Baby I'm Yours", Barbara Lewis (from Detroit) (1965)
"Make Me Your Baby", Barbara Lewis (1965)
"Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison (1967)
"Are You Lonely for Me Baby", Freddie Scott (1967)

Whew!! What a list of music!! I loved him all my life and never knew his name until last week!  So folks if you love Bert's music like I do, please buy the DVD and share this story with your friends..

Early Neil Diamond hits like “Cherry, Cherry” and “Kentucky Woman” were on Bang, as was Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” The Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy” and “Night Time” were on the label, too, as were the McCoys’ hits “Hang On Sloopy” and “Fever.”

Bert Berns produced Barbara Lewis a chart topper here in Detroit back in 1965. His touch made magic with Barbara...

The film celebrates Bert Berns' talent and joy for living. He knew his time was limited and he certainly gave it his all. He had the magical ear to hear just the right note and he pushed those singers to perform their best. Yet they all seemed to love him.

Music meets the Mob in this biographical documentary, narrated by Stevie Van Zandt, about the life and career of Bert Berns, the most important songwriter and record producer from the sixties that you never heard of. His hits include “Twist and Shout”, “Hang On Sloopy”, “Here Comes The Night” and “Piece Of My Heart.”

Here are some of the musicians that were interviewed for the film: Ronald Isley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Van Morrison,Cissy Houston, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney. Narrated by Stevie Van Zandt

BUY THE DVD HERE

Bert helped launch the careers of Van Morrison, Neil Diamond and produced some of the greatest soul music ever made. Filmmaker Brett Berns brings his late father's story to the screen through interviews with those who knew him best and rare performance footage.  Directors Brett Berns and Bob Sarles

Bang: The Bert Berns Story
Soundtrack

THE ISLEY BROTHERS AT SOUND BOARD TICKETS ON SALE 9-13

The Isley Brothers - Ronald & Ernie Isley

Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 7:30 PM

Sound Board

2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48201

Performance Art Theatre

(313) 309-4700

info@soundboarddetroit.com

Get Directions

Tickets · On Sale September 13 at 10 AM

ARETHA FRANKLIN FUNERAL SERVICE ANNOUNCED AUGUST 31, 2018

Dates announced for Aretha Franklin's visitation, funeral services in Detroit Funeral services to be held Aug. 31 at Greater Grace Temple.

Franklin's body will lie in repose from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which is located at 315 East Warren Avenue in Detroit.

The funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 31 at Greater Grace Temple, which is located at 23500 West 7 Mile Road in Detroit.

Here are more details about the funeral:

It will be a four-day event to celebrate her life.

For two days, Franklin's body will lie in repose at Charles H. Wright Museum for African American History. The viewing will be open to the public.

The funeral will be held at Greater Grace Temple and will only be for close family and friends. Organizers are working on a musical tribute with major recording artists. The venue is still being decided.

Right now, Franklin's body is being held at Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit.

View all Aretha Franklin coverage here.

By Katherine J. Wu

Aretha Franklin was no one’s understudy. But when the Queen of Soul took the stage at the 1998 Grammy Awards, she was not the singer audiences expected. At the eleventh hour, operatic legend Luciano Pavarotti had called to cancel his long-awaited headliner performance of “Nessun dorma” (None Shall Sleep) due to illness—and with no warning or preparation, Franklin agreed to step in.

It was neither her genre nor her typical vocal range. But Pavarotti was Franklin’s dear friend, and she had performed a heartfelt tribute to him earlier that week. With only 20 minutes notice, Grammy producers burst into Franklin’s dressing room with an outrageous request—and moments later, they were anxiously ushering her on stage. Read More Here

Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but achieving only modest success.

After signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", "Chain of Fools", "Think", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", and "Spanish Harlem".

By the end of the 1960s she was being called "The Queen of Soul". Franklin recorded acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Young, Gifted and Black (1972) and Amazing Grace (1972), before experiencing problems with her record company by the mid-1970s.

After her father was shot in 1979, she left Atlantic and signed with Arista Records, finding success with the albums Jump to It (1982) and Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985), and her part in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.

On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. She was reported to be under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, and ex-husband Glynn Turman, among others, visited her on her deathbed. Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. The cause was reported to be pancreatic cancer.

Aretha Franklin's family continues to coordinate memorial and funeral plans following her death Thursday morning in Detroit.

Details will be announced in coming days, likely early next week, said Gwendolyn Quinn, spokeswoman for the singer's family. Multiple events will be held in Detroit, Quinn said.

Arrangements are being handled by Swanson Funeral Home of Detroit.

DON DAVIS DETROIT MUSIC AND BANKING LEGEND DIED AT 75

 

Don Davis

Photo Credit: John Urbanek

Sad news tonight....Don "The Don" Davis perhaps the most successful business mogul in Detroit history passed away yesterday at 75.

DETROIT (June 6, 2014) – The Wilmore Agency regrets to announce the passing of Detroit native Mr. Don Davis after a brief illness on Thursday, June 5th.

Don Davis was CEO and chairman of First Independence Bank, Michigan’s only African-American owned and operated commercial bank, with multiple branches around the City of Detroit. A notably, successful endeavor, Mr. Davis led First Independence Bank with $204 million in assets (as of December 31, 2013), and was ranked as one of the top ranked African American owned bank in the United States, according to Black Enterprise Magazine.

Don Davis famous for his early work as a pioneering Motown session guitarist, then his historic work at United Sound Systems. He produced and/or played on numerous soul hits with the greatest soul artists of the 1960's and 1970s. Don left USS in Detroit and went to work at STAX in Memphis.He produced hits too numerous to list here...but you can see them on BlackRadioNetwork

Don was also a well known philanthropist, Davis partnered with the Lawrence P. Doss Scholarship Foundation to launch The Don Davis Composition Scholarship Award, which assists Detroit's underprivileged students in their educational goals.

Our friend John Neff who worked for Don back in the day has shared many stories about the amazing accomplishments of Don Davis... Read more here

Don passed away after a brief illness yesterday...and more details will be released soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with Don's lovely wife Kiko and his three wonderful children.