New Song From Montell Jordan And Cece Peniston
Check out the new song from Montell Jordan and Cece Peniston it’s called “He Say She Say.” It’s nice to hear from both of them again.
Ray Charles Genius: The Ultimate Collection Available on April 7
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Commencing an extensive Ray Charles reissue program for 2009, Concord Records will release a 21-song anthology of hits titled Ray Charles — Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection. The volume, slated for a street date of April 7, 2009, presents Charles’ most influential recordings for the Atlantic and ABC-Paramount labels including 1955’s “I Got a Woman†plus “Busted,†“Georgia on My Mind,†“Hit the Road Jack†and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,†concluding with his signature 1972 rendition of “America the Beautiful.†All are digitally remastered from the original tapes.
Late last year, Concord Music Group announced it had entered into an exclusive arrangement with the Ray Charles Foundation to develop the artist’s post-1960 catalog, which contains his classic work for the ABC-Paramount and Tangerine labels. In addition to planning a series of CD reissues, Concord will make the catalog available digitally for the first time ever.
Ray Charles — Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection chronicles the high points in Charles’ catalog. As noted jazz writer Don Heckman writes in his liner notes, “The first feeling that comes to mind after even a short glance at the titles included here is a sense of wonder. The diversity of the material is impressive in its own right — blues, of course, transformed gospel songs, country tunes, an American Songbook standard, a Beatles classic and a climactic American anthem. But more than that, it’s what he does with all these variegated numbers. Good singers can do great interpretations. Great singers like Charles possess the material in a way that makes a song their own, while remaining true to the essence of each.â€
Ten of the tracks on this collection made it to #1 on the R&B charts and three songs hit #1 on the pop chart. “That may sound like nothing more than numbers,†says Heckman, “but it represents an extraordinary string of successes in which Charles released a Top 10 R&B single in almost every year between 1954-67, and a Top 10 pop single almost every year between 1959-67.â€
The album contains 21 of Charles’ biggest hits, each within its own unique history and meaning. “Hit the Road Jack,†penned by Percy Mayfield, a #1 pop hit and a 1961 Grammy winner for Charles, opens the collection. Also included are “What I’d Say (Part 1),†ranked #10 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; the classic “Bustedâ€; “I Can’t Stop Loving You†from the album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which reached #1 on R&B and pop charts; the Bobby Sharp composition “Unchain My Heartâ€; Charles’ signature rendition of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind, another #1 pop hit; “I Got a Woman†which was Charles’ first #1 R&B hit and was later sampled by Kanye West; “You Are My Sunshine,†the Jimmie Davis standard that Charles brought to #1 R&B; a soulful edition of Hank Williams’ “Take These Chains From My Heartâ€; the offbeat “Hide Nor Hairâ€; Ashford & Simpson’s “Let’s Go Get Stoned,†a #1 R&B hit by Charles; “You Don’t Know Me,†earlier a hit for Jerry Vale, which charted #2 pop; “Hallelujah I Love Her So,†originally a gospel hymn; “Crying Time,†a Buck Owens song which Charles brought to #6 on the pop charts; the funky “I’m a Fool for You,†which charted #1 R&B; “One Mint Julep,†Charles’ version of The Clovers’ hit with a big band arrangement by Quincy Jones; “Here We Go Again,†sung as a duet with Betty Carter; “Yesterday,†the Lennon/McCartney classic, in which Charles, according to Heckman, “embraces the song’s deep inner heartâ€; and finally his 1972 signature recording of “America the Beautiful,†the perfect ending and relevant once again.
Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection will be packaged in a handsome embossed digipack and presented with a 24-page collectors’ book of rare photos and Heckman’s notes.
“Genius Loves Company was Ray Charles’ highest selling record ever,”
said Valerie Ervin, President of the Ray Charles Foundation. “In addition to the artistic quality of the music, the release was matched by Concord’s skill in finding new ways to market in the increasingly challenging environment.
Their incomparable ability to innovate will also be seen in the upcoming
releases.”
Concord will release several other Ray Charles reissues this year including Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Volumes 1 & 2, The Genius Hits the Road, A Message to the People and Genius + Soul = Jazz & More.
Nicki Richards Hot Off Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour Announces Brand New Release, Two Huge NYC Shows
New York, NY (February 25, 2008) Nicki Richards is many things: a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and performer whose long-awaited new album is simply titled “Nicki” – 17 songs for the 17 years she’s been away since her 1991 debut, “Naked (To the World)”. Over the past decade, Nicki has made a name for herself as an in-demand A-list session and touring singer for the likes of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Lenny Kravitz, Frankie Knuckles and the Reverend Al Green just to name just a few. It was while on the road with Madonna – singing backup with Donna DeLory (her voice can be heard on albums by Carly Simon, Laura Branigan, Belinda Carlisle and others) – that Nicki realized she missed the frontline more than she dared admit.
The album features guest stars including Grammy award winning Bassists Marcus Miller, Will Lee (best known for his work on the CBS Television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra) and Victor Bailey (who has recorded and/or toured with Weather Report, David Gilmour, Sting and more), pianist Joe Sample (virtuoso who founded The Crusaders and has played with Miles Davis, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan), horn players from national act Tower of Power, drummer Dennis Chambers (who has recorded and performed with the likes of Santana and Parliament/Funkadelic), Gregoire Maret on harmonica (some of his performing and recording credits include playing with Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Duke Ellington Orchestra & Meshell Ndegeocello), guitarists Ciro (musical director for Alejandro Sanz), Sherrod Barnes (who has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Roberta Flack and Angie Stone) and Monte Pittman, Madonna’s longtime guitarist.
Nicki has also enlisted singers including Lisa Fischer (backup vocalist with the Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, and currently on tour with Tina Turner), Cindy Mizelle (she has contributed her vocal talents to over 120 albums by artists such as Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion and Alicia Keys), Nicki’s mom Donna Blackmon, and Nicki’s co-producer, mentor and drummer, Lenny White (of Return to Forever and Twennynine fame).
Highlights of the record include “Check Yourself”, with the Tower of Power Horns, arranged by Tom “Bones” Malone and the spacey “Alpha Centauri”, which showcases Victor Bailey’s fretless bass. Other notable tracks include “Say the Words,” “In Bed” and “Happening to Me Again”. On a more serious note, the inspiration for the poigniant “Lawdy” came from her personal experience of when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Nicki had cousins, aunts and uncles who were all displaced, their houses destroyed, and lost her grandfather to illness caused by the devastating storm.
Now is the perfect time to see Nicki in action, on stage, up front where she was born to be.
Here are the full details:
NICKI RICHARDS Live!
Friday March 27th
@ The Bitter End
http://www.bitterend.com
147 Bleeker St (between Thompson and LaGuardia)
New York, New York 10002
212-673-7030
$15 Admission/18 and over/9:00 PM Showtime
NICKI RICHARDS Live!
Friday April 17th
@ Joe’s Pub
http://www.joespub.com
425 Lafayette St (between East 4th and Astor Place)
New York, New York 10003
212-967-7555
$15 Admission/All Ages/11:30 PM Showtime
ABOUT NICKI RICHARDS
As the daughter of a high-ranking African American Naval officer, Nicki lived in places all over the world – from Washington, D.C. and California to Hawaii and Pensacola during her childhood. Her mother Donna Blackmon is a professional singer who frequently sang with Cannonball Adderley. Nicki’s grandmother, Lurlean Blackmon, is a pianist and organist who was the choir director for five Primitive Baptist churches. Nicki’s baby brother Philip Richards is a singer/musician in his own right who graces several songs on “Nicki” and has his own rock band, Status Joe. Nicki’s mother had her doing commercials when she was 5. She has also done some theatre and movies, but making music is her passion. As a teenager, she was rubbing elbows with musicians such as Cornell Dupree, Steve Gadd, Jaco Pastorius, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton, Hiram Bullock and Richard Tee.
Her first big break was being signed by Atlantic Records co-founding President Ahmet Ertegun, where she released her debut CD entitled “Naked (To the World)” in 1991. Now, 2008 brings about the resurgence of a born star – back to the front.
For the full story, please check out http://www.myspace.com/nickirichards