LUKE JAMES RELEASES NEW WHO IS LUKE JAMES? VIDEO

N.A.R.S. / MERCURY RECORDS / ISLAND DEF JAM ARTIST
LUKE JAMES
RELEASES NEW “WHO IS LUKE JAMES?” VIDEO

DEBUT SOLO ALBUM MADE TO LOVE COMING THIS SPRING

January 13, 2012 – On the heels of the release of his #LUKE pre-album and being announced as a performer at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in his hometown (July 6-8), N.A.R.S. / Mercury Records / Island Def Jam recording artist Luke James offers a deeper look into growing up in New Orleans and touches on his artistic inspirations with the latest installment of his “Who Is Luke James?” video series: http://youtu.be/S7z4GlrB67o.

Having already charmed critics from coast to coast and headlined events like Give Back Hollywood / VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Pre MTV VMA benefit, Luke James recently wrapped his multi-city opening gig on Robin Thicke’s “Love After War” tour.  The much buzzed-about artist’s growing celebrity fan base includes Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Estelle, and none other than Beyoncé, who selected him for a featured role in her “Run the World” video, and Melanie Fiona, who featured him as her boyfriend in her “4 A.M.” music video.  Luke James is also the co-writer of Chris Brown’s “Crawl” and has penned songs for Justin Bieber (“That Should Be Me”), Michael Bolton, and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), among others.

To view Luke James’ new “Who Is Luke James?” video, please visit: http://youtu.be/S7z4GlrB67o

GRAMMY-NOMINATED R&B SINGER AND MUSICIAN KARINA PASIAN RELEASES TRIPS TO VENUS EP

NEW EP FEATURES CHRISTMAS BONUS OF THE NAT KING COLE CLASSIC,
 “THE CHRISTMAS SONG,” JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 21, 2011 (New York, NY) – This December, GRAMMY®-nominated R&B singer and musician Karina Pasian released her follow-up EP, Trips To Venus, to her GRAMMY® Award-nominated Def Jam debut album, First Love. Working with a bevy of esteemed producers and songwriters including GRAMMY®-winning producer Needlz, Barry Eastmond, GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Cassius D. Kalb and Gordon Chambers, Karina Pasian delivers a lyrically stunning collection of songs on Trips To Venus that is filled with stirring piano solos and packed with personality.  As a special holiday bonus for fans, Karina Pasian concludes the EP with a breathtaking version of the popular Mel Tormé and Bob Wells-penned Christmas classic, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” originally made famous by Nat King Cole.

Born in New York City, Karina Pasian first began taking piano lessons at the age of three.  By 13, she had already won Star Search, met Quincy Jones and was the subject of a bidding war between three major record labels: Def Jam, Interscope, and Bad Boy Records.  In June 2007, at the age of 15, Karina Pasian performed at the White House for President George W. Bush, in celebration of Black Music Month, making her the first person of Dominican descent to perform there.  Karina Pasian’s debut album, First Love, was released by Def Jam on August 19, 2008 and was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category.

Since breaking out onto the music scene with First Love in 2008, Karina Pasian has been recording music and finished up her studies at NYC’s Professional Performing Arts School.  Trips To Venus, available for $3.99 on iTunes (also available on Amazon and Google Music), marks the now 20-year-old’s R&B singer’s much-anticipated return.

Trips To Venus EP Track Listing:
1.     “Dead End”
2.     “Just Another Melody”
3.     “Last To Know”
4.     “Perfectly Different”
5.     “When You’re In Love”
6.     “The Christmas Song”

To stream Karina Pasian’s new EP, Trips To Venus, please visit: http://soundcloud.com/user206388/sets/karina-pasian-trips-to-venus/s-1wzzP and follow @KarinaPasian on Twitter.

To purchase Karina Pasian’s new EP, Trips To Venus, please visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trips-to-venus-ep-volume-one/id488361854

SONY MASTERWORKS RELEASES SOUNDTRACK OF THE IRON LADY

ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY THOMAS NEWMAN FOR THE FILM
STARRING MERYL STREEP IN THE ROLE OF MARGARET THATCHER

Soundtrack Recording Available December 20, 2011

Sony Masterworks is pleased to announce the release of the soundtrack of The Iron Lady on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.  Award-winning composer Thomas Newman created the original music for the soundtrack recording.  The Iron Lady opens in theatres on December 30, 2011.

The Iron Lady tells the compelling story of Margaret Thatcher, a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, and is a surprising and intimate portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman.

The film stars Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep as Lady Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher.  Their young selves are played by Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd. The rest of the cast of family and friends, politicians and advisers, is made up of the very best of British acting talent, including: Olivia Colman, Anthony Head, Richard E Grant, Iain Glen, Susan Brown, Nicholas Farrell, Roger Allam and Michael Pennington.

The original soundtrack is the work of Thomas Newman, one of the most respected composers in the movie business, who has scored over fifty feature films. Newman has been nominated for an Academy Award on no less than ten occasions, nine times in the category Best Original Score and once for Best Original Song. He has won a BAFTA, two Grammys and an Emmy, and has also been nominated for a Golden Globe. Born in Los Angeles, Yale-educated Thomas Newman comes from a prominent Hollywood musical dynasty: his father, brother, sister and uncle have all composed for the movies, and the singer-songwriter Randy Newman is his cousin.

His first major work in movies was in 1984 for Reckless. In 1999 Newman composed the score to Sam Mendes’ first feature film, American Beauty, and has written the music for all but one of Mendes’ later films, as well as Erin Brockovich and The Good German for director Steven Soderbergh, and such hits as Finding Nemo and The Horse Whisperer. Newman has also composed for TV, including the theme music for Six Feet Under, which won him Grammys for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Arrangement, and has been commissioned to write orchestral concert music, for example for the Cleveland Bicentennial in 1996 and for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The film was written by award-winning writer Abi Morgan (The Hour, Shame, Sex Traffic, Brick Lane), directed by Phyllida Lloyd CBE (Mamma Mia) and produced by Damian Jones (The History Boys, Adulthood).  It is executive produced by Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken for Pathé, by Tessa Ross for Film4 and by Adam Kulick for Goldcrest.

CAROLE DEMAS, ORIGINAL STAR BROADWAY’S GREASE AND TV’S MAGIC GARDEN BACK ON BROADWAY WITH ORIGINAL GREASE CAST

Launching GREASE 40th Anniversary Year

(November 22, 2011 – New York, NY)  The original Broadway GREASE cast is reuniting for two very rare performances as part of Broadway Cares/Equity Fight Aids Annual Gypsy of the Year Event. A rollicking opening number will feature a reunion of the original cast of GREASE in a special 40-year anniversary tribute. In addition to Carole (Sandy), appearing will be original cast members Barry Bostwick (Danny), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino), Walter Bobbie (Roger), Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady), and Mews Small (Frenchy).  This show is easily the biggest party in town with appearances by dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway’s most popular shows and performers.

With thousands of performances in leading roles on and Off-Broadway and in major regional theatres, TV, radio, recordings, in concert, and cabaret, Carole has stolen the hearts of audiences and critics alike.  She created the role of ‘Sandy’ in the original Broadway blockbuster, GREASE, originated the title role in Stephen Schwartz’s THE BAKER’S WIFE in Los Angeles and played ‘Luisa’ in New York City’s longest running Off-Broadway show, THE FANTASTICKS, for two years. She is loved and remembered by generations of fans as co-star of THE MAGIC GARDEN, the most successful regional show in children’s television history.

Recently, Carole was featured in Town Hall’s Broadway Originals Concert, Off- Broadway Close Up at Merkin Concert Hall, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway at Harry Chapin Theatre and 50th Anniversary Concerts for WBAI Radio, The Fantasticks (Night of 1000 Luisas) and The Lincoln Center Library For The Performing Arts.  Carole and her Magic Garden partner and lifelong friend, Paula Janis, were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.  Carole also performed a series of her cabaret show at NY’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Carole’s upcoming performances:

Gypsy of the Year
December 5th (4:30PM) and 6th (2PM)

http://www.broadwaycares.org/gypsy2011

Sean Harkness at The Players Club NYC
December 7th (7PM)
reservations@theplayersnyc.org

Neil Berg’s Broadway All-Star Holiday Concert
December 10th, (8pm)
www.irvingtontheatre.com
www.caroledemas.com

ALABAMA TO RECEIVE “GREATEST HITS” AWARD AND PERFORM ON “AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS” MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, ON FOX

MERICAN IDOL SCOTTY MCCREERY ALSO SET TO PERFORM

 

Josh Turner, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, The JaneDear Girls, Bill Engvall,

Larry Mahan and Rodney Carrington Scheduled To Appear

 

Voting for Artist of the Year Continues at www.theacas.com

Until Friday, December 2

 

Legendary country music group Alabama has been tapped to receive the Greatest Hits Award at the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The veteran band, which gave its farewell tour in 2003, also will perform during the broadcast. Additionally, AMERICAN IDOL winner Scotty McCreery has been added to the list of performers for the two-hour primetime special.

 

The AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS Greatest Hits Award is presented to a country music act that has produced an extensive catalogue of No. 1 hits throughout its career.

 

As one of country music’s classic groups, Alabama has enjoyed more than 30 years of unprecedented success in the music industry. Consisting of Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook, the group has released 21 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums, and 43 No. 1 singles. Other accolades include eight country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

 

Alabama first signed with industry giant RCA back in 1980. The group immediately began taking the country genre in new directions, reaching out to an incredibly diverse fan base, many of whom had never listened to country music. The band’s upbringing on country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, rock-n-roll and southern rock enabled them to perform everything from Acuff to ZZ Top. Their career sales have topped 73 million records, ranking them as one of the 10 biggest-selling bands in the annals of popular music – ahead of such rock legends as Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Queen, Pink Floyd and The Who. Additionally, Alabama has more No. 1 records than any band in country music history and has sold more concert tickets than any other country group.

 

 

The second annual AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS, hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, is the only country music awards show that gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has. Co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, along with country music’s Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry are set to perform. The special will also include appearances by Josh Turner, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, The JaneDear Girls, Bill Engvall, Larry Mahan and Rodney Carrington. Previously announced participants include Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery and the men of “Pawn Stars” (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell).

 

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE 2011, “Kids’ Choice Awards”). Fletcher Foster, Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey will direct the special.

 

KILL THE NOISE RELEASES “KILL KILL KILL EP” ON OWSLA TODAY

UTTER BASS DESTRUCTION COMMENCES WITH 6 ORIGINALS AND 4 REMIXES FROM DILLON FRANCIS, ALVIN RISK, BROWN & GAMMON, AND KOAN SOUND

Today OWSLA proudly announces it’s 7th release, this time from LA’s Kill The Noise.  A prominent contributor to the label’s sterling catalog with remixes on both Porter Robinson’s Spitfire EP and KOAN Sound’s Funk Blaster EP, the man born Jake Stanczak delivers an assertive lesson in cinematic, cross-genre EDM with the Kill Kill Kill EP.

KTN’s landscapes each have an undertone of boundary-pushing futurism. Stoked by the intermittent sounds of thousands of cheering, riotous revelers, each track- regardless of sub-genre (the album spans many)- shares a reliance on the blistering bass that has come to typify OWSLA releases. Alvin Risk, Dillon Francis, Brown & Gammon and label alums KOAN Sound share remix duties, polishing and re-imagining the music while pushing the EP into album territory.

WATCH THE KILL KILL KILL TEASER VIDEO HERE:

PURCHASE THE KILL KILL KILL EP HERE:

http://www.beatport.com/release/kill-kill-kill/833512

KILL KILL KILL EP TRACK LISTING:

1. Kill The Noise (Part I)
2. Deal With It
3. Real Life?
4. She Likes To Party
5. Talk To Me
6. Dying feat. Ultra Violet Sound & Emily Hudson
7. Kill The Noise (Dillon Francis Remix)
8. Dying feat. Ultra Violet Sound & Emily Hudson (Brown & Gammon Remix)
9. Kill The Noise (Alvin Risk Remix)
10. Deal With It (KOAN Sound Remix)

ASHER ROTH SIGNS TO DEF JAM; NEW ALBUM SET TO DROP MARCH 2012

NEW RELEASE “PABST & JAZZ SESSIONS” ON iTUNES DECEMBER 20

RAPPER TO DONATE PROCEEDS FROM NEW PROJECT, PABST & JAZZ, TO FIGHT HUNGER IN PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia-based rapper Asher Roth has announced that his sophomore album will drop on the legendary Def Jam Recordings in March of 2012. The follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2008 debut album Asleep In The Bread Aisle, Roth’s first Def Jam offering promises to be a significant step for the young star. “Def Jam is a great place to call home,” said Roth. “I’m excited to get back to the basics with good, honest music.”

While working on his Def Jam debut, Asher has kept his rabid fan-base satiated with a flood of new material online, including a lauded mixtape, 2010′s Seared Fois Gras With Quince And Cranberry, The Rawth EP- a free album with producer Nottz, plus countless singles, guest verses, and videos. Now, Roth prepares to leap back into the spotlight.”The Def Jam brand stands for quality, creativity, and authenticity,” said Steve Bartels, Island Def Jam President and COO. “We believe Asher Roth delivers all this and more. He’s a great fit for us and we look forward to delivering Asher’s special brand of great hip-hop music as only Def Jam can.” SRC Records CEO, Steve Rifkind, agrees. “Partnering up with Def Jam on Asher’s album is a great opportunity for all parties involved,” said Rifkind.

His most recent project is the Pabst & Jazz Sessions, a collection of tracks by Asher, The Cool Kids’ Chuck Inglish, and production duo Blended Babies. The sessions collection will go on sale at iTunes December 20th with Asher’s proceeds going to The Philadelphia Hunger Coalition. For more on The Philadelphia Hunger Coalition: http://www.hungercoalition.org

Stay tuned for more on Def Jam’s newest star, Asher Roth…

NEW ASHER ROTH VIDEOS:

“IN THE KITCHEN FEAT. CHUCK INGLISH”

“LAST MAN STANDING”

“SUMMERTIME”

Another Amazon Music Test: Kelly Clarkson’s new album “Stronger” to sell for $4.99 today

When Amazon had the Lady GaGa “Born This Way” album sale, it proved to be quite successful.  This time, today it’s Kelly Clarkson for her new album “Stronger”.  This time selling for $4.99.

That’s a pretty awesome deal!

Foster the People will have a live webcast concert on “Live on Letterman” (Wednesday, October 26th)

Fans of the band Foster the People will want to tune to “Live on Letterman” on Wednesday, October 26th (9:00 PM, ET/6:00 PM, PT) as the band will be performing hits from their album “Torches”. including their double-platinum hit “Pumped Up Kicks”.

Fans can watch the webcast live or on-demand at:  http://www.cbs.com/late_night/liveonletterman/

The webcast will follow the taping of their performance on the “Late Show with David Letterman” broadcasting on Thursday, Oct. 27th (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on CBS.

Foster the People is a Los Angeles-based indie rock trio formed in 2009 by Mark Foster, Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink.

The band took the music world by storm in 2011 with their certified gold, full-length debut “Torches”, and the breakout single “Pumped Up Kicks,” which hit #1 on the Billboard Alternative charts.  Following closely in its footsteps is the band’s second hit single, “Helena Beat,” which is currently sitting in the Top 10 on the Alternative charts.

In addition to the band’s critical and commercial success, Foster the People is VH1’s most recent “You Oughta Know” artist, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards (Best New Artist and Best Rock Video for “Pumped Up Kicks”), and is a current nominee for the 2011 American Music Awards’ Sprint New Artist of the Year category.  Fans can currently catch the band on a national and European tour through November.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY ANNOUNCES FALL 2011 RELEASES

Forgotten Classics Available For The First Time
As Disc-On-Demand and Digital Download

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY, recently praised by the Wall Street Journal for its ongoing reissue campaign, continues to make good on its promise to open its vaults with more classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era. Babes in Arms (1951 Studio Cast) and Blackbirds of 1928/Shuffle Along (1953 Studio Cast) are joined by a new reissue of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies in Concert (1985 Concert Cast) and the first digital release of Jerry Herman’s TV musical Mrs. Santa Claus (1996 TV Soundtrack). All releases will be accompanied by new album pages and photos on MasterworksBroadway.com.

Babes in Arms was the first serious attempt to record one of the most successful, hit-laden original Broadway scores created by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The decision was an interesting one, coming at the height of the popularity of Rodgers’ second, more famous collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II – and at a time when old Broadway musicals were generally considered to be quaint but hopeless relics. For this recording, which honors the original score and generally follows the original order of the songs, the label sought the insurance of featuring a big star in Mary Martin, then shining brighter than ever following the success of South Pacific. The Columbia recording, also starring Jack Cassidy and Mardi Baynee, was produced by Goddard Lieberson under Lehman Engel’s direction. The October 24 release, the first authorized since the LP era using the original mono master, will be available as a digital download and as disc-on-demand, with the original cover art and new liner notes, via Arkivmusic.com and Amazon.com.

In celebration of the acclaimed new Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, a new 2-CD eco-friendly softpack of Follies in Concert will be released on October 24. Recorded live at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City on September 6 -7, 1985, Follies in Concert finally gave one of Sondheim’s most ravishing scores it’s complete due, and revealed the previously neglected show as a masterwork of the American musical theater. Featuring an all-star cast recruited by the composer, Follies in Concert quickly passed into theatrical legend and is now referred to in the same manner as a major historical event. The reissue also includes Stephen Sondheim’s score to the film Stavisky.

The 1953 studio recordings of songs from the pioneering all-black musicals Shuffle Along (1921) and Blackbirds of 1928 (1928) are the only representations of these landmark scores in their original context. Shuffle Along introduced the Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle hit “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” and Blackbirds of 1928 gave the songwriting team of Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields their first Broadway success with such classics as “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” and “Diga-Diga-Doo.” Eubie Blake conducts and plays piano on the four songs from Shuffle Along, featuring Thelma Carpenter and Tony nominee Avon Long. Carpenter and Cab Calloway share the four songs from Blackbirds of 1928, with Lehman Engel conducting. The November 15 release of these recordings is the first using the original masters and will be available as a digital download and as disc-on-demand, with the original cover art and new liner notes, via Arkivmusic.com and Amazon.com.

Just in time for the holidays, Masterworks Broadway digitally reissues the soundtrack to the 1996 Yuletide television special, Mrs. Santa Claus on November 15. The holiday film reunited Broadway composer Jerry Herman with Angela Lansbury who had glittered in two of his musicals, Mame and Dear World. Set in 1910, the show chronicled the misadventures of Santa’s wife (or Mrs. North as she whimsily called herself) who, having failed to convince her husband that he should take a rest, decides to drive his sleigh herself on Christmas eve. With a cast that included Charles Durning, Michael Jeter and Terrence Mann, the Hallmark presentation provided Jerry Herman with a renewed opportunity to write catchy songs, most notably for his star, who delivered with her usual gusto such lilting tunes as “Mrs. Santa Claus,” “Almost Young,” and “Whistle.”

Masterworks Broadway is a label of Sony Masterworks. For email updates and information on Masterworks Broadway please visit www.masterworksbroadway.com.

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