Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan 

Photo: Gary Gershoff/WireImage

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Chaka Khan And Michael McDonald Announce Summer 2019 Tour

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This summer is the chance to catch the hitmakers on stage together, both with fresh material for the first time in years
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Feb 7, 2019 - 3:51 pm

Multiple GRAMMY winners Chaka Khan and Michael McDonald announced co-headlining tour dates beginning on June 20 in Huber Heights, Ohio and wrapping up on Aug. 4 in Rohnert Park, Calif. Both artists are back with new music, after long waits, and seeing them on the same stage is bound to be memorable.

McDonald's Wide Open was released in Sept. 2017, his first album of new material since Blue Obsession in 2000. The album was co-produced with drummer Shannon Forrest and includes contributions from artists Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Branford Marsalis, and Marcus Miller. Back at the 22nd GRAMMY Awards, McDonald's "What A Fool Believes" with the Doobie Brothers won Record Of The Year.

Chaka Khan's Hello Happiness will be released on Feb. 15, and its title track came out on Jan. 14. Her previous solo studio album was 2007's Funk This, winner at the 50th GRAMMY Awards for Best R&B Album.

At the 27th GRAMMY Awards, the two each took home respective R&B wins. Khan won Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female for "I Feel For You," for which Prince won Best R&B Song as its writer, the same year.  McDonald won Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Yah Mo B There," his duet with co-writer James Ingram.

Tickets for the summer co-headline tour go on sale on Feb. 8 at McDonald and Khan's websites. 

Chaka Khan Reveals First Album In 12 Years Coming Soon, Drops Video For Title Track "Hello Happiness"

Chaka Kahn

Chaka Khan

Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images

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New Orleans Jazz Fest 2019: Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Chaka Khan, Al Green & More

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The lineup for the 50th anniversary of the legendary music festival is a history lesson in itself, featuring a wide range of artists from across decades and genres
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 15, 2019 - 4:25 pm

On Jan. 15, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced its lineup for the two weekend event being held on April 25–28 and May 2–5. The top-line headliners are GRAMMY winners the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Bob Seger and Chris Stapleton, who is also a current nominee, plus past GRAMMY nominees Katy Perry and Jimmy Buffett. The annual Jazz Fest is a celebration of New Orleans musical culture, highlighting local musicans along with national and global acts—for the event's 50th year, the diverse lineup shows they are ready to celebrate. 

 

Some other GRAMMY-winning legends playing the festival include Ciara, Shirley Caesar, Gary Clark Jr., Rita Coolidge, Ani DiFranco, Earth, Wind & Fire, John Fogerty, Al Green, Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, Indigo Girls, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, the Mavericks, Alanis Morissette, Van Morrison, Pitbull, Bonnie Raitt, Santana, Mavis Staples and Ziggy Marley. How's that for some heritage worthy of a 50th anniversary?

It doesn't stop there. GRAMMY-nominated artists in the packed lineup include J Balvin, Tom Jones, Logic and Trombone Shorty. There are also, per tradition, an impressive group of less-widely known (yet incredibly talented) acts on the bill. GRAMMY.com has enjoyed speaking with Hurray For The Riff Raff and Kamasi Washington, but there are many more you won't want to miss getting the chance to discover and know better.

Check out the festival's website for more information and details about tickets, which go on sale Jan. 18 via Ticketmaster.

'On Location: New Orleans' Takes You To Birthplace Of Jazz And Bounce

James Taylor and Joni Mitchell

James Taylor and Joni Mitchell

Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images

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Joni Mitchell Tribute 'Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration' Coming To Theaters

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The iconic folk singer celebrated her 75th birthday in style last year, and now, for one night only, you can watch how it all went down
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 9, 2019 - 4:06 pm

Joni Mitchell's 75th birthday celebration last year welcomed a number of GRAMMY-winning performers, including Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Los Lobos, Graham Nash, Seal, and James Taylor. (Not to mention the performing GRAMMY nominees: Glen Hansard, Rufus Wainwright and 61st GRAMMY Awards nominee Brandi Carlile.) Now, Trafalger Releasing is set to release a movie of the tribute concerts — The Music Center Presents Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration — to theaters on Feb. 7.

Variety’s coverage of the night’s performances said, “Carlile had the bravura vocal performance of the night, effortlessly hitting the high notes of 'Down to You' in a casually octave-spanning fashion few others on the bill would have been down with attempting.” She also joined Kristofferson for a duet of “A Case of You.”

Tickets are now on sale for the Feb. 7 showings. A soundtrack album will be released via Verve on Mar. 1. 

A Woman Of Influence: Joni Mitchell, Looking Back From 75

Cher

Cher

Photo: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images

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Cher Adds More 2019 Performance Dates In North America

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The diva adds to her demanding 2019 tour schedule while her recent albums chart at career highs
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 29, 2019 - 2:53 pm

Cher's Here We Go Again Tour has added 14 new North American stops in November and December of 2019. This year is keeping the GRAMMY-winning diva busy as she finishes one of her residency series at MGM Resorts' Park Theater in Las Vegas tonight and tomorrow night.

Touring with special guests Nile Rodgers and Chic, Cher's first of the new dates is Nov. 19 in Portland, Ore. with performances in Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Toronto through the end of the month. Next stop is Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 3, then heading south through Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. The beat goes on in mid-December at Houston and San Antonio, followed by the last of the new dates in Dallas, Texas on Dec. 19 at the American Airlines Center.

If that sounds like a busy itinerary, glance at what Cher has going on before then. Beginning Apr. 18 in Pittsburgh, Penn., she'll be completing previously announced dates in North America and Canada through the end of May. In August, Cher returns to Park Theater in Las Vegas for another round of performances. Then from late September through early November she'll be visiting European capitals including multiple concerts in Germany and the UK including at London's O2 arena on Oct. 20 and 21.

After three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles in the early 70's, as a solo artist, in 1999 Cher's "Believe" went to No. 1 again and won Best Dance Recording at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards. Both 2013's Closer To The Truth and 2018's Dancing Queen reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album charts, Cher's career high to date.

Tickets for Cher's Nov. and Dec. performances go on sale on April 5 to the general public at Live Nation's website, with pre-sales opening on April 2.

Cher, Reba McEntire, "Hamilton" Receive Kennedy Center Honors

Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart

Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart

Photo: Peter Simon/Getty Images

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Grateful Dead's 'Aoxomoxoa' Reissue Has Remixes Plus 1969 Live Recordings

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50th anniversary reissue of the breakthrough third album shows their signature psychedelic style's beginnings
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 29, 2019 - 12:21 pm

Aoxomoxoa is the title of the Grateful Dead's 1969 album — a palindrome, it is pronounced the same way backwards as reading the usual way, left to right. That was "far-out" 50 years ago, and on the album's 50th anniversary the Grateful Dead and Rhino Records will reissue Aoxomoxoa including remastered versions of both the album's 1969 mix and 1971 remix by Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh, as well as 1969 live performances of the songs at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco.

The album was a creative breakthrough, as the band broke from label guidance, explored acoustic-only arrangements and self-production, and also welcomed lyricist Robert Hunter. Hunter and Garcia composed all the songs on the album and were joined by Phil Lesh in creating Aoxomoxoa's first track "St. Stephen." 

A limited edition of 10,000 vinyl 12" picture discs will be released in addition to the 2-CD set. Both versions are now available for pre-order online.

Dead & Company continue to tour with Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir as well as GRAMMY winner John Mayer. Their latest run of dates begins May 31.

Bob Weir Holds Court At GRAMMY U SoundChecks: "The Passion Is Up To You"