Kate Bush In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame!

Congratulations Kate! For your incredible imagination, exquisite compositions, and contributions of great power and beauty to the world, you deserve this honor.

https://www.katebush.com/

"Summertime" by Joni Mitchell

I am absolutely blown away by Joni Mitchell's (previously here) voice in this excerpt from her all-star concert tribute when she received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. It sounds as if, miraculously, she has shaved thirty years off her voice...and considering the harrowing health issues she has been through the last several years, this is especially wonderful to hear. Long live Joni!

PBS stations will broadcast the concert — “Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” — at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 31 (check local listings) and on PBS.org and the PBS App as part of the co-produced Emmy Award-winning music series. It will also be broadcast to U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world via the American Forces Network.

Mitchell got her start performing in coffee shops and nightclubs in her native Canada and would go on to become an icon among music makers, setting a new standard marrying music and lyrics. With such songs as “Both Sides, Now,” “Chelsea Morning,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Woodstock” and “The Circle Game,” Mitchell became a household name.

Mitchell redefined the role of women musicians. She oversaw all aspects of her albums, including songwriting, arrangements, performance, production and artwork. Her sound crosses musical genres from folk to jazz, classical and rock, and she continues to inspire her fellow artists.

Mitchell is also a talented painter, creating the cover art for many of her albums, and her visual art will be featured prominently in the tribute concert, along with her music.

“I’m a creative person. I like the creative process,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been a painter all my life. I’ve been a musician most of my life. If you can paint with a brush, you can paint with words. … It’s a great honor to join the pantheon of recipients.”

Bestowed in recognition of the legendary songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is the nation’s highest award for influence, impact and achievement in popular music. The honoree is selected by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with a board of scholars, producers, performers, songwriters and other music specialists. Previous recipients are Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, songwriting duo the late Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David, Carole King, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Garth Brooks, and Lionel Richie.

https://jonimitchell.com/

Tribute To David Bowie At The BRIT Awards

Here is the full clip of the BRIT Awards' tribute and the presentation of the BRIT Icon Award to David Bowie. Annie Lennox speaks so eloquently about Bowie and Gary Oldman's remarks are lovely as well. After the award presentation, Bowie's longtime band accompanies Lorde in a rendition of "Life On Mars."

Kate Wins London Evening Standard Theatre Award!

Kate Bush and her show "Before The Dawn" have won the Editors Award at the 60th Annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London! The award is given to a show, a company, a person, or a theater that exemplifies the best of what London theater has to offer. Of course her "Before The Dawn" show, which I reviewed here, was spectacular and deserves to win awards... The Evening Standard's editor Sarah Sands considers Kate's theatrical creation to be a "new high in music performance." Kate was presented her award by Sir Ian McKellen.

Congratulations Kate!

http://www.katebush.com/