Caleb Johnson: No Gravity Required

Caleb Johnson: Testify!
Photo: Brian Bowen Smith

Season 13 "American Idol" winner Caleb Johnson is busy! He has his upcoming first ever headlining tour, the freshman video from his album "Testify" for the single "Fighting Gravity" and he has teamed up with Do Something for it's Patient Playbooks Campaign.

Tell us about it, Caleb...

MS: I really enjoy your song and the video for "Fighting Gravity."

CJ: Thank you. I really appreciate that.

MS: It's really great that you tied it to bring awareness to children with pediatric cancer, after having met a child with it.

CJ: Well, Thank You. That was a pivotal moment in my life that I will never forget. It's something that impacted me enough to where I wanted to tell that story and show people what I saw. Most artists, musicians, writers, whatever, pull from their personal experiences. That was something that really touched something in me, where I felt I really wanted to tell this story, and to do it in a really beautiful eloquent way. It's a really grim story, he was a healthy young thirteen year old kid a year ago,  then he got diagnosed and then he was gone. Just like that, it was that quick. This stuff happens and a lot of people never take the time to think about it because it doesn't affect them. It makes you sit and think about your life, because you never know what's going to happen when it's going  happen. Walking into that room and seeing the Mother's face when it happened she had that: "I'm here, but I'm not here" look on her face, it's so bad she had just probably numbed herself to the point of trying to cope with it.

There's some really haunting experiences that happened that made me really want to tell that story. I really wanted to tell the story well, musically and visually, it's really cool to see it come to life like that.

                                                                 Fighting Gravity
                                             
MS: Yes, it's really well done all the way around. Since you gravitate towards rock I noticed a lyric in the song: "dark side of the moon" was that a Pink Floyd reference?

CJ: Somebody else asked that too. Yeah, it was. (laughs) What's cool is this was the first song I wrote for my album "Testify." The song and the video took on a life of it's own, but the original concept was that it was a tragic love story. They broke up, and one of the lovers love the other so much that they tried to fight to keep the relationship. Unfortunately you can't fight the inevitable, and that was the whole metaphor of "Fighting Gravity," you can't stop gravity and you can't stop the break up of the relationship. It's that tragic love story where two people have been in a relationship so long, they kind of fall out of it, they try to get it back together and it just never works. We wanted to use the metaphors of gravity, atmosphere and that's how we came up with Pink Floyd "dark side of the moon." (laughs)

MS: Talk some about your involvement with Do Something and their Patient Playbooks campaign.

CJ: My manager called me and asked me about doing the Playbooks, and I told her: "absolutely!" In the book you make up your own little game scenarios, you color pictures. I drew a dragon breathing fire, it's a really cool, easy and creative way to make a huge difference in somebody's life. The fact that it will be given to somebody and hopefully make their day is such a huge honor.

MS: So, how did it actually feel to win "American Idol?"

CJ: Very humbling. It was a huge honor to win the whole thing, very surreal. After I had won I had to do a bunch of stuff and it didn't really settle in until the next day.

MS: It looks like a whirlwind.

CJ: You know, in a way the fun doesn't stop. I immediately went to work on the record, went on tour, did a bunch of press. All kinds of fun stuff! I've just had a blast! Now with the video & single I am headlining my first tour this May.

MS: How do you feel about your first headliner?

CJ: It's my first headliner, "yes!" So it's pretty nerve wracking, but it's going to be a lot of fun! I love to perform and I'm going to be hitting the road in May. Tickets went on sale last week. It's going to be awesome!

MS: "Devil's Daughter" is another song that caught my ear off of "Testify."

CJ: I wrote that song with some completely amazing writers, Blair Daly & Steve Diamond. I think we wrote it in 45 minutes. It's a very straightforward rock song.

MS: For me it was reminiscent of Bon Jovi.

CJ: I really love classic rock.

MS: Me too.

CJ: There's a great organ solo, we really wanted to make a fun groovy, bluesy, rock-n-roll tune. The song is about a woman who's so bad she's good, you know what I'm saying? You can't resist her wicked touch, it's very, very throwback 1970's rock-n-roll. That song was a lot of fun, because that is my wheelhouse, that kind of stuff. I love the harder, groovier, rock-n-roll stuff.

MS: Something about your voice is reminiscent of Joe Cocker to me.

CJ: I grew up listening to Joe Cocker, Chris Cornell, Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry. I was just really raised on a lot of that stuff. Those are the artist that shaped my voice.

MS: Who would you like to do a duet with?

CJ: Chris Cornell or Lady Gaga.

"Testify" with Caleb at:

Website: http://www.CalebJohnsonOfficial.com 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/IdolCalebJohnson

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CalebJohnson

YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/CalebJohnsonOfficial

Instagram: https://instagram.com/CalebJohnson/ 

TBT: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo 35th Anniversary Tour

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo Launching 35th Anniversary Tour CD/DVD

Pre-Orders of Commemorative Double Album Set Available on iTunes & Amazon 

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo celebrate 35 years with a bang! Would you expect anything less from these music icons?!

Rock superstars Pat Benatar and Neil “Spyder” Giraldo are celebrating their latest musical milestone with the release of the CD/DVD set, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: The 35th Anniversary Tour on April 28. The 14-track commemorative package features their greatest and groundbreaking hits. Their lead-off single from the live CD, “Promises in the Dark,” will be released to radio this week. It originally rocked airwaves in 1981 as part of the hit album, Precious Time, and was co-written by the iconic duo. Pre-orders of the double CD include free instant downloads, “We Live for Love” and “Promises in the Dark” on iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/35th-anniversary-tour-live/id98303897. Fans can also pre-order the set at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/35th-Anniversary-Tour-plus-DVD/dp/B00V84Q16E/.

"We are thrilled to be releasing this live version of “Promises in the Dark” from our 35th Anniversary Concert Tour. Promises has special meaning for us. It was the first song we wrote together, about our own relationship. A little awkward at first, to be sure! It has become one of our signature compositions and a favorite to play live," Benatar and Giraldo explain.

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: The 35th Anniversary Tour CD/DVD set kicks off with “Shadows of the Night,” which was a Top 10 hit for the couple on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1982. Other hit singles include “Love is a Battlefield,” “We Belong,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Hell is for Children.” Together, Benatar and Giraldo, have 19 Top 40 singles and multiple Top 10 singles. They have scored two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, and three RIAA-certified Gold albums.

In addition to the CD/DVD, the acclaimed duo will launch the 35th Anniversary Tour on Friday, April 10 in Jackson, California.

For more information, visit: www.benatargiraldo.com.

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: The 35th Anniversary Tour CD/DVD Track Listing
Shadows of the Night
All Fired Up
Invincible
We Live for Love
So Sincere
Sex as a Weapon
Promises in the Dark
We Belong
Hell is for Children
You Better Run
Hit Me with Your Best Shot
Love is a Battlefield
Let's Stay Together
Heartbreaker

35th Anniversary Tour Schedule (more dates to come)

April 10 – Jackson, CA @ Jackson Rancheria Casino
April 11 – Temecula, CA @ Pechanga Resort & Casino
April 14 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre
April 16 – Bakersfield, CA @ Fox Theater
April 17 – Beverly Hills, CA @ Saban Theatre
April 18 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
April 21 – Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theatre
April 22 – St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre
April 24 – Northfield, OH @ Hard Rock Rocksino
April 26 – Lancaster, PA @ American Music Theatre
April 28 – Zanesville, OH @ Secrest Auditorium
April 29 – Albany, NY @ Hart Theatre @ The Egg
May 01 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
May 02 – Portland, ME @ Maine State Pier
May 03 – Lynn, MA @ Lynn Auditorium
May 05 – New Bedford, MA @ Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
May 06 – Englewood, NJ @ Bergen Performing Arts Center
May 08 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
May 09 – Ocean City, MD @ Springfest
May 10 – Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center
May 13 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
May 15 – Richardson, TX @ Wildflower Festival
May 16 – Baton Rouge, LA @ L'Auberge Baton Rouge
May 19 – Saint Petersburg, FL @ The Mahaffey
May 21 – Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
June 26 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
June 27 – Lawrenceburg, IN @ Hollywood Casino - Lawrenceburg Event Center
June 30 – Newport News, VA @ CNU Ferguson Center for the Arts
July 01 – Durham, NC @ The Carolina Theatre
July 03 – Salamanca, NY @ Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel -Seneca Events Center
July 04 – Mount Pocono, PA @ Mount Airy Casino Resort -- Sherman Summer Stage
July 07 – Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort Casino – Showroom
July 13 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
Aug 22 – Lancaster, CA @ Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
Aug 31 – Monroe, WA @ Evergreen State Fair 

Throwback Thursday: Tanya Tucker On Tour

Tanya Tucker Is Awesome! Yeah, You Heard Me.

TANYA TUCKER LAUNCHES INITIAL TOUR DATES FOR 2015

Country Star Sets Performances for First Time in 3 Years;
Kicks off Tour with two SOLD-OUT shows
 

Legend and amazing vocalist, Tanya Tucker is back on tour! Love this woman, and she's Sold Out, shows that is! Happy Throwback Thursday!  Tanya Tucker – the sultry voiced female vocalist behind such hits as “Strong Enough To Bend” and “I’ll Come Back As Another Woman” – is back. After a lengthy hiatus from the road, the legendary songstress returned to the road this past weekend with two sold-out shows in Illinois and Indiana. And, she’s only beginning. Tucker has a slate of shows lined up for the spring and summer months with dates continuing to be added to the schedule. Having recently signed with APA, Tucker returns to performing armed with a virtual arsenal of some of the biggest classics in Country music, such as “The Jamestown Ferry,” “Soon,” and “Texas (When I Die).” Of course, no Tucker performance would be complete without “Delta Dawn,” the Alex Harvey-written classic that launched her career into the stratosphere in 1972 – when she was only thirteen. In between the hits, Tucker will share many stories and anecdotes of her iconic career. Though she has been away from the stage for a while to spend time with her children, she says she’s excited to be back in the spotlight.  “I am so excited about the upcoming tour,” says Tanya Tucker.  “Being in front of a live crowd is something that I feed off of. From the reception I felt from the first two dates, I think it’s definitely going to be a lot of fun returning to performing. I’ve missed the fans a lot.” Steve Lassiter, SVP/Partner and Head of Concerts at APA Nashville, says Tanya Tucker and live performing are two things that simply go together. “There is something electric about a Tanya Tucker performance. She’s one of the most legendary recording artists of all time. She’s not just singing the music. She’s lived these songs. Some sad. Some happy. But all throughout the show, she sings and performs as only Tanya Tucker can. Returning to the road is something we all are very excited about.” Tanya Tucker Concert Dates: Apr 24 – Wendover, NV -  Peppermill Concert Hall Jun 20 – Laughlin, NV -  Avi Resort & Casino Jun 27 – Petaluma, CA - Sonoma Jun 28 – Pleasanton, CA - Alameda County Fair Jul 01 – Del Mar, CA - Del Mar Fairgrounds - Paddock Jul 17 – The Villages, FL - Sharon L. Morse Jul 24 – Lake Charles, LA - Golden Nugget - Grand Jul 25 – Biloxi, MS - Golden Nugget Grand Aug 05 – East Sturgis, SD - Full Throttle Saloon Aug 14 – Havelock, ON - 26th Annual Havelock Aug 16 – Erie, PA - Celebrate Aug 29 – Baraboo, WI - Ho-Chunk Gaming Sep 11 – Warroad, MN - Seven Clans Casino Sep 13 – Macomb, IL - Texas Tranzplants Oct 10 – Russellville, AR - Center for the Arts Oct 11 – Branson, MO - Andy Williams Moon River Oct 24 – Renfro Valley, KY - New Barn Oct 31 – Carmel, IN - The Palladium Twitter: @tanya_tucker Facebook: /TanyaTuckerOfficial Instagram: /TheTanyatucker

WTF?! Nicole Kidman In A Lifetime Movie?!

Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly

OK, I had heard Grace of Monaco, starring one of my favorite actresses, Nicole Kidman was not all that good.This latest news on the indefinitely delayed film which was supposed to premiere in theaters in November of 2013. Well to put it mildly it is by passing the silver screen all together now and premiering on Lifetime May 25th, WTF!?

Nothing says bad like a Lifetime movie, and this must be some sort of awful since it costs $30 Million to make, the highest budgeted TV movie of the week ever.

Kidman, however, has defended the film, saying that it is not meant to be a biopic or documentary, but is just a "small part of  Grace Kelly's life when she reveals her great humanity as her fears and weaknesses."

Well at the very least, unlike a lot of acting in Lifetime movies, I am sure Kidman will deliver a great performance. 

Check out the trailer below -

Love yourself some Nicole at:
https://www.facebook.com/NicoleKidmanOfficial

Billie Holiday Honored

The Great Billie Holiday!

PHILADELPHIA MUSIC ALLIANCE

TO CELEBRATE BILLIE HOLIDAY CENTENNIAL

AS 1^st 2015 INDUCTEE ON PHILADELPHIA MUSIC WALK OF FAME

Read the tribute from CBS Sunday Morning

Watch Wynton Marsalis recall Billie Holiday for Time Magazine

Today one of my favorite artists, Billie Holiday would have been 100 years old as a special Birthday gift she is set to be the first 2015 inductee on the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame. God Bless The Child...

As a special birthday gift to the woman widely considered to be one of the greatest vocalists of the 20^th century, The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame is proud to welcome BILLIE HOLIDAY as its newest inductee today on the 100^thanniversary of her birth in the City of Brotherly Love.

Billie Holiday, aka “Lady Day,” is only the first of this year’s inductees to be announced. The Philadelphia Music Alliance (PMA) will hold a press reception in late May to announce the rest of the Walk of Fame’s Class of 2015. Holiday and the rest of the new honorees will be formally inducted together in October during ceremonies along the Avenue of the Arts.

"The Philadelphia Music Alliance wanted to present what we think is a 'perfect' birthday gift to an extraordinary vocalist, Billie Holiday, and announce her induction on her 100th birthday," said Alan Rubens, Chairman of the Philadelphia Music Alliance.  "It will be an absolute pleasure to be able to walk down Broad Street and see her name where it rightfully belongs, on the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame, with other homegrown jazz giants like John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, and Grover Washington Jr.”  

Billie Holiday was born Elinore Harris on April 7, 1915 in Philadelphia General Hospital on Curie Boulevard in West Philadelphia. As the official marker on Lombard Street west of Broad Street from the Pennsylvania Historical Museum and Commission says, “[S]he was called the greatest jazz vocalist of her time. Starting in 1933, she recorded with Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, and others. Notable songs include ‘Lover Man,’ ‘Strange Fruit.’”

Holiday's voice was limited in size and range, but the emotional breadth of her singing — her ability to transmit desire and despair with utter clarity, and without sentimentality — was astonishing. Her soulful, unique singing voice and her ability to boldly turn any material that she confronted into her own music made Holiday a superstar of her time. Today, she’s remembered for her masterpieces, creativity and vivacity, as many of her songs are as well known today as they were decades ago. Holiday’s poignant voice is still considered to be one of the greatest jazz voices of all time. Though she had numerous outside influences, notably Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith, Holiday built her reputation through her inner passion and a vocal style that was at once emotive and rugged. A vast array of singers have taken inspiration from Holiday's music and style including Diana Ross – who played her in the 1972 film "Lady Sings the Blues" – to Annie Lennox and the late Amy Winehouse.

As Philly’s own Jill Scott tells Vanity Fair: “Billie Holiday is guts. She is guts, and pain, and challenges. She is the sweetest pain…. Her voice gave me permission to have pain on a record. To convey the heart’s heart. To be able to sing songs about what is happening in society, as well. She did all this with a lot of freedom. There wasn’t a bunch of production. It was just Billie Holiday, being herself. All the miseries and all the wounds, and then reporting it, basically, to society. That is an artist. There is a difference between being an entertainer and an artist, and Billie Holiday is a true artist.”

The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame is a living tribute to Philadelphia’s rich music history and a vital force unifying the city’s diverse cultural communities along the Avenue of the Arts. Holiday’s induction furthers the renewed commitment by the Philadelphia Music Alliance to shed new light on the City's cultural legacy and incredible contribution to the world of music past, present and future as a major tourist attraction. This agenda to recognize more local music greats in all genres is part of the community based, non-profit organization's overall mission to encourage the creation, celebration and historical preservation of Philadelphia music, and the foundation of a renewed commitment to schedule multiple induction ceremonies each year.

www.pmawalk.com

Cheyenne Elliott Brings It!

Cheyenne Elliott

Dauman Music/Tarpan Records’ powerhouse new vocalist Cheyenne Elliott debuts on the
Billboard Dance chart at #42 with a bullet this week with “With You”. The hands-in-the-air
club anthem celebrates that special someone who helps us feel alive. While most beats
releasing to dance floors today lean toward Electronic fare, Elliott’s track presents a more
classic, disco vibe. Written by Cheyenne and Lisa Gressett along with Whitney Houston’s
longtime collaborator Narada Michael Walden, “With You” is a fun, upbeat, warm and
inviting song. Narada, named by Billboard as one of the "Top Ten Producers With the
Most Number One Hits", also produced the track. Club remixes are by DJ Jamie Sanchez,
Denny Tsettos with Lenny M. and Giuseppe D., Tunnelmental Experimental Assembly, and
The Booda. “With You – The Remixes” is available on iTunes and all major online music
retailers now from Dauman Music/Tarpan Records.

Cheyenne Elliott hails from a family of musical royalty. Her grandmother is five-time
Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick. Her cousin is Whitney Houston and uncle is hit
music producer Damon Elliott. Her aunts are Dee Dee Warwick and Cissy Houston. Her
father, David Elliott, is an accomplished musical artist and songwriter. He penned Luther
Vandross’ Grammy Award winning hit, “Here and Now.”

Wow! That's some pedigree! Well let's not keep you waiting here she is Ms. Cheyenne Elliott!

MS: Congratulations on the success of "With You." What I love about the song is normally in dance music the vocals are overshadowed by the music, your vocals on "With You" are not .

CE: No, we made sure that they were very prominent and not too over edited either. A lot of time you have very auto-tuned voices over dance music, we wanted to make it feel very natural but with that dance behind it, which I love!

MS: This is my kind of dance music, I can't handle the other kind.

CE: Right there's too much going on. This is just really raw, my vocals and the dance track. I thought it was a great combination.

MS; Given your background did you come out of the womb singing?

CE: (laughs) Basically, yes. It's a literal thing I have been singing since before I can remember. It's never not been a thing in my life.

MS: How could it not be?

CE: How could it not?

MS: You co-wrote "With You."

CE: Yes, with my Mom ( Lisa Gressett) and Narada Michael Walden. All three of us had a lot of creative input in the song which was awesome!

MS: I've heard your favorite Whitney Houston song is "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

CE: That song makes me feel great, and I love feel good songs. Everything about that song was just her, it's amazing!

MS: You do see how "With You" relates to that song I assume.

CE: Definitely! There's little hints and sprinkles of  "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" within "With You" which we really tried to incorporate in it.

MS: Rumor has it you are a big Fiona Apple fan.

CE: Oh, I love Fiona Apple, oh my God! "Shadowboxer: is one of my all time favorite songs! If you ever ask me to go see Fiona Apple I will be first in line. She is everything to me!

MS: I know you are all about the positive, and Fiona isn't really negative, but...

CE: Yeah, when people meet me and ask me who my favorite artist is and I say Fiona Apple, they're like: "Huh? Didn't see that one coming" it's like a plot twist. (laughs)

MS: How were you the bartender on "Watch What Happens Live" when you are under age? (laughs)

CE: I was the bartender and I couldn't legally drink yet. It was a lot of fun! Andy Cohen was so warm and welcoming. Really the whole staff at the Bravo Clubhouse were so nice and relaxed. I felt no pressure it was a lot o fun!

MS: Is there a cover of song you would like to do?

CE: Oh, I actually do have a cover of "Lego House" by Ed Sheeran on my fan page that we released recently. I love that song, that is music that I personally love, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Sam Smith, if you look through my iPod those are the top twenty five recently played.

Cheyenne & Her Grandmother, Dionne Warwick

MS: Give a fond musical memory you have of being with your family.

CE: One fond memory that was fun that we all got to do, Whitney, Myself, My Grandmother, Whitney's Mom, My Cousins, My Dad...the entire family, got together and recorded a song for Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girl." Having a group of people that is your family all in the studio at once is an amazing experience! You're recording a song, and everybody sings and they're amazing, you are overwhelmed by all of these voices coming together. I was really young at the time and I remember closing the song with a little lick, I was just coming into my own vocally and finding out who I was as singer. I remember Whitney being so encouraging, she couldn't believe the progress I had made in 10 years. She heard me and was really inspiring and motivating, I remember her clearly being uplifting and making me feel great about my little solo. That was one of the greatest moments of my life!

Have Cheyenne "With You" at:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCheyenneElliott
https://instagram.com/ce927/
https://twitter.com/thecheyelliott
http://daumanmusic.com

Cheers To Kelly Clarkson!

Kelly Clarkson: Where's The Wine?
Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Brothers 

Kelly Clarkson has always been the subject of ridicule about her weight. Even when she was on American Idol. 

Weight is such a boring subject and if it does not bother Ms. Clarkson why the Hell should it bother you? 

The Kelly bomb appeared on Ellen and got a resounding cheer from DeGeneres and the crowd, and didn't apologize about her gorgeous, curvaceous figure for one second. "I yo-yo," she said, "Sometimes I'm more fit and I get into kickboxing hardcore, and then sometimes I don't and go, 'Nope, I'd rather have wine!'"

Hooray Kelly, when in doubt wine should always win!

T.G.I.F! Have a toast with Kelly at:

https://www.facebook.com/kellyclarkson

https://twitter.com/kelly_clarkson