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

Sia Is Da Bomb!

Sia, Sia, Sia: Maddie, Maddie, Maddie

Did you know I love Sia? WTF?! Life is a mystery - no Sia should stand alone -

Sia, Sia, Sia - yes, she is amazing so F#@k Off! Oh, BTW, Big Girls Cry, is quite brilliant I might add.

Source US Weekly: That's exactly why Sia decided to team up with Dance Moms' Maddie Ziegler for her dramatic "Big Girls Cry" music video.

The child star donned the same nude leotard and blond bob wig as her previous performances for "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart," except this time, the focus was more on her face than her full-body dance moves.

The simple-yet-bizarre clip films Ziegler up close, against a black backdrop, dancing to Ryan Heffington's choreography all throughout the slowed-down track.

The music video is once again directed by Sia and Daniel Askill, marking the third time the duo has teamed up for the Grammy winner's videos.

Sia Rulz at: http://siamusic.net/

April Foolishness With Margaret Cho

It's April Foolish With Margaret Cho
Photo: Pixievision 

Since I can not really play an April Fools gag on here, how about some April Foolishness with the one and only Margaret Cho!

Yes, let's get down with our inner fool today, OK? Are you ready? Margaret along with her sidekick, Princess Superstar have taken it upon themselves to send up bubble butts with the song parody of Booty by Iggy Azalea & Jennifer Lopez bearing the title: My Booty is Efficient. 

Poking fun at the big booty craze hitting everyone from Kim Kardashian to Nicki Minaj.

Since I am in possession of a bubble ass, I happen to like them, the bigger the better the tighter the sweatpants, oh yeah!

Enjoy the first day of April and let's get foolish!

                                                    My Booty is Efficient 

Get your April Fools on with Margaret at:
http://margaretcho.com/
https://twitter.com/margaretcho

Helen Mirren Sucks On Jimmy Fallon

Mirren & Fallon: They Switched Balloons, Helen Wanted The One That Matched Her Dress, Damn It!

Helen Mirren stopped by The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon last night and she sucked! The talented and amazing looking actress who just let loose her L'Oreal campaign joined Jimmy in a Q & A where they each sucked helium out of a balloon when speaking. 

Mirren's balloon was blue and matched the dress she was wearing, Fallon's was red. They accessorized well.

Fallon asked her everything from where she keeps her Oscar to giving her an award of a stuffed panda and having Ms. Mirren give and acceptance speech. Oh an of course there were plenty of entendres to be had.

Not to mention when the balloon actually broke some wind Mirren pretended it was her own.

I love Helen Mirren, she is a highly regarded actress who has not one uptight or pretentious bone in her body, she really knows how to cut loose! Check out the video below and have a terrific Tuesday!

Helen on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000545/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show

Where Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops: "The Sound of Oz"

Everyone knows the songs from The Wizard of Oz; from Ding Dong The Witch is Dead, If I Only Had a Brain to Over the Rainbow. In fact Over The Rainbow is often cited as the greatest movie hit of all time. Few, however, know the names of the men who wrote Rainbow and the rest of the classic Oz score. 

The remedy for their anonymity now is in the hands of Aaron Harburg -- great-grandson of The Wizard of Oz lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg -- who has begun production on The Sound of Oz. The feature-length documentary honors both his great-grandfather and Oz composer Harold Arlen.

Aaron is conducting a campaign on Indiegogo to raise funds for his mission. I recently got to speak with him about it...so follow the yellow brick road and hear what he had to say.

MS: The songs from The Wizard of Oz are so well known, whey did it take until now for a project like this to happen?

AH: That's a really good question, since the songs have endured for 75 years it's pretty amazing. My Grandfather, Ernie Harburg has attempted to address this for his book Who Put The Rainbow in The Wizard Of Oz? But the book never really obtained the kind of notoriety it should have. I guess the powers that be elected the songs just weren't that important to the story.

MS: That's interesting because the songs from the film are so iconic, especially Over the Rainbow. Who doesn't know that one?

AH: The Wizard of Oz has always just been part of my family. But it wasn't until I went to New York and looking around, I was at some restaurant, or whatever, and it just struck me
Not only would everyone know Over the Rainbow, but they would probably have a personal connection to it. The Wizard of Oz has been a part of everyone's lives growing up. This might be less the case now, because it is not an annual television event anymore, but for a lot of people my age and older it definitely is. It's amazing to me how much impact it has had. 

Aaron Harburg: Making Great Grandpa Proud

MS: Want to hear something shocking? I have a spin instructor who is forty-two and she asked the class how many people have not seen The Wizard of Oz and nobody raised their hand. She said she hadn't and I thought: "Well you're a freak!" (laughs)

AH: Yeah exactly, exactly! (laughs)

MS: How long have you been working on the documentary?

AH: I actually started working on this in 2012. I moved to Los Angeles and spoke to a number of producers, studios and whatnot, I just wasn't getting the support and enthusiasm
I thought I was going to get. Last year at the Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango, New York, which is the biggest Oz festival I met Ryan Jay who is a nationally syndicated film critic and has worked at a couple of television networks like VH-1, Showtime all that type of stuff. So he's had a bit of productions experience and he was super enthusiastic and decided to come on board. We shot a trailer last year in New York and are doing a crowd funding campaign, instead of dealing with investors so we can have creative control. That's my goal right no, I'm no longer working for my family estate, but I'm working on something I am very passionate about. I feel like it's a matter of justice and it has to be told.

MS: Can you spill on any juicy behind the scenes tidbits on the making of the songs?

AH: Hmmmmmmm...well Ira Gershwin actually intervened as part of the process of writing Over the Rainbow. That's not too well known, but there are a lot of little stories that we're planning on telling. There's two sides to the documentary. On the one hand there's the collaboration between my Great Grandfather and Harold Arlen songs were made, and them as people. Then there is the part about how the songs have taken on their own life and in our culture and impacted countless people sang it at The Oscars recently, there's the Hawaiian version that everybody knows, not jut Over the Rainbow, but Ding Dong the Witch is Dead was a big deal recently. But we will definitely address what was going on behind the scenes. 

We're Off To See The Wizard...

MS: Something that I found interesting that is stated in the trailer is that there is no mention of a rainbow in the book by Frank L. Baum.

AH: Yeah, that's right. There was no mention of a rainbow, so my Great Grandfather had a penchant for rainbows, he also wrote Finian's Rainbow, Look to the Rainbow. a rainbow then had a very different meaning than it does today. (laughs) It is was in his songs like a symbol of hope. There is a story behind the song Over the Rainbow. Allegedly my Great Grandfather was in the gardens one day thinking about: "What are we going to call this song, what lyrics are we going to put to this music?" Hearing the music and then creating the words is a crazy process. There was a Japanese gardener who had turned on the sprinklers and they were spraying and he wanted to get out of it, and he could see a rainbow and he thought to himself: "If I can just get past the rainbow I'll be fine" right then it clicked. That's the legend. (laughs)

MS: I believe it when I get creative ideas they come from super odd places.

AH: Yeah (laughs) Harold Arlen came up with the melody on the way to Grauman's Chinese Theater. He had to pull over so he could run into a drug store and jot it down on a piece of paper. That's totally crazy! (laughs)

MS: You're creative you know that's how it works. 

AH: Yeah totally! I wake up in three in the morning going: "Oh my gosh what a great idea" and then I can't sleep for the rest of the night. 

MS: Over the Rainbow still packs power, it's a go to song for many American Idol contestants.(laughs)

AH: Well it's a great song for people to show off their range: "look I can do an octave leap!"
(laughs)

MS: I am really looking forward to seeing the finished product.

AH: This has been an interesting journey for me personally because when I hear Over the Rainbow, since I never got to meet "Yip" he died before I was born. So when I hear that song it's almost like he's speaking to me, "the dreams that you dare to dream" they really do come true. That's been the biggest part of my inspiration to get this documentary made. 

Learn more about the documentary at:

http://www.thesoundofozmovie.com/

Be a part of The Sound Of Oz at: 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sound-of-oz