Friday Files: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Ringo Starr, Buddy Holly

The Boss is set to rock the upcoming GRAMMYS next week, and today marks the 53rd anniversary of "The Day the Music Died." Read on as I share some exciting media releases that have landed in my inbox. Rave on and have a great weekend everybody!


BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND SET TO PERFORM ON THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS®

Jack Black, Fergie and Ringo Starr to Present at the Music Industry's Premier Event

Music's Biggest Night®— Hosted by Rapper/Actor LL COOL J —
Airs Live on CBS Sunday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. ET/PT


Photo credit: Jo Lopez


Twenty-time GRAMMY® winner Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band (the E Street Band's members are: Roy Bittan – piano, synthesizer; Nils Lofgren – guitar, vocals; Patti Scialfa – guitar, vocals; Garry Tallent – bass guitar; Stevie Van Zandt – guitar, vocals; and Max Weinberg – drums; with Soozie Tyrell – violin, guitar, vocals and Charlie Giordano – keyboards) have been added to the stellar lineup for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com).

Actor/recording artist Jack Black, six-time GRAMMY winner and current three-time nominee Fergie, and nine-time GRAMMY winner Ringo Starr will appear as presenters. Music's Biggest Night® — hosted by two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J — takes place live on Sunday, Feb. 12 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Previously announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include Adele (in her first live performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last fall); Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; Glen Campbell with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton; Coldplay and Rihanna; Foo Fighters; Bruno Mars; Paul McCartney; Nicki Minaj; Katy Perry; and Taylor Swift. Aldean, The Band Perry, Minaj, and Shelton will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time. Previously announced presenters are Dierks Bentley, Drake, Miranda Lambert, and Gwyneth Paltrow. LL COOL J has hosted "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" since its inception in December 2008, and this is his first time hosting the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.



On the 53rd Anniversary of the rock pioneer's tragic death, acclaimed film and TV star to share stories, perform immortal Buddy Holly songs tonight (Feb. 3, 2012)



GARY BUSEY TO TAKE PART IN THE "THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY" FAN EVENTS AT PEPITO'S PARKWAY THEATER; McNALLY SMITH BAND FROM THE "BUDDY" HISTORY THEATER PRODUCTION TO PLAY HOLLY SONGS AFTER THE FILM WITH BUSEY FRIDAY


BUSEY'S ROLE AS HOLLY IN 1978 FILM EARNED HIM AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION AND BEST ACTOR AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS

WHO: Buddy Holly died tragically 53 years ago today with two other musicians when their plane crashed outside of Clear Lake, Iowa, after playing the Surf Ballroom and heading to Moorhead, Minnesota to play.

Many music fans know February 3, 1959, as "The Day the Music Died."


WHAT: But Pepito's Parkway Theater and Rob Chapman Presents Rock & Roll Moving Picture Show will make the music and the life of Holly alive again with a Buddy Holly fan event TONIGHT, FRIDAY, Feb. 3, 2012 at 7 p.m. when it will present actor Gary Busey, who portrayed Holly in the 1978 film, The Buddy Holly Story. The scintillating performance earned Busey an Academy Award Nomination and the National Society of Film Critics' "Best Actor" award.


Busey will introduce the film, share stories about its making and talk about Holly.

Following the movie, he will perform a brief set of timeless Buddy Holly songs after the movie, with a backing trio that includes the former McNally Smith College of Music students who played as Holly's band, The Crickets for the History Theater's production of "Buddy." Those players include Josh Bourdon (Upright Bass), Brandon Petron (Guitar) and Zach Spicer (Drums).

The same group will do a set of Holly songs Thursday night after the screening.


WHEN: TONIGHT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, BEGINNING AT 7:00 P.M. DOORS OPEN AT 6:15 P.M.


WHERE: Pepito's Parkway Theater is located at 4814 Chicago Avenue South , Mpls., 55417 and online at www.theparkwaytheater.com (612-822-3030). Tickets are available online at www.brownpaperticket.com

WHY: "Buddy Holly was one of rock's earliest pioneers, not only as a gifted songwriter and musician, but he was also doing highly innovative things in the studio, which later became commonplace," notes Rob Chapman, whose series of rock 'n' roll film events at the Parkway have included movies and conversations about Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones (with special guest saxophonist Bobby Keyes), The Doors, Prince and others.

"We are very fortunate to have Gary Busey join us on this memorial weekend," Chapman added, "and to share his insights into Holly's music, the celebrated Biopic in which Busey seemed to become the legendary rocker, and to sing select songs from the Buddy Holly songbook with a great young backing group of musicians. It's going to be a terrific night to fondly remember Buddy!"