Sights and sounds: Dolly Parton, The Rolling Stones, Chicago

I'm catching up and sharing information that landed in my inbox last night and this morning...

Dolly Parton announces 'My People Fund'

Fund will provide monthly assistance to those who lost homes in wildfires

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (November 30, 2016) – In a video message released this evening, Dolly Parton announced a new effort by The Dollywood Company and The Dollywood Foundation to establish a fund to assist the victims of the Great Smoky Mountain wildfires in Tennessee. The new My People Fund will provide $1000 each month to Sevier County families who lost their homes.

“I’ve always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place special,” Parton explained. “That’s why I’ve asked my Dollywood Companies—including the Dollywood theme park, and DreamMore Resort; my dinner theater attractions including Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Adventure; and my Dollywood Foundation—to help me establish the My People Fund.

“We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”

Anyone who would like to contribute to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org.

More information on the program will be released on Friday, December 2.

‘The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America’ to Rock U.S. Cinemas for One Night on December 12

 

Experience the Legendary Tour on the Big Screen Monday, December 12, 2016 at

8 p.m.; Tickets on sale now at www.FathomEvents.com and participating Theater Box Offices

 

A road movie that celebrates the revolutionary power of Rock n’ Roll, “The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America” is an exhilarating and vivid documentary that follows the Stones’ tour of early 2016 through 10 Latin American cities. It combines electrifying live performances from across the tour and from their historic tour finale as the first-ever rock band to perform to an audience of 1.2 million in Havana, with an intimate insight into the world of the Rolling Stones. This event also features an exclusive introduction from the band and two full-length bonus performances from the Argentinian tour date.

 

In partnership with Eagle Rock Entertainment, Fathom Events is set to bring “The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America” to cinemas nationwide for one night on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 8 p.m. local time.

 

Tickets for “The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America” can be purchased beginning Thursday, November 10, 2016 online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 300 movie theaters. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

 

Throughout the documentary, the viewer gets an inside look at the interworking of the creation of the historic Cuba show, through interviews with the tour promoter, management, production and logistics managers, and the band members themselves. Fans will see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood mesmerize their generations of fans with performances of classic hits from their extraordinary catalog such as, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “It's Only Rock 'n Roll,” “Wild Horses,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Sympathy For The Devil,” “Paint It Black” and “Miss You.”

 

Directed by Paul Dugdale, produced by Sam Bridger and shot throughout February and March 2016, the documentary is produced by JA Digital in co-production with Eagle Rock Films for Eagle Rock Entertainment and Promotone.

 

“Even after 50 years, the Rolling Stones remain one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “We are proud to partner with Eagle Rock to bring this historic documentary to cinemas and fans across the country.”

 

CHICAGO II: STEVEN WILSON REMIX The Iconic Group's Timeless Classic Has Been Remastered  To Reveal Unprecedented Clarity And Definition Available On CD From Rhino On January 27

LOS ANGELES - More than 40 years after its debut, Chicago II still sounds like nothing else. Released in 1970, Chicago's second album brims with confidence and inspiration as it draws on everything from orchestral music to heavy rock. Although it never affected the record's popularity - it peaked at #4 on the album chart and spawned a trio of Top Ten hits - many fans have longed for a more-nuanced mix. That wish is about to come true with a new stereo version created by British musician and producer Steven Wilson.   CHICAGO II: STEVEN WILSON REMIX will be available January 27 on CD for $14.98. The newly remixed album will also be released as a double-LP set later next year for $31.98.   Chicago II has been remixed before, but never like this. For the first time, a stereo remix from the 16-track multi-track tapes made it possible for Steven Wilson to bring out elements that were muffled or submerged in the mix. The result is a new stereo version of Chicago II that boasts clearness, punch and definition that it didn't have before.     Wilson explains: "Working with high-resolution 96K/24 bit digitally transferred files, I had every element from the recording sessions isolated, which meant I was able to rebuild the mix from the drums upwards, recreating as closely as I could the equalization, stereo placement, reverbs, other effects, and volume changes of each individual instrument or vocal - but at the same time looking to gain definition and clarity in the overall sound." In 1969, Chicago recorded the band's follow-up to their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority(voted 2014 into the Grammy Hall of Fame). When it arrived in January 1970, Chicago II became an instant sensation. Principal composers, James Pankow and Robert Lamm, emerged further as the band's source of Top Ten hits for the group, including "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World," as well as "25 or 6 to 4," which peaked at #4 and has become one of the band's signature songs. Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, also Danny Seraphine and Peter Cetera ... somehow found time (while touring the world behind  the success of "CTA") to prepare another double LP album.    "So rich was their creative seam at the time that, like their debut, and the album that followed this one, it was a two record set," says Wilson.  "In fact, with unprecedented boldness the run of double albums was only broken by their fourth which was a quadruple (live) set!  I consider all of these albums to be classics, but perhaps Chicago II is the pre-eminent masterpiece. It's got everything: moments of tender beauty to power riffs and scorched-earth jazz-rock, catchy melodies and gorgeous vocal harmonies.  When I first heard it as a teenager I was captivated by the mixture of jazz, blues, pop, classical, progressive and heavy rock styles, including both improvisational elements and intricate arrangements, and by songs written and sung by several different members, all with their own unique personality. How could that possibly hang together?!  But it does, and brilliantly so."     The album, which was certified platinum by the RIAA, soon after its release, also highlighted some of the band's most ambitious work, such as the 13-minute song cycle "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon," composed by James Pankow, as well as "Memories Of Love," a Terry Kath song, arranged for orchestra by Peter Matz. Chicago's lasting musical impact was recognized in April of 2016, with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

CHICAGO II Track Listing: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. "Movin' In" "The Road" "Poem For The People" "In The Country" "Wake Up Sunshine" "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" 1. "Make Me Smile" 2. "So Much To Say, So Much To Give" 3. "Anxiety's Moment" 4. "West Virginia Fantasies" 5. "Colour My World" 6. "To Be Free" 7. "Now More Than Ever"  7. 8. 9. "Fancy Colours" "25 Or 6 To 4" "Memories of Love"  1. "Prelude" 2. "A.M. Mourning" 3. "P.M. Mourning" 4. "Memories Of Love" 10. "It Better End Soon"  1. "1st Movement" 2. "2nd Movement" 3. "3rd Movement" 4. "4th Movement" 11. "Where Do We Go From Here"