Wide range of performers set to appear at 59th Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday

Here is the latest roundup of news relating to the GRAMMY Awards, which are set to be broadcast this Sunday night (Feb. 12, 2017):

Katy Perry will perform at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Photo credit: Olivia Bee

ALL-STAR LINEUP OF PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED FOR
THE 59TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS^®

 Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers, Kelly Clarkson, Laverne Cox, Jason Derulo, Celine Dion, DNCE, Halsey, Taraji P. Henson, Paris Jackson, Nick Jonas, Jennifer Lopez, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Katharine McPhee, Pentatonix, Thomas Rhett, Gina Rodriguez, Ryan Seacrest, Solange, And John Travolta Set To Present
 
Music's Biggest Night^® — Hosted By James Corden — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 12, 2017

Gary Clark Jr., seen here performing in September 2013, will perform at the
Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017. Photo: Kelly A. Swift

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2017) — A diverse all-star lineup of GRAMMY^® Award nominees, GRAMMY winners, entertainers, and film and TV stars will take the stage as presenters for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards^® telecast. This year's presenters include singer/ songwriter Camila Cabello; current GRAMMY nominees The Chainsmokers; three-time GRAMMY winner and current GRAMMY nominee Kelly Clarkson; actress Laverne Cox; singer/songwriter Jason Derulo; five-time GRAMMY winner Celine Dion; pop/funk band DNCE; current GRAMMY nominee Halsey; actress Taraji P. Henson; actress/model Paris Jackson; previous GRAMMY nominee Nick Jonas; previous GRAMMY nominee Jennifer Lopez; three-time GRAMMY winner Tim McGraw and five-time GRAMMY winner Faith Hill; singer/songwriter Katharine McPhee; two-time GRAMMY winners and current GRAMMY­­ nominees Pentatonix; current GRAMMY nominee Thomas Rhett; actress Gina Rodriguez; TV/radio host and producer Ryan Seacrest; current GRAMMY nominee Solange; and previous GRAMMY nominee and actor John Travolta.  
 
Previously announced performers include Adele, Kelsea Ballerini, William Bell, Chance The Rapper, Gary Clark Jr., Daft Punk, Andra Day, Cynthia Erivo, Tori Kelly, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Lukas Graham, Bruno Mars, Metallica, Maren Morris, Anderson .Paak, Katy Perry, Sturgill Simpson, A Tribe Called Quest, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and The Weeknd.
 
Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by award-winning television personality and performer James Corden, the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
 
The 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy^®. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Late yesterday, Capitol Records released "Chained to the Rhythm," the first single from Katy Perry's forthcoming album. She will perform the song live for the very first time at the 59^th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Perry co-wrote "Chained to the Rhythm" with Max Martin, Sia Furler, Ali Payami and Skip Marley. The song is available everywhere for streaming and download. Visit http://Katy.to/CTTR. The lyric video can be viewed HERE.

Katy Perry's cumulative streams now exceed 18 billion worldwide and she is the most-followed person globally on Twitter. She made her Capitol Records debut with 2008's One of the Boys and cemented her status as a global superstar with the follow-up album, Teenage Dream (2010). PRISM, her 2013 album, debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in 100 countries and has sold more than 12.5 million adjusted albums worldwide. With the singles "Firework" and "Dark Horse" each surpassing the 10 million threshold including song sales and streams, Perry is the first female artist to earn two RIAA Digital Single Diamond Awards. Cumulatively, she has sold more than 40 million adjusted albums and over 125 million tracks worldwide. Perry played to a total of two million people on the sold-out, 151-date Prismatic World Tour and headlined the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, which set a record as the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show ever.

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About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education, and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers, and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

Stayin' Alive: A GRAMMY® Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees coming February 14, 2017

"STAYIN' ALIVE: A GRAMMY^® SALUTE

TO THE MUSIC OF THE BEE GEES"

SET TO TAKE PLACE FEB. 14 AT MICROSOFT THEATER

Andra Day, Celine Dion, DNCE, Nick Jonas, Tori Kelly, John Legend,

Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Pentatonix, And Keith Urban Will Pay Tribute To The Five-Time GRAMMY^®-Winning Group

Bee Gees Legendary Co-Founder Barry Gibb Also To Take The Stage

Tickets now on sale

Keith Urban performing at Staples
Center in 2007.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2017) — Just two days after the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards^®, The Recording Academy^®, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, and CBS will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the landmark soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever by presenting "Stayin' Alive: A GRAMMY^® Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees." Previous GRAMMY^® nominee Andra Day, five-time GRAMMY winner Celine Dion, multi-platinum pop-funk band DNCE, previous GRAMMY nominee Nick Jonas, previous GRAMMY nominee Tori Kelly, 10-time GRAMMY winner John Legend, current GRAMMY nominee Demi Lovato, two-time GRAMMY winners Little Big Town, two-time GRAMMY winners and current nominees Pentatonix, and four-time GRAMMY winner Keith Urban, will pay tribute to five-time GRAMMY winners and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients the Bee Gees. Seven-time GRAMMY winner and Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb, who released a solo album late last year, will also be on hand to perform a selection of hits from Saturday Night Fever—Soundtrack, which won Album Of The Year at the 21st Annual GRAMMY Awards and was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame^® in 2004. Additional performers will be announced soon. The live concert taping will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. To purchase tickets, starting at $25, visit www.axs.com or contact ticketing@grammy.com.VIP packages and group sales are also available at 877.234.8425 or tickets@aegworldwide.com.The special will broadcast on the CBS Television Network later this year. 

"The Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice—were international musical icons who helped make Saturday Night Fever an emblem of 1970s pop culture," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "With expert harmonies, undeniable groove, and a personal charisma matching their on-stage persona, the iconic band of brothers defined not just a genre, but a generation. I'm looking forward to celebrating one of the most famous soundtracks ever produced and reliving Saturday Night Fever, once again."

"The Bee Gees created many of pop music's most memorable anthems and to be able to gather some of music's brightest lights together to salute this great legacy is very exciting to me," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of AEG Ehrlich Ventures. "Presenting new versions of these great songs promises an evening of true highlights, both for the artists themselves and millions of music fans. I'm proud to share a 42-year connection with Barry and his brothers and look forward to helping to create an amazing night of music and memories."

"Stayin' Alive: A GRAMMY Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees" continues the tradition of previous Emmy^®-winning TV specials presented by The Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, and CBS: "Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life—An All-Star GRAMMY Salute," "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America—A GRAMMY Salute," and "Sinatra 100—An All-Star GRAMMY Concert."

"Stayin' Alive: A GRAMMY Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ehrlich and Rac Clark are the executive producers, Ron Basile is the producer, and David Wild is the writer.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards—the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music—The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on Twitter, "like" Recording Academy/GRAMMYs on Facebook, and join The Recording Academy’s social communities on Google+,Instagram, Tumblr, and YouTube.

Annual Holiday Music Releases Roundup

Thanks to a slew of wonderful new holiday releases it is definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. 

Artist: Gene Autry
Title: A Melody Ranch Christmas Party (Varèse Sarabande)
You might like if you enjoy: Gene Autry & the Pinafores, Roy Rogers, Rosemary Clooney
Tell me more: Gene Autry's A Melody Ranch Christmas album is a wonderful time machine, featuring recordings from the 1940s and early 1950s originally recorded on Autry's long-running "Melody Ranch" radio show aired on the CBS Radio Network. Fans of classic country-western music and Christmas music will love this sentimental set filled with great recordings of "White Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "Joy to the World," "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the Snow Man" and many more. The album's great booklet includes insightful liner notes and vintage black & white images of Melody Ranch cast members that add to the magic. Information: VareseSarabande.com.

Artist: Neil Diamond
Title: Acoustic Christmas (Capitol)
You might like if you enjoy: Neil Diamond
Tell me more: Neil Diamond brings his rich baritone and signature style to some of the season's most beloved standards and several originals on his Acoustic Christmas. The sparse arrangements bring depth and introspective enchantment to all the performances, from the weighty "O Holy Night" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" to the anthemic "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and delightful Celtic-flavored "Christmas in Killarney." The album features two new shining originals, notably the lovely piano-anchored "Christmas Prayers." Information: NeilDiamond.com.

Artist: Tony Hadley
Title: The Christmas Album (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Spandau Ballet, Kim Wilde
Tell me more: Fans of '80s new wave band Spandau Ballet know well the power of singer Tony Hadley. Now the British singer's soulful vocals come in the service of 18 stellar tracks on The Christmas Album. Hadley mines enduring standards ("White Christmas" "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), traditional fair ("Ave Maria," "Silent Night") and several originals ("Every Second I'm Away," "Snowing All Over the World") on a terrific title centered around his top-tier vocals. A duet with Kim Wilde on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is among the treasures on the set. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Title: Wonderland (Verve)
You might like if you enjoy: Sarah Brightman, Enya, Sarah McLachlan
Tell me more: Sarah McLachlan brings her beautiful soprano to a number of beloved Yuletide favorites on the aptly-titled Wonderland. There is a nostalgic and yearning tone to this album with "Angels We Have Heard On High," "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "O Holy Night" among the adored songs covered with a mix of reflective melancholy and sumptuous beauty. A Barnes & Noble exclusive edition (reviewed here) includes two indispensable bonus tracks "Amazing Grace" and "Snow." Information: SarahMclachlan.com.

Artist: Kacey Musgraves
Title: A Very Kacey Christmas (Mercury Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson
Tell me more: Alt-country songstress Kacey Musgraves is one of country music's most exciting young artists, and her first full-length holiday music offering (A Very Kacey Christmas) is as superb as her other recent albums for Mercury Nashville (2013's Sam Trailer Different Park and 2015's Pageant Material). In addition to affecting covers of classics such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Let It Snow" four Musgraves originals sparkle with the magic of the season; this writer's favorites include the beautiful ballad "Christmas Makes Me Cry" and the Hawaiian-styled "A Willie Nice Christmas," the latter a memorable duet with legend Willie Nelson. Information: KaceyMusgraves.com.

Artist: Pentatonix
Title: A Pentatonix Christmas (RCA)
You might like if you enjoy: Pentatonix
Tell me more: Texas-spawned a cappella group Pentatonix has released another holiday set sure to please fans of the vocal quintet. Formed in 2011, Pentatonix has already established a bona fide signature style built atop original arrangements boasting tight and dynamic vocal harmonies, innovative percussion achieved with their voices as well as riffing and beatboxing to boot. The group's latest album release (A Pentatonix Christmas) continues that welcome tradition with impressive versions of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "White Christmas" (performed with the Manhattan Transfer), "Coventry Carol" and more. Information: ptxofficial.com.

Artist: She & Him
Title: Christmas Party (Columbia)
You might like if you enjoy: Aimee Mann, She & Him
Tell me more: Since bursting on the scene with their first album Volume One in March 2008, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) have been reviving '60s-styled sunshine pop across a number of winning releases. The duo released the wonderful A Very She & Him Christmas in fall 2011, and have just issued a new holiday collection titled Christmas Party that finds the duo offering up a dozen gems including a spirited "All I Want for Christmas Is You," a dreamy jazz-tinged "Let It Snow" and old-time country take on "Winter Wonderland" that finds Deschanel sharing lead vocals with guest Jenny Lewis. Information: sheandhim.com.

Robert Kinsler

Pentatonix enthralls in sold-out Anaheim show

My concert review was originally posted on The Orange County Register site on Monday, March 2, 2015.

Pentatonix in concert at City National Grove
of Anaheim on March 1, 2015.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

The meteoric rise of Pentatonix as a commercial juggernaut over the past three years was clearly illustrated long before the a cappella group took the stage at the City National Grove of Anaheim on Sunday night (March 1, 2015).

Thirty minutes before the doors opened a long line of fans – mostly teens and twentysomethings but with a number of Baby Boomers on hand, too – lined through the parking lot, a sight I had never seen in my many years of covering events at the concert venue.

Inside the excitement was palpable with a loud cheer erupting through the sold-out Grove when PTX took the stage at 8:15. Those who had only seen the Arlington, Texas, export during the third season of the NBC-TV show “The Sing-Off,” on “The Today Show,” or as a member of the army of 7.6 million YouTube subscribers, were rewarded with a concert experience that fully showcased the group's talents.

Over the course of 75 minutes, PTX delivered professional versions of hits by the likes of Daft Punk, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga built primarily with their voices. Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado and Mitch Grassi would typically take the lead on a particular song, with the others offering elaborate harmonies. Bass singer Avi Kaplan and beatboxer Kevin “K.O.” Olusola provided a rhythmic dynamic and percussion to propel the selections forward.

The stage design being used on their current On My Way Home tour was effective as well; simple bleachers on which they could position themselves in front and back of each other, while a gigantic rear projection screen was used to enhance the mood with videos and artful photos.

Fans of the concert likely found their highlights during versions of their favorite reworkings.

Olusola earned the biggest cheers of the night for a standout solo section where he played a cello and provided perfect beatboxing accompaniment during the piece.

Even more impressive later in the night was the “Evolution of Music,” a medley that found the five singers moving rapidly from 11th century monophonic Gregorian Chant to the baroque and classical music eras eventually moving rapidly through the 20th and 21st centuries. Piecing together small bits of the Beach Boys, Beatles and others in such rapid succession was impressive.

The night ended with the upbeat “On My Way Home,” and an impressive encore of That's Christmas to Me (the title track off the group's recent platinum-selling holiday collection which was the fourth best-selling album in the U.S. last year) and party-minded “Daft Punk.”

To read my review as it appears on The Orange County Register site, click here. You can also view contributing photographer Drew A. Kelley's great photos taken at the concert.