Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is proud to release new, never-before-heard recordings from the great Bahamian guitar legend and otherworldly talent Joseph Spence (1910-1984) coming July 16, 2021. Recorded by renowned recording engineer, documentarian, and producer Peter Siegel in 1965 in New York City and the Bahamas, Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing offers a […]
Monk Boudreaux (born Joseph Pierre Boudreaux; 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States) is the Big Chief of the Golden Eagles, a Mardi Gras Indian tribe. He is widely known for his long-time collaboration with Big Chief Bo Dollis in The Wild Magnolias. In 1970, Boudreaux appeared with the Wild Magnolias at the very first […]
Blue Heart Records has announced the signing of singer, songwriter and producer Vaneese Thomas. She is the daughter of the legendary Rufus Thomas, younger sibling of “Memphis Queen” Carla Thomas and the late Marvell Thomas. Vaneese both embraces her family’s remarkable legacy and advances it in her own unique way. Her vocal career has already […]
Jon Batiste has earned a good deal of praise for his behind-the-scenes contribution to the Pixar movie, SOUL. You probably know Jon Batiste as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. But his credentials are deep as the roots of the Batiste family tree. He’s the co-artistic director of the National […]
Tina Turner bids a final farewell to her fans in a touching new film that shows how she has overcome her painful past and finally found happiness. In the feature-length documentary, simply titled “Tina,” the singer looks back on camera for the first time at her younger years filled with struggle and pain, then the […]
Earlier this month, the legendary Anita Baker is known for iconic R&B ballads like “Body and Soul” and “Sweet Love.” However, she doesn’t own the music and is now asking fans to stop buying and streaming her songs. According to Baker, she has outlived her music contracts and her masters should be returned to her. Unfortunately, […]
The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a 2021 American biographical film about singer Billie Holiday, based on the book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. Directed by Lee Daniels, the film stars Andra Day in the titular role, along with Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne and Garrett Hedlund. Set in the 1940s, Billie Holiday is targeted by […]