Classic Hits

Kenny Loggins will be honored later this year with the John Lennon Real Love Award at the 44th annual John Lennon Tribute Dec. 7 at Symphony Space in New York. 

The annual event is put on by Theatre Within, which offers free workshops in creative expression and mindfulness for children, teens and adults impacted by cancer, as well as youth in crisis. 

“Kenny Loggins is one of those rare artists who fearlessly crosses musical genres and whose songs have touched the hearts of generations of fans,” Theatre Within artistic director Joe Raiola says. “Beyond that, Kenny’s charitable impact, particularly for children’s causes, has been seismic and selfless.”

Previous recipients of the John Lennon Real Love Award include Graham Nash, Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco and Donovan. 

The award was established in 2014 with the support of Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, to celebrate artists for their creative excellence and charitable/social impact.

Proceeds from the 44th annual John Lennon Tribute benefit Theatre Within’s programs, as well as the John Lennon Real Love Project songwriting program.

Ticket are on sale now.

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On This Day, Aug. 21, 1965 …

The Rolling Stones landed their first #1 album in the United States with Out Of Our Heads, which went on to hold the top spot for three weeks. 

The band’s fourth album released in the States, Out Of Our Heads featured the future Stones classic “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” which became their first #1 single in the U.S. and a staple at their live shows. The album also featured the top 10 single “The Last Time.” 

Out of Our Heads was certified Platinum by the RIAA. In addition to topping the U.S. chart, the album peaked at #2 in the U.K. and Australia. 

The Rolling Stones are still making music. Their most recent release, Hackney Diamonds, came out in October.

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Another day, another film festival premiere for the new Elton John documentary.

Elton John: Never Too Late will receive its European premiere Oct. 10 at the BFI London Film Festival. Elton and his husband, David Furnish, the latter of whom co-directed the movie with R.J. Cutler, will be in the audience.

The documentary follows Elton as he simultaneously gets ready for his final North American concert at LA’s Dodger Stadium and looks back at his impressive 50-year career, revealing how he overcame career challenges and personal struggles to rise to the top of the music biz.

BFI London Film Festival director Kristy Matheson says in a statement, “We’re delighted to … give audiences a front row seat to one of the most electrifying creative careers of our age.” The BFI London Film Festival begins Oct. 9.

The documentary will receive its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, which starts Sept. 27, and its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, which starts Sept. 5.

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Lenny Kravitz is headed to the VMAs.

The rocker is one of the newly announced performers for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, happening Sept. 11 at UBS Arena in Queens, New York.

This will mark Kravitz’s first VMA performance in over 25 years. He previously graced the VMA stage in 1993 when he performed “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and won Best Male Video, and in 1998 when he joined Madonna for her performance of “Ray of Light.”

Lenny is nominated in the Best Rock Video category at this year’s VMAs. His Blue Electric Light track “Human” is up against Bon Jovi’s “Legendary,” U2‘s “Atomic City,” Green Day’s “Dilemma,” Coldplay’s “feelslikeimfallinginlove” and Kings of Leon’s “Mustang.”

Fan voting is open now and runs through Aug. 30.

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There are a lot of kids who get introduced to the music of The Beatles by their parents, and now the legendary group is out to teach those kids how to play their music, as well.

Children’s guitar brand Loog just announced a new partnership with Apple Corps Ltd. to launch The Beatles + Loog Collection, made up of nine new kid-sized, Beatle-inspired three-string guitars, six acoustic and three electric. 

Each of the acoustic guitars, recommended for children ages 3 and up, are designed to represent different stages in the Beatles’ career, including 1967, the Revolver era and their “Yellow Submarine” era. The electric guitars come in black, blue and white, and are good for children 6 and older.

“I started Loog not only to help kids play guitar, but also to foster curiosity around music – I can’t think of a better way for them to start their musical journey than with John, Paul, George and Ringo,” Rafael Atijas, founder and CEO of Loog, shares. “I’m beyond thrilled and honored to partner with The Beatles in our mission to get kids learning, playing and falling in love with music.”

Each Beatles-themed guitar comes with a Beatles strap, as well as picks, pins and stickers dedicated to the band. There’s also an activity book with Beatles games and trivia, and each guitar comes with access to a special Beatle section in the Loog app.

The Beatles + Loog Collection is available for preorder now, with instruments shipping in October.

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James Taylor is sharing his feelings after his planned performance at the Democratic National Convention Monday night was cut for time.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer took to Instagram to address his missing performance, letting fans know how much he enjoyed being there.

“It was exciting to see and hear so many of the speakers at the opening night of the Democratic convention here in Chicago,” he wrote, adding he and his singers “had a great rehearsal” earlier in the day.

“But it became clear, as the evening unfolded, that there wouldn’t be time for our ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ with cello and voices,” he says. “Maybe the organizers couldn’t anticipate the wild response from the floor of the United Center.”

Taylor apologized for disappointing those who had hoped to see him, but noted the evening was “a great and inspirational, quintessentially American moment,” adding, “We were honored to be there.”

The DNC is scheduled to run until Thursday.

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Not long after he said in a recent interview that he knew his days were numbered, Rod Stewart had to postpone or cancel several shows due to strep throat and COVID-19. But Rod, 79, assures fans that he’s fine and he’s not secretly suffering from any health problems. 

Speaking to The Sun, Rod clarifies, “I appear to have been grossly misunderstood in that interview. When I said, ‘My days are numbered,’ it was purely in jest. Aren’t everybody’s days numbered? I am in embarrassingly wonderful health and enjoying life to the full. I am not dying as far as I know.”

Rod then repeats something else he said in the first interview: he’s training to attempt to break the world record for the 100-meter dash for a man his age. On top of that, he reiterates that he works out three or four times a week and adds, “I have completed over 70 shows this year all over the world and more to do.”

The singer continues, “I have a beautiful wife, eight children and three grandchildren. Life is good and I have a lot of life to live but I could still get knocked down by a number nine bus in the Charing Cross Road next week. All our days are numbered, but we just don’t know when.”

He calls the show cancellations “extremely unfortunate,” but notes that he’s already made up two of them and he’ll be back in Las Vegas next year.

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Elton John has paid tribute to talk show host Phil Donahue, who passed away Sunday from an undisclosed illness at the age of 88.

In a post on Elton’s Instagram Story — credited to Elton, David Furnish and the Elton John AIDS Foundation — Donahue was described as “a trailblazer who gave a voice to those affected by HIV and AIDS when stigma was at its peak.”

One of those voices Donahue had on his show was teenager Ryan White, who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion.

Elton noted in his tribute that Donahue had Ryan on his show “when it was needed most and emphasized the importance of acceptance and empathy.” He added, “Phil helped to change hearts and minds and his legacy will forever be remembered. Rest in peace Phil.”

Ryan was a frequent guest on Donahue’s daytime talk show. At the time he was fighting with his local school district to be able to remain in school; he became a national spokesperson for the disease.

Elton became close with Ryan and his family. When Ryan died in 1990 at age 18, Elton was one of the pallbearers at his funeral and performed the song “Skyline Pigeon.” He often cited Ryan’s death as one of the things that motivated him to get sober.

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Eric Clapton has announced a trio of California dates.

The three-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will be heading to Southern California in October, playing San Diego’s Pechanga Arena on Oct. 8, Palm Desert’s Acrisure Arena on Oct. 10 and Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 12.

Ticket information can be found at ericclapton.com.

The concerts are scheduled ahead of Clapton’s appearance at the upcoming tribute concert for The Band’s Robbie Robertson. Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson is happening Oct. 17 at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.

In addition to Clapton, it will feature Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bruce Hornsby, Warren Haynes and more.

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Now that they’re no longer opening for Aerosmith, The Black Crowes have found some more time in their schedule, so they’re adding more dates to their upcoming Happiness Bastards Tour (The Reprise).

The rockers have added 14 new shows to the schedule, including stops in New Orleans, St. Louis, Tulsa, San Antonio, Austin, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. They’ve also rescheduled a handful of dates.

The tour will now kick off Sept. 27 in Northfield, Ohio, and will end with a two-night stand in Port Chester, New York, Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.

Tickets for all new shows go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. A complete list of dates can be found at theblackcrowes.com. 

The Black Crowes were originally scheduled to be the special guest on Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour, which was due to kick off in September. In early August, Aerosmith announced the tour was canceled and they were retiring from the road due to frontman Steven Tyler’s vocal troubles.

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