Be Kind, Rewind In Theaters February 22

2008-02-14T18:10:00.004-05:00

Booker T. Jones is featured on the soundtrack of Be Kind, Rewind, a new movie starring Danny Glover, Mos Def and Jack Black. The soundtrack is available now on Lakeshore Records, and also includes music from Mos Def, Jack Black, Fats Waller and Billy Preston.

Even director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) got into the act, performing on "I Ain't Got Nobody" and "Lulu's Back in Town" with Booker and MGs Steve Cropper, and Donald 'Duck' Dunn.

The soundtrack has its own MySpace page, which you can visit by clicking here.

Blueberry Nights Features Mavis Track

2008-02-01T15:02:00.003-05:00

On April 1, Blue Note Records will release My Blueberry Nights, music from the new film by director Wong Kar Wai. Mavis Staples’ driving rendition of 'Eyes On The Prize', produced by Ry Cooder, is featured on the soundtrack, along with songs from Norah Jones, Cat Power, Otis Redding and Ruth Brown.

My Blueberry Nights, the first-ever English-language film by the acclaimed Hong Kong director, stars Norah Jones in her acting debut and is set for nationwide release on April 4, 2008.

Pre-order the soundtrack here or check out the movie's e-card here.

Mavis Scores 'Outstanding Gospel Artist' NAACP Nom

2008-01-14T14:01:00.000-05:00

The 39th Annual Image Awards today nominated Mavis in the category of Outstanding Gospel Artist. Others nominated in the category include Kirk Franklin, Marvin Winans, Yolanda Adams and Sounds of Blackness.

The Image Awards honor projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts in television, recording, literature and motion pictures and are televised live on FOX February 14, 2008 at 8:00 PM EDT.

Mavis performed 'On My Way' live on the 2007 Image Awards telecast.

Anders, Coming Down Up for 'Blues Album of the Year'

2008-01-05T12:51:00.001-05:00

The readers of BluesWax, the largest subscribed Blues publication in the world, have included Anders Osborne's Coming Down as one of five titles up for BluesWax Album of the Year 2007.

During November and December, BluesWax took nominations from it's readership and then created a final ballot of just five albums.

The publication also gave the album, Anders' first studio record in five years, a perfect '10' review.

Cool Town Rock Hits BBC Radio Chart

2007-12-11T08:16:00.001-05:00

The second European single from Holy Hail, released November 26, debuted on BBC Radio One's Indie Singles chart today at #23. Available on Adventures Close to Home records, 'Cool Town Rock' is getting national radio play in UK and the video is airing on MTV2.

The band is currently on a 35-date cross-Europe tour, first supporting Bonde Do Role and CSS and also headlining its own shows in UK.

Check out the video by Mirrorshade by clicking here.

Jones, Holland & What a Wonderful World

2007-11-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

What A Wonderful World is now available on iTunes, Amazon, or at your favorite mp3 download store.

This collaboration between Booker T. Jones and Shortlist Prize nominee Jolie Holland interpreting the 40-year old classic is only being released as a digital single.

Of working with Jolie, Booker said, 'Her voice sounds new and old at the same time. I made a new friend and it 's a wonderful new discovery for me. Jolie carries beauty and it's just around her all the time.' Jolie was equally gracious, adding 'It is an enormous honor to work with the elegant Mr. Booker T. Jones. It is such a deep honor to be able to count Booker among my friends. I'm so glad we had a chance to create something to share with the world, and I'm thrilled to consider what we can do in the future.'

Click on the iTunes button to hear 30-second previews of and download What a Wonderful World b/w It's a Blessing.

Folk Alliance to Honor Mavis

2007-11-03T15:05:00.000-04:00

The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance will honor Mavis Staples with a 2008 Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Award (LAAward). The award is given annually to those individuals or organizations who have inspired others, achieved definitive leadership in their field and contributed to the advancement of the performing folk arts.

Also being honored with a 2008 LAAward is the late old-time fiddler/banjo player Tommy Jarrell, as well as Rounder Records. The awards will be presented at the Folk Awards Show February 20, 2008 in Memphis, TN.

Mavis Honored with AMA's Free Speech Award

2007-11-02T09:08:00.000-04:00

Mavis Staples was awarded the Americana Music Association's "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award at the association's awards gala in Nashville, TN on November 1, 2007.

Prior recipients of the Free Speech Award include Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle. American icon Johnny Cash, a friend of Mavis's father, Pops, received the inaugural Free Speech Award in 2002.
The "Spirit of Americana" honorees are selected by a Lifetime Achievement Award Committee of the AMA.

Mavis was unable to attend the event to receive her award as she was on tour in Illinois. She performed at the event in 2004, appearing with that year's Instrumentalist of the year Will Kimbrough (inset).

Johnny Rivers Joins 525 Artist Roster

2007-10-01T14:09:00.000-04:00

525 Worldwide is pleased to announce the addition of the legendary Johnny Rivers to its artist management roster.

Johnny is perhaps best known for his seventeen Top Forty and nine Billboard Top Ten singles, including his number one hit song "Poor Side of Town," and the cultural touchstone "Secret Agent Man." In the course of a career now entering its fifth decade, Johnny opened LA's Whisky A Go Go as its headliner, helped produce and performed at the Monterey Pop Festival, and founded the Soul City Records label, which had two Number One hits and won two Grammy Awards in 1967 for Record and Song of The Year.

In 2006 Shout Factory and Soul City Records released the remastered 36-song, two-CD "Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology: 1964-2006," which was produced by Johnny and features two new studio recordings. July 2007 saw the re-release of his classic 1973 European Tour live recording, "Last Boogie in Paris: The Complete Concert."

An incredibly versatile artist, Johnny has sung, interpreted, written and recorded blues, classic rock-n-roll, soul, gospel and folk songs, and sold more than 30 million records. Along the way, he's jammed with Elvis, partied with Keith Moon, ridden motorcycles with Steve McQueen, and performed for U.S. troops in Vietnam.

Anders Osborne Narrates, Scores NOLA Short

2007-09-28T15:24:00.000-04:00

Anders, whose new album Coming Down came out this past Tuesday, recently completed a short film for the New Orleans Hope and Heritage Project. The project is dedicated to supporting the efforts to rebuild and transform the city of New Orleans, while staying true to the city's unique heritage and culture.

Anders has lived in New Orleans for over 20 years, and in the movie he talks about the City's music as "the fiber that holds the city together...the familiar stumbling serenade to being alive."

Anders Osborne On New Orleans Music

Booker T. Jones Honored by NARAS-Memphis

2007-09-10T13:50:00.000-04:00

The Memphis chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which oversees the Grammy awards, presented Stax Records legends Booker T. and the MGs with its Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday

The band -- organist Booker T. Jones, guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn and original bass player Lewie Steinberg -- all spoke before offering up a long, languorous take on their classic "Time is Tight."

Booker T., along with Cropper, Dunn, Steinberg and the late, great Al Jackson, Jr, received a NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award on February 11, 2007 (picture).

Today Show, NBC Nightly News and Lehrer NewsHour to Feature Mavis

2007-08-20T20:46:00.000-04:00

Tune in to The Today Show (NBC) tomorrow morning, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS) Thursday and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Friday for insightful interviews with all-time great soul/gospel vocalist Mavis Staples.

Mavis is earning the best reviews of her career for her new album We’ll Never Turn Back (Anti- Records), which The Wall Street Journal called her "magnum opus."

Mavis's latest release catapulted to the Top 5 on iTunes' R&B chart and Amazon’s overall CD sales chart after being featured in a round-up of noteworthy new releases on CBS Sunday Morning. Staples has also performed songs from the album on Jay Leno, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien.

Booker T. Jones Cuts Classic with Jolie Holland

2007-08-20T19:25:00.000-04:00

Legendary musician, songwriter and producer Booker T. Jones has joined forces with Texas-born singer/performer and Shortlist nominee Jolie Holland for a gorgeous rendering of the Louis Armstrong classic, "What A Wonderful World."

Set for release as a digital single via Anti- on November 6th, the uplifting and charming Jones/Holland collaboration celebrates the song’s 40th anniversary by paying tribute to the Bob Thiele and George David Weiss-penned classic in its own distinctive and beautiful way.

Mavis Returns to Late Night

2007-08-02T20:29:00.000-04:00

Mavis Staples will appear on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight for the first time since November 2004. Mavis and her new band will play a song off her new album We'll Never Turn Back on Anti- Records.

Anders Osborne Coming Down September 25

2007-08-02T19:28:00.000-04:00

Anders Osborne's new record, Coming Down, will be released on September 25th on MC Records. A stripped down record, Coming Down is a personal look at Anders' life and love of New Orleans post Katrina.

Recorded in Nashville and New Orleans, the record was co-produced by Anders and Troy Verges (BMI country songwriter of the year). Pre-order information for the cd will be coming soon.

Holy Hail on Dinner With the Band

2007-08-01T20:11:00.000-04:00

Dinner With The Band combines two of life's passions–food and music–to create an innovative cooking and music show. Check out the Holy Hail epsiode.

Holy Hail stop by this week to share jokes, cooking tips and stories from their trip to the UK. Sautéed halibut becomes "Holy Halibut" after chef Sam Mason concocts a delicious miso butterscotch sauce to satisfy their pescetarian taste buds. Tbe band then performs a set that includes a new song "Luck Will Find You," available exclusively on Dinner with the Band.

Mavis Returns From Successful European Run

2007-07-31T17:18:00.000-04:00

Mavis Staples played to enthralled audiences and critical raves in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and UK earlier this month, check out this video of her and her band at the Kulturbolaget in Malmo, Sweden.

Mavis Staples "Eyes on the Prize (live)"

Bonnaroo Experiences the Power of Mavis

2007-06-17T20:33:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, June 16, Mavis made her first appearance at Bonnaroo with a set that generated two encores. Check out this recap of Bonnaroo from RollingStone.com which called Mavis's performance "the killer set of the weekend."

RollingStone.com Bonnaroo recap

While at Bonnaroo, Mavis sat-in with the Decemberists for a downright historic rendering of The Band’s classic tune “The Weight” (Mavis’ performance of that song with The Band made for one of the most memorable scenes in Martin Scorsese’s classic concert film The Last Waltz).

Big Guns Hits America, Europe

2007-05-29T09:04:00.000-04:00

Holy Hail's debut single for Kanine Records (Grizzly Bear, Oxford Collapse) streets today in the US and UK, in vinyl and digital formats. The 12" features a transatlantic remix by Rory Phillips balanced by a straight-up-Philly Dave P. remix.

Time Out NY recently gave the band a starred pick and said ""Holy Hail is a party-starting coed dance-pop quartet...this band has a fun live show and a bunch of smart, thumping tunes to its credit."

HH Born of a Star Video in Rotation on MTV2

2007-05-03T20:19:00.000-04:00

Holy Hail's video for their debut release on the new Adventures Close To Home label is in limited rotation on MTV2-UK. Directed by Eliot Jokelson (TV on the Radio, Pinback), the video is currently up for voting on the NME chart over at MTV.co.uk, and features rendering technology created specially for the song.

Later this month the band will be on tour in United Kingdom supporting New Young Pony Club on a string of dates through June.

Check out the video, below.

Holy Hail - "Born of a Star"

Tonight Show

2007-04-25T21:02:00.000-04:00

Last night, Mavis appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed "Eyes on the Prize," the lead track on her new album We'll Never Turn Back, which was released yesterday on Anti- Records.

Here is Mavis's Tonight Show performance:

Mavis Staples "Eyes on the Prize (live)"

Holy Hail Wins Fresh Meat

2007-03-15T20:15:00.000-04:00

Holy Hail's 'Born of a Star' was elected winner of the Fresh Meat on Zane Lowe's BBC 1 radio show on Monday March 12. The band's debut vinyl single (Adventures Close To home) was voted the winner over ace tracks by The Ponys and Manikin.

Tune in to Zane's show on Monday March 19, 2007 from 19.00 to 21.00--as victors, they won a repeat spin on the national radio show.

Booker @ SxSW this week

2007-03-15T20:08:00.000-04:00

Booker is appearing twice (at least) during the annual South by Southwest Music Industry conference in Austin, TX this year. On Thursday March 15 he'll appear with the MGs as part of the Stax 50th Anniversary Revue from 7:30 to 9 PM at the legendary Austin nightclub Antone's. Then on Friday March 16, Booker will be interviewed by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot as part of a SxSW Music Panels interview.

Booker T. honored with 2007 GRAMMY Achievement Award

2006-12-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Booker T. was named a 2007 Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award recipient for his work with the seminal instrumental group Booker T. & The MG's. Also receiving the award with the pioneering keyboardist are guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, drummer Al Jackson (posthumously), and Lewie Steinberg, the group's original bassist.

Other artists honored with 2007 Lifetime Achievement GRAMMYs are Joan Baez, Maria Callas, Ornette Coleman, the Doors, the Grateful Dead and Bob Wills.

The lineup of Cropper, Dunn, Jackson and Jones backed recordings by such artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Albert King, The Staple Singers, and Wilson Pickett. The group were million-sellers in their own right as one of the top instrumental outfits of the rock era, with hits including "Green Onions," "Time Is Tight," and "Hang'Em High." As a band that featured two blacks and two whites playing as a cohesive group in the highly-charged south of the '60s, the band set an example of how music can transcend racial divisions. Booker T & The MGs are also 1992 inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mavis Staples signs with Anti-; New Album April 2007

2006-12-19T19:32:00.000-05:00

Soul/gospel legend Mavis Staples recently completed work on We'll Never Turn Back, the most personal and polemical album of her career, on which she breathes new life and personal history into songs of the Civil Rights Movement. Set for April 24, 2007 release, the album was produced by Ry Cooder, and marks Mavis' debut for Anti- Records.

We'll Never Turn Back combines raw, emotional, contemporized versions of some of the freedom songs that provided the soundtrack to the civil rights movement of the 1950s/60s, along with other traditional songs, and new originals written by Mavis and Ry.

Soul music authority Rob Bowman ('Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax Records') listened to We'll Never Turn Back and had this to say:

"For over fifty years, Mavis Staples has been a national treasure, working her vocal magic on the highways and byways of gospel, folk and soul music. With both her family group, the Staple Singers, and as a solo artist in her own right she has helped to define much of what is righteous and soulful in American music. In the early 1960s, the Staple Singers began to work with Dr. Martin Luther King singing in support of the Civil Rights movement.

With We'll Never Turn Back, Mavis Staples has come full circle, singing songs that were seminal to a movement and time that helped form her as an artist."