Thursday, October 27, 2011

BUDDY HOLLY: LISTEN TO ME / THE ULTIMATE BUDDY PARTY December 2011 on PBS

Historic Concert Features Paul Anka, Peter Asher, Michelle Branch, Cobra Starship, Shawn Colvin, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, Raul Malo, Graham Nash, Stevie Nicks, Boz Scaggs, and Patrick Stump; Special Guest Appearances by Phil Everly, James Burton, Albert Lee; Featured Tributes by Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, Imelda May, And More –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA_0v78e_fw

BUDDY HOLLY: LISTEN TO ME / THE ULTIMATE BUDDY PARTY, an extraordinary concert event held at The Music Box in Hollywood on what would have been Buddy’s 75th birthday (September 7th), is available only through PBS, beginning this December. Offering viewers a front row seat for this once-in-a-lifetime concert, BUDDY HOLLY: LISTEN TO ME is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning December 3, 2011 ( check local                           listings).

Produced by Songmasters, the all-star tribute proved an historic rock ‘n’ roll moment, with an incredible line-up of performers including Stevie Nicks, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, Raul Malo, and Graham Nash — rocking the house in the company of a host of superstar guests. Among them were such avowed Holly fans as Paul Anka, Boz Scaggs, Shawn Colvin, Patrick Stump, Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta and Victoria Asher,

Michelle Branch, and famed guitar slingers James Burton and Albert Lee. The amazing finale featured all performers in the show in a rousing rendition of Holly’s best-known song, “That’ll Be The Day.”

As if all that weren’t enough, a series of live and video tributes were featured throughout the show, including homages to Holly from Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Jackson Browne, Brian Wilson, Pat Monahan (of Train), Imelda May, and the one and only Eric Idle of Monty Python’s Flying Circus fame.

Peter Asher, producer of the Listen to Me: Buddy Holly album (and musical legend in his own right) is the evening’s host and music supervisor.  He is joined by Chris Isaak as co-host and performer. Asher assembled an incomparable all-star “house-band” led by Waddy Wachtel — one of rock’s most acclaimed guitarists and musical directors. With their superb musicianship the performers gave energized, sometimes moving, always modern, authentic and unique interpretations of Holly’s most enduring and iconic songs. Adding to the magic of this musical celebration are other friends and family from Buddy Holly’s life, including Maria Elena Holly and Phil Everly, making what may well be his last public musical appearance.

Asher’s personal connection to Holly’s music goes back to 1965, when Peter & Gordon’s timeless cover of “True Love Ways” proved a massive hit both here and in the U.K. In addition, Asher produced Linda Ronstadt’s smash renditions of “It’s So Easy” and “That’ll Be The Day,” both of which served to further bolster the amazing durability of Holly’s legacy. Songmasters’ Listen to Me: Buddy Holly album features 15 entirely new versions of Buddy’s most iconic songs by leading artists, many of whom participated in this special concert.

“Buddy showed us how brilliant and unforgettable songs could be written using the simplest of chords,” says Asher. “He taught us the value of a lyric which came from the heart and the importance of making records the way you heard them in your head. His music has never ceased to play a major role in my life and work.”

BUDDY HOLLY: LISTEN TO ME / THE ULTIMATE BUDDY PARTY features these performances:

    * “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” – Chris Isaak
    * “Everyday” – Patrick Stump
    * “Heartbeat” – Chris Isaak and Michelle Branch
    * “I’m Looking for Someone to Love” – Lyle Lovett with James Burton
    * “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” – Paul Anka
    * “It’s So Easy” – Stevie Nicks
    * “Learning the Game” – Shawn Colvin
    * “Listen to Me” – Raul Malo
    * “Maybe Baby” – Boz Skaggs
    * “Oh, Boy” – Patrick Stump
    * “Not Fade Away” – Stevie Nicks
    * “Peggy Sue” – Cobra Starship (Gabe Saporta and Victoria Asher)
    * “Raining in My Heart” – Graham Nash
    * “Rave On” – Boz Scaggs, Graham Nash and Peter Asher
    * “That’ll Be the Day” – All-Star Cast
    * “True Love Ways” – Raul Malo
    * “Well All Right” – Lyle Lovett

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