The Ed Sullivan Show archives have shared previously unreleased Louis Armstrong performances, with the first premiering tonight, January 22.
It is believed that Ed Sullivan himself lent these clips to Louis Armstrong and Universal Music Enterprises, because the two were friends, having been born in the same year in 1901. These new clips of Armstrong are able to be brought up now after decades of being lost. The first clip, premiering Jan. 22, shows Armstrong at his best, with him and opera star Robert Merrill performing a Medley (“Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose”) on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.
Armstrong spent a lot of his life living in Queens, permanently settling there in 1943, despite being from New Orleans. By the 1950s, Armstrong, commonly known as “Satchmo” was widely known, and was entered into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1952. He starred as himself in the 1954 Biopic The Glenn Miller Story and that same year also released his second autobiography, Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. 1964 proved to be an important year for Armstrong as his record Hello, Dolly! remained on the Hot 100 for 22 weeks, dislodging a few Beatles songs. He died in 1971 of a heart attack.
Armstrong went on the Ed Sullivan Show a few times in his life, and some new clips are being released now that have never been seen before. The Ed Sullivan show is the most popular primetime variety show in American history, hosting a number of talent including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Motown artists. The first clip being released shows Armstrong and opera star Robert Merrill perfmroign “Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose” on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.
Another new clip that was originally broadcast on CBS Network on May 15, 1955, features Armstrong alongside Gary Crosby delivering a performance of “Struttin With Some Barbecue,” will be released soon. The rare clip is available now to watch on YouTube.
The first episode of the new year for Saturday Night Livefound host Aubrey Plaza welcoming back an old friend to the Update desk, while Sam Smith played tracks from his upcoming Gloria album with two mesmerizing musical performances.
With a timely opening sending up Fox NFL post-game coverage of Giants/Eagles – which ended less than a half hour before, SNL wasted no time using the Congressman and life story fabricator George Santos (Bowen Yang) reporting from the Super Bowl, delusions of grandeur on full display. Yang’s Santos would make an appearance on Weekend Update, driving the bit even further, as the jokes write themselves with the continually unraveling fictional backstory of Santos front and center this past week.
Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus, Parks and Recreation) took the stage of Studio 8H and recounted her longtime desire to host SNL, including her time as a page. This led to the SNL monologue trope of a tour behind the scenes, meeting cast members, the set design team and special guests – like former cast member and Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler – popping up along the way.
A take on the recent TikTok clip-worthy Miss Universe pageant featured cameos from both Property Brothers, and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.
Digital short “The Black Lotus” reimagined The White Lotus as a no-nonsense black-owned and staffed hotel, while “Game Night” brought together new neighbors in a revealing game of Taboo, and despite obvious cue card reading from Plaza, the rapid fire humor was refreshing and aligned perfectly with the host.
Sam Smith’s first song “Unholy” found the London singer in a fluffy pink ball gown under pink curtains and lighting, with Kim Petras appearing out from under the dress to join in the song. By the end, this performance turned into a devilish hallucination, with Smith donning a horned helmet. This marked Smith’s third time performing on SNL, having made their debut in 2014 and performing again in 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5fUCOgAJgk
Weekend Update showed that the Santos well of comedy will not run dry, with Yang showing longterm potential for his satiral take. Plaza joined the Update team as April Ludgate, revisiting her character from Parks and Recreation, and then bringing on Leslie Nope (Poehler) who made herself at home at the update desk, once again. Poehler shared Weekend Update duties with Seth Myers from 2006-2008.
The second performance from Sam Smith found him clad in gold, standing behind a choir who sang much of the track “Gloria.” Actress Sharon Stone – who starred in a remake of the movie Gloria in the late 90s – laid on a golden bed, moving to a new pose once Smith began to sing under the golden hued stage, a piece of performance art that was Smith’s idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFq8sojJNDo
Saturday Night Live returns on Saturday, January 28 with host Michael B. Jordan and musical guest Lil Baby.
Catskills unique Irish folk band Sheridan Rúitín has just released a video filmed on a mountain top for their original song “Rebels of the Night” on January 1st.
Along with this, the band has also just posted their upcoming tour where you can find all the details for coming shows and events, including 6 shows in NY around February and March. The band is currently busy working on a new song that will come with a music video most likely the first or second week of February as well.
As for the video, “Rebels of the Night” was filmed in the desolate wilderness of Harriman State Park, Rockland County. There are many unique trails and hikes around this part of Upstate NY, the video shows some of the unique views between Bear Mountain and Anthony’s Nose in the Hudson Highlands. To film the video, the crew carried a whole drum set up along with all of the other instruments and hiked up the mountain the weekend before Thanksgiving. Producing amazing footage to match the catchy Irish tune of their new song “Rebels of the Night.”
Sheridan Rúitín at Harriman State Park
In the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, as more pubs and restaurants were shutting their doors, Billy Houlihan became more and more of a regular at his next-door neighbor’s (Sheridan’s) pub. One evening in May of 2020, Billy brought his guitar over to the pub and he and Sheridan sat at the bar, singing rebel songs and drinking beer. Sheridan got quite into the moment while singing “The Kerry Recruit,” leading him to tumble off his barstool ultimately breaking his ankle (Irish: Rúitín) in 2 places. In the words of Sheridan: “Me feckin leg is in bits.”
Sheridan Rúitín now had an official band name and began recording songs and videos to release on YouTube. As pubs and restaurants were slowly opening back up, the family band began playing many gigs and were joined by old musician friends, John Damiano and Michael Zayas. Towards the end of 2021, the group began creating their own arrangements of traditional songs and writing a few originals to eventually become their debut album, “Rebels in the Night.” The album saw much success in pre-orders from all over the world. “Rebels in the Night” was released on March 6, 2022, and Sheridan Rúitín went on tour the whole month in support of their debut album.
The band has since been added to the bills of major Irish festivals in the USA, and is currently working on new music and another album. Sheridan Rúitín takes over the New York suburbia Irish music scene by filling the gap between Celtic rock and traditional Irish folk ballads.
To find more information on Sheridan Rúitín, click the link here to access their home page.
Sheridan Rúitín 2023 Tour Dates
2/25/2023 – Nyack, NY 3/2/2023 – Warwick, NY 3/3/2023 – Dingman’s Ferry, PA 3/4/2023 – Stamford, CT 3/5/2023 – Stony Point, NY 3/10/2023 – Paramus, NJ 3/11/2023 – Stamford, CT 3/12/2023 – New York, NY 3/14/2023 – Portland, ME 3/15/2023 – Boston, MA 3/16/2023 – Providence, RI 3/17/2023 – Nanuet, NY 3/18/2023 – Philadelphia, PA 3/19/2023 – Pearl River, NY
Brooklyn-based MC Skyzoo has dropped his newest studio creation, told from the point of view of “Franklin Saint”, the series protaganist of FX’s Snowfall. The video for lead single “Straight Drop” has also been released.
Skyzoo Releases New Concept Album
Art Imitating Art
Across this new 10 song character study, Skyzoo puts himself in the mind of the character, and raps about the motivations, surroundings, and the reality of the drug epidemic.
“When making this album, I wanted to do something that creatively pushed a button. Something that served a purpose, while trying to understand both sides of the fence that it represents. The idea of a fictional character, Franklin Saint, and what his innermost thoughts could be when dealing with the worlds he’s caught in between. What makes it so intriguing is that his character and his world are mirrors of a time and era that really happened. The birth of one of the world’s most addictive drugs and how its ripple effect took on a life that may seemingly never die. The crack era was one of the worst chapters in black America’s story. Using the Snowfall series as a vehicle to delve into both sides was truly fascinating as an emcee”.
Skyzoo
This companion experience comes at a perfect time, as the sixth and final season of FX’s Snowfall begins airing on February 22, 2023.
The Mind Of A Saint, Now available
A Successful Partnership
For this LP, Skyzoo once again teamed with D.C based The Other Guys. The production duo of Mighty Joe and Isaiah “Insanate” Mensah follow have been collaborating with Skyzoo for years. Their music chemistry is palpable on this project, which has relatable themes, even to those not familiar with Snowfall. The songs feature thoughtful interludes, and Pete Rock/DJ Premier-style outro beats at the end.
While not new to the ‘conceptual album” as evident on his previous projects, this is definitely Skyzoo’s most ambitious, and often grueling project.
“It was one of the most intense projects I’ve ever written. The idea of becoming a fictional character, which represents actual real-life events, making sure to hit every detail, from both the show and our real world, was a writing exercise like no other” Skyzoo claims. “I’m honored to have been able to do so, and I’m honored that The Other Guys trusted me to step outside a box, and truly push the envelope with this. Enjoy, and remember, like they told us in the ’80s: Just Say No.”
Skyzoo’s The Mind Of A Saint is now available at all DSP’s via First Generation Rich/HiPNOTT Records.
The third annual Women in Music Summit will take place from Jan. 25-27, with an exciting list of speakers and events taking place.
Women in Music speakers.
This year’s Summit will highlight various panels offering diverse topics and perspectives from leading industry professionals including Samantha Kirby, Cheryl Paglierani, Mari Davies, Jenna Gaudio, Dann Liebermann, Leslie Powell, Heidy Vaquerano, Christine Osazuwa, Lauren Smith Brody, and many more. It will be presented virtually, as it has in years past.
Founded in 1985, Women in Music is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts, through recognition, support, education, and empowerment. Different chapters are located all throughout the world, from LA to India. They believe the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome.
The organization provides panels, seminars, webinars, workshops, performance showcases, achievement awards, leadership summits, and global initiatives. The third annual Summit programming includes a career fair on day three, inspired by Women in Music’s new collegiate expansion, the WIM Mentorship Program and the WIM Internship Program, which places diverse candidates into paid in-house industry internships at partner companies, a talk from Author, Founder and CEO of The Fifth Trimester Lauren Smith Brody, and exploring data behind remote and hybrid models in the workplace.
The full schedule of events is below, and WIM members can register for free, and tickets are available for purchase to non-members here.
JANUARY 25: EDUCATE
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Title: How Artists Can Win with Brands on TikTok
Speakers:
Dann Liebermann, Head of Creative Partnerships, The Elements Music
Leslie Powell, Songwriter/Artist
Kelli Slade, Commercial Music and Creative Licensing Manager, Bytedance/TikTok
Moderator: Moira McCarthy, VP, Women in Music
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Title: Harnessing Digital Media Strategies for Success
Speakers:
Blair Miller, Founder & CEO, Chaos Creators
Cassie Petrey, Co-Founder, Crowd Surf
Temima Shames, Founder & CEO, Next Step Talent
Moderator: Tara Bendler Global Chair, Comm/Board of Directors, Women in Music; Talk Marketing, Spotify
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Title: Securing A Strong Publishing Deal For Long-Term Financial Stability
Speakers:
Heidy Vaquerano, Partner, Fox Rothschild, LLP
Mary Rahmani, Founder, Moon Projects
Ashley Winton, SVP Global Creative Services, Warner Chappell
Moderator: Kristin Robinson, Music Publishing Reporter, Billboard
Time: 4 p.m.
Title: Masterclass: Activist Artist Management
Speakers:
Liz Norris, Partner, Activist Artist Management
Caitlin Stone, Partner, Head of Activism, Activist Artist Management
Kris “Red” Tanner, Partner, Activist Artist Management
Moderator: Nicole Barsalona, President, Women in Music; Artist Manager
JANUARY 26: EMPOWER
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Title: More Than Just Treading Water: How to Survive and Grow as a Working Parent Right Now
Speaker: Lauren Smith Brody, Founder & CEO, The Fifth Trimester; Co-Founder, Chamber of Mothers
Moderator: Jessica Shaw, SVP Sync Licensing, Sony Music Entertainment
Sponsored by The Village (Sony Music Entertainment)
Born from the depths of the 2020 Pandemic, Neon Avenue is a group of Capital Region musicians came together to play the music of the Grateful Dead. With the stalling of the music industry, a creative outlet was needed for these 5 individuals. What was first a casual get together playing some dead tunes quickly escalated into a singular goal of putting together a live stream. Something special happened during these early sessions/shows and a “one-and-done” livestream turned into something much more.
In less than 2 years as a band, Neon Avenue has made quite a stir in the ever popular (and saturated) Gratefully-inspired tribute scene, growing quickly to become one of the bigger draws in the Upstate NY capital region Dead scene. The band brings a fresh take on the Grateful music that you know and love while placing an emphasis on improvisation, unique setlist construction, deeper cuts into the grateful songbook and a primal energy that they draw from their loyal fans during live performances. With past appearances at the Town of Hoosick Falls concert series, Long Lake’s “Meat.Beer.Music” music festival, as well as scheduled appearances at Lake George Steamboat Company’s “Rock the Dock Music Festival”, “Rockin’ on the River” for the city of Troy, and numerous headlining shows around the Capital region, the word has certainly gotten out about this band. Composed of veteran musicians from numerous local groups like Formula 5, Slipknot! (80’s/90’s Dead tribute), Stone Revival Band, Knot Dead, Jocamo, and more, this combination of players has set out to push the boundaries of the standard Dead tribute.
The group of Joe Davis (Formula 5), Mike Urbon (Knot Dead), Mike Cassels (Stone Revival Band, Jocamo, Knot Dead), Mike McDonald (Formula 5, Knot Dead) and Doug Klein (Slipknot, Robanic, Knot Dead) were re-inspired playing the music of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Ratdog, and others. While existing in an endless sea of 1970’s era Grateful Dead tributes, this group strives to separate itself with a dedication to unique arrangements of setlists and song segues, utilizing extended improvisation, playing deeper cuts from all eras of the Dead, JGB, and Ratdog songbook.
