On Working With High Profile Artists and more...

Visit Matt Wong's full studioexpresso Profile here

New York-based Matt Wong (not the Canadian painter Matthew Wong) is an award-winning pianist, composer, and arranger with impressive awards to include: ASCAP awards (5); Downbeat Music Awards (10); Monterey Jazz Festival Awards (2); a Jazz at Lincoln Center Award.

Wong who attended the Manhattan School of Music

recently worked with Academy, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste as keyboardist, arranger and orchestrator on Batist's American Symphony, making its world premiere at Carnegie Hall on September 22, 2022. The piece, just over 90 minutes of music accompanied by 64-piece ensemble, paid salute to musical visionaries—such as Duke Ellington, James Reese Europe, Mahalia Jackson, and Nina Simone—who once stood on the very stage.

Wong has also worked with Grammy Award-winning producer/composer/arranger Brent Fischer assisting with music orchestration, and on production of two Clare Fischer Big Band Albums for Clavo Records.

Wong will be among studioexpresso's esteemed composer guests, also featuring Brent Fischer and David Benoit at TEC Tracks @ NAMM 2023 on

April 15, 2-3pm, Anaheim Convention Center, CA

Click here for more details

The Real World Studios where The Court from Peter Gabriel's forthcoming album

I/o was recorded with an orchestra

Embraced in its breath-taking natural environment, Real World Studios inspires creativity and is one of the world's most desired recording destinations. Conceived by multi-Grammy and Brit-Award winner singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist Peter Gabriel, the studio is both a paragon of technical excellence and an idyllic artistic retreat. Real World has been the source of many landmark albums by musicians from all over the globe.

Above sessions for I/o took place in The Big Room at RealWorld, boasting a huge collection of vintage and modern audio equipment, including ATC SCM25A speakers.

For the complete list of gear, kept in tip top shape with in-house technicians, visit here

Peter Gabriel began calling his fans “lunatics” back in 2002 in conjunction with the release of Up. Gabriel began the year with his Full Moon Club updates and in February he discussed the launch of The Court, the second track from his forthcoming album I/o.

Gabriel has also announced plans for i/o 2023 tour across the UK & Europe in spring. The tour marks his first shows outside of North America

Listen to the full track here written and produced by Peter Gabriel, The Court was recorded at the Real World Studios in Wiltshire and The Beehive in London, and features contributions from Brian Eno alongside Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché, as well as backing vocals from Peter’s daughter Melanie Gabriel.

‘I had this idea for ‘the court will rise’ chorus, so it became a free-form, impressionistic lyric that connected to justice,' says Gabriel. He describes life having a lot of struggle between order and chaos and how we bring justice or legal systems to try and bring some element of order to this chaos. He says this process sometimes has shortcomings. The orchestral arrangement by John Metcalfe with Peter Gabriel was recorded at British Grove Studios in London with a number of players who previously featured in the New Blood Orchestra.

Album's cover photo of The Burning of Lifting the Curse, 2022, is by sculptor Tim Shaw with photography by Steve Tanner. The song is partly inspired by the work of NAMATI whose mission is to provide people around the world access to justice they may not otherwise be able to afford. ‘I recommend you check them out,’ says Gabriel. ‘They do a brilliant job assembling teams around the world to help with different issues. Additionally, Gabriel is one of the founders of WOMAD Festival The World Music festival takes place at Charlton Park, Malmesbury over the weekend 27-30 July, 2023

The ATC SCM25 Pro Mk2 is now available to order. USA MAP Price $9490/pair

Vote before March 1 here

The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was founded in 1911, and is renowned for its Music and Recording Industry programs. Their newly completed nearly 5,000 sq.ft. facility includes two identical control rooms with their respective recording spaces of various sizes and additional isolation booths. The new Studios D and E are placed under a tall roof that allowed the design to take advantage of 17’ high ceilings in the tracking rooms. All of the spaces are now generously sized and can accommodate groups of teachers and students, bands and ensembles, making it the flagship studio of the school’s renowned audio program. For more info visit nonzero\architecture This project was completed in 2021 with design and managing principal of studio bau:ton and nonzero\architecture, Peter Grueneisen who has been involved with hundreds of projects of different types and sizes since 1990. Grueneisen has written ‘Soundspace – Architecture for Sound and Vision’, a book, available at amazon, illustrating many of his projects incorporating architecture, art and technology. Peter was elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2009 and has served on the design awards committee of the Los Angeles AIA chapter and has lectured and taught at SCI-Arc, USC, UCLA, among others.

TransAudio Group, U.S. distributer of the finest professional recording equipment in the world, is pleased to announce the new ATC SCS70 Pro, a compact, ultra-high performance subwoofer using ATC’s first, in-house-designed and built sub driver.

Is it actually worth spending money on good speaker stands? That is the question. While looks can be deceiving, you must have seen concrete blocks and other DIY configurations used in some project studios. Speaker stands may not be on top of your purchasing list in 2023, but this 19-minute video by Colt Capperrune @ColtCapperrune may change your mind. $20 block stands are compared with professional stands ranging from $140 Gators to $1,200 Sound Anchor stands. Can you guess which one performs the best? check it out here

Sound Anchors and Redmount products are designed and manufactured in Palm Bay, Florida U.S.A. using American parts and skilled American labor. click here for Sound Anchor dealers in USA

Above: Blackbird's Dolby Atmos set up is powered by ATC speakers. Right: METalliance members in Nashville (L-R) George Massenburg, Niko Bolas, Elliot Scheiner, Chuck Ainlay, Jon Randall, Frank Filipetti, Sylvia Massy, and Jimmy Douglass. Photo by Don Cherel.

Founded by sound engineer John McBride, and his wife country artist Martina McBride, in 2002, Blackbird Studio has become Nashville’s preeminent sound studio. The Blackbird complex now includes nine studios.

The METalliance (Music Engineering and Technology Alliance) celebrated another successful "In Session" weekend of live tracking and mixing on January 28 & 29 in Nashville at Blackbird Studio. During the weekend, the seven METAlliance members interacted with a full house of eager attendees, young and old, from pros to beginners. Blackbird owner John McBride said, "I've always known to surround myself with great people. After two days with The METalliance I have never in my life been more inspired about making music. I learned more about the art of recording and mixing music than ever before with these living legends willing to share their wisdom, experience and humor with total honesty."

METalliance members Sylvia Massy and Niko Bolas recorded the "blood" harmonies of the Zmed Brothers and the striking songs of singer/songwriter Sonia Leigh with a full band with horns. Bolas commented, "After spending the weekend sneaking into the other classes, watching the METalliance work, I, again, realize how diverse and creative this art of engineering can be. Jimmy Douglass is an 'OG Beast' and Sylvia Massy captures performance like no one else, with tools like no one else -- genius hiding in a garden hose. Who knew?" Says Massy, "Our Nashville weekend was a cocktail of tasty music and innovative technology, blended with studio friends long-time and brand new -- all poured into the vibrant rooms of Blackbird. Can't wait to see y'all at the next METalliance celebration -- we'll have another f*ck-ton of fun!"

In Blackbird Studio D, Elliot Scheiner and Chuck Ainlay tracked Grammy Award-winning artist/songwriter/producer Jon Randall with All-Star session players. Ainlay said, "It never ceases to amaze me -- the combined wealth of recording and mixing knowledge this group embodies...For me, it was a dream come true to witness one of my recording heroes, Elliot Scheiner, on a tracking session." In Studio F, Jimmy Douglass shared techniques of his immersive mixes, including titles by Justin Timberlake. Frank Filipetti and George Massenburg covered immersive mixing in the unique Studio C.

"ATC monitors are something you have to experience to really grasp how different they are from everything else. Lets just say that you can hear details you’ve never heard before, leading you to faster, more accurate decisions in your creative process," says Brad Lunde, President of Trans Audio Group.

Models range from $5,000 to $50,000 per pair and all share a very similar sound. For larger rooms and midfield, applications check out the SEM45 with dual 6.5-inch drivers and the fantastic SEM150 with a 15-inch woofer and 350 Watts of power. Choose the size that works for your space. More info here

Jeffrey Weber Produces Clifford Lamb's New Album

Lamb Chops Is Due Out March 15 on Weberworks Entertainment Group Label

Jazz luminary Clifford Lamb, the celebrated jazz pianist/composer from the San Francisco Bay Area has recorded six albums with Grammy award-winning producer Jeffrey Weber. Grammy and Emmy-award winning engineer, Clark Germain handled the live to two-track sessions at United. Stephen Marsh handled the mastering.

"I prefer to capture a live performance, rather than manufacture one," says Weber. "I feel that live recording is sonically excellent, emotionally dramatic, and financially practical. Performers have to be confident in their art and fearless in the performance of their art. As you might imagine, this manner of recording is not for everyone." Musicians on the session included: Cindy Blackman Santana, Christian McBride, Buster Williams, Herlin Riley, Henry Franklin, Edwin Livingston, Carl Allen, Peter Erskine, Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison. Familiar contemporary stalwarts include Rhonda Smith, Gregg Bissonette, Tariqh Akoni, Anacron, Alex Brown, Scott Maya and Laura Vall, among many others.

Clifford Lamb's new album Lamb Chops is on the Weberworks Entertainment Group label, home to all of Lamb's previous recordings. Projected release date: March 15, 2023.

Bettermaker builds boutique signal processors worthy of worship in their own right, but then they level-up their incredible products with convenient, easy-to-use plug-in control and instant recall.

TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.

A-Designs (USA), ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Auratone, Bettermaker, Daking Audio, Drawmer, Hakan, Latch Lake, Mojave Audio, Mutec, Pete's Place Audio, Sabra-Som, Subwoofer Pros, and Tube-Tech 

Questions- pricing, availability and dealer locations please email [email protected]

studioexpresso & Trans Audio Group Present

@ TEC Tracks NAMM 2023

Our speakers will discuss today's tools and tips for composers. How to make better decisions with higher efficiency. Learn the advantages of creating full mock-ups of your works using notation software, best practices for collaboration and communication. More details here

The 2023 NAMM Show, April 13-15 – Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California*

The 2024 NAMM Show, January 25-28 – Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Honoring movies released in 2022

Click here for nominees

Carter Burwell

Son Lux

from Tell It like a Woman; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

from Top Gun: Maverick; Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler

from RRR; Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose

from Everything Everywhere All at Once; Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

On Valentine's day on February 14, Louis Vuitton welcomed Pharrell Williams as its new Men’s Creative Director. His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed next June during Men's Fashion Week in Paris. “Pharrell's creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter,” said Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO.

Pharrell Williams is a visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur with 10B combined global music streams to date. He has been honored with 13 Grammy Awards, including 2004, 2014, and 2019 Producer of the Year, and ASCAP’s Golden Note Award in 2012. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his original song “Happy” (Despicable Me 2) and for Best Picture-nominated Hidden Figures (2016) as co-producer. Williams also received a Golden Globe Nomination for co-scoring the film. In 2019, Williams received an Emmy-nomination for his original song “Letter to My Godfather,” for Netflix’s Black Godfather about legendary music executive Clarence Avant. In 2020, Williams was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work as The Neptunes. In 2019, Pharrell founded YELLOW, a non-profit working to even the odds for all youth through education, helping them realize their potential. In 2020, Williams launched Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative that provides a bridge to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who are launching tech, healthcare, Web 3.0 and consumer products/services start-ups. A longtime advocate against racial injustice, Pharrell was an integral part in the talks with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam about Juneteenth being a permanent paid state holiday and continued to make the push for it to become a national holiday.

How does the songwriter of Happy feel about his new role? "I am more grateful than anything."

The Score for Oscar Nominated Film: Everything Everywhere all at Once

Diane Warren (Applause with Sofia Carson from Tell It Like a Woman) and Son Lux were among the winners at the 4th annual Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards.

The album and its musical score by Son Lux for Everything Everywhere All at Once, became popular as it featured prominent musicians performing the tracks, including Mitski, David Byrne, André 3000, Randy Newman, Moses Sumney and yMusic.

The band worked on the score and soundtrack for around three to six years, with the band members individually working on sections following directors, Daniels' advice.

Son Lux (mean Dreams, Tell Me Why) is an American experimental band founded by producer, composer, keyboardist, and singer Ryan Lott (top middle and left) with fellow producers and composers, Rafiq Bhatia (right) , guitars, and Ian Chang (left), drums.

Lott makes his home in Los Angeles, but grew up all over the United States. Music was the one constant, his formative years spent at the piano. In addition to an extensive career writing music for dance, he also has become a sought after composer for advertising, television, and film. Lott’s feature film credits include The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2014), Paper Towns (2015), and Mean Dreams (2017). He has co-produced and co-written music for and with Woodkid, Sufjan Stevens, and Lorde.

The band's first three albums, At War with walls & Mazes, We Are Rising, and Lanterns, shaped the band's unique sound through post-rock and electronica influences. With the release of their fourth studio album, Bones, in 2015, Rafiq and Ian joined Son Lux, transforming the project into a three-piece band. After the release of their EP Stranger Forms and Remedy, the band's fifth album, Brighter Wounds, was released in February 2018. The band composed the music for 2022 science fiction action film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 95th Academy Awards. The full score album features new collaborations with Mitski, David Byrne, Randy Newman, and Moses Sumney, among others.

Based in New York, Bhatia is the first-generation American son of Muslim immigrant parents. Early influences such as Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, and Madlib—as well as mentors and collaborators including Vijay Iyer and Billy Hart—prompted him to see music as a way to actively shape and represent his own identity. When Ian Chang describes his creative process, the phrase "third culture” keeps coming up. Born in the colony of Hong Kong in 1988, Chang has lived a nomadic life. Stationed out of New York for 10 years and since relocated to Dallas, Texas, he built an impressive roster of progressive pop collaborators such as Moses Sumney, Joan As Policewoman, and Matthew Dear, among others, all while performing internationally and recording as a member of Son Lux and Landlady.

Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert had a lot of fun with dizzying visual effects and multiverse theories in physics, floating in academic circles. They have skillfully broken the film down to what matters most to us humans, the observer, and the actors in this game of life. The film stars Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., with James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis. Ah, and the sweet sound of finding your purpose -

Listen to the film's score by Son Lux here

Parlophone Records has announced a number of key promotions and hires to strengthen its position as a leading label for discovering and developing ground-breaking talent in the UK.

Jack Melhuish has been named the label’s new General Manager, reporting into its Co-Presidents Nick Burgess and Mark Mitchell. Jack joined Parlophone as Director of Marketing, Partnerships and Strategy in 2018 and has played a vital role in the label’s success since then, leading innovative and culturally significant campaigns for the likes of Ashnikko, Coldplay, David Guetta, Gabriels, Gorillaz, Kano, PinkPantheress and Sam Ryder.

Mark Mitchell said: “We’re delighted that Jack is taking on the new role of General Manager. Jack is one of the most dynamic and culturally insightful marketing executives in the industry today. His natural ability to understand artist positioning, narrative and the streaming ecosystem, make him an invaluable asset to our artists and the Parlophone label.” Jack added: “It’s an honor to step up into this role and I’d like to thank Nick and Mitch for giving me this huge opportunity. Parlophone is known for its unorthodox and boundary breaking artists and I want to continue delivering great results for them while contributing to the growth and success of our label.”

Parlophone also announced four key hires which will strengthen its A&R team. Arina Logacheva, Molly McNulty and Seb Smith have been appointed as Senior A&R Managers, while Jason Ngimbi has been brought in as a Junior A&R Manager. Arina joins from Universal Music, where she was a Senior A&R Manager based in Germany working across Virgin Records, Polydor and Island Records, and had huge success with signings such as Medusa and Sophie and the Giants . Molly moves to Parlophone after seven years at Kobalt Music Publishing, where she was most recently a Senior A&R Manager, signing acts such as Cat Burns, Knucks and Sam Fender. Seb joins Parlophone from Believe Music where he signed Knucks, Sainte and Nia Archives. Jason joins as a Junior A&R manager from BMG.

Parlophone has also promoted Grace O’Neill and Sam Palm, to Head of Radio and Head of Insight, respectively. Grace transferred to Parlophone from Warner Music Australia in 2019, where she was Head of Radio and has been a key figure in breaking acts such as Ashnikko, Diplo, PinkPantheress and Sam Ryder, amongst many others, at UK radio. Sam will now oversee the newly created Insight department, where he will augment the work he’s been currently doing as the label’s Streaming Lead, by incorporating more extensive audience data to provide the label with increased expert analysis and value to artists’ campaigns. Both Grace and Sam will report to Jack Melhuish.

June 2-4 2023, The Mann in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Live Nation Urban and Hip-hop legends The Roots announced plans for the return of The Roots Picnic for 2023.The two-day festival will once again take place at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on June 3rd and 4th with a lineup that includes Diddy, who will perform a special set with The Roots that explores his extensive catalog of hits.

The fest will also feature a set from Ms. Lauryn Hill, who will perform the entirety of her seminal album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Other artists on the bill for 2023 include Lil Uzi Vert, Ari Lennox, DJ Drama, Soulquarians, Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros, and the Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve.

The festival will also feature a special stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and the Roots at the Wells Fargo Center on June 2nd that will serve as the official kick-off for the event. For the 2023 Merchandise line, The Roots has partnered with black-owned brand The Fruit (Forever Rooted United Inspired Temples) Mkt, a premiere lifestyle brand; who mission is to sprout self awareness, healing and well-being through Product, experience and education. Visit here for more info

For the first time in three years, only minutes before the start of the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards^®, members of the 2023 audio team gathered for a photo at the foot of the stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Held on Sun., Feb. 5, 2023, the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards showcased collection of musical performances and tributes and utilized the latest in technology to provide television viewers worldwide with a cutting-edge, high-definition immersive sound.  The GRAMMY Awards technical staff consists of audio pioneers who continually strive to employ the latest in technology to enhance the show. Prominent members of the Recording Academy^® Producers & Engineers Wing^® were part of the audio team and included GRAMMY^® Co-Broadcast Music Mixer Eric Schilling, GRAMMY Broadcast Production Mix Audio Advisor Mike Clink, GRAMMY Broadcast Music Mix Audio Advisor Glenn Lorbecki, GRAMMY Broadcast House Mix Audio Advisor Leslie Ann Jones, and several others. 

Photograph courtesy of The Recording Academy^®/Getty Images. © 2023 Photograph by Kevin Winter.

Clive Davis Theater at the Grammy Museum brought together the artists of today on February 3, hosted by Schyler O'Neal. The music community attended the Careers in Music event during Grammy week to hear a conversation with music veterans Merck Mercuriadis, CEO of Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Nile Rodgers, and 5x GRAMMY-winner Singer-Songwriter-Producer The-Dream --also nominated in the inaugural class of the Songwriter Of The Year award (Tobias Jesso Jr won).

The speakers discussed their backgrounds in the music industry, the importance and power of the songwriter, sustaining a careers, and celebrating the songs.The-Dream talked about virtues of being a lifetime student, acquiring emotional intelligence for success (referring to Nietzsche's book: Genealogy of Morality).

Niles talked about his inspirations, including his father, author James Joyce, and recognizing the genius of James Brown in what he called having "complex simplicity". Rodgers talked about his classical and jazz influences and incorporating them in his production work. In contrast, The-Dream said he's a better collaborator, and good at putting teams of people together, who are good at doing what they do.

Merck talked about never getting comfortable and the value of seeking your purpose in life.

Next, the GRAMMY Museum presents Shakira, Shakira: The GRAMMY Museum Experience, opening

Friday, March 4 in the Museum's permanent Latin Music Gallery. Learn more here

TransAudio Group, the U.S. distributor for Drawmer, is introducing Ivor Drawmer's all new 1972 Dual Mic/Line and Instrument Mic Preamplifier. The unit distinguishes itself with its flexibility, unique feature set and simple operation, and is at home in both professional studio and live sound applications. As with all Drawmer products, the 1972 is hand-crafted in the UK with an all-steel chassis for bullet-proof reliability. Noted Brad Lunde, president of TransAudio Group and the U.S. distributor of Drawmer. “As usual, Drawmer studied the marketplace and engineered an affordable dual mic pre with one-of-a-kind features to meet today’s intricate recording issues and live sound applications. The 1972 is destined to be a staple piece of gear in every audio rack.”

Curt Bisquera (Sarah McLachlan, Elton John), Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp, Sting), Greg Penny (Elton John, KD Lang), Rafa Sardina (Lady Gaga, John Legend), Niko Bolas (Neil Young, LeAnn Rimes), Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hedrix, Kiss), Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More), Cheche Alara (Christina Aguilera), Kim Bullard (Elton John, Kelly Clarkson), Cristina Abaroa (Celine Dion, Enrique Iglasias), Brady Leffler (Hot Chelle Rae, Justin Beieber), Al Schmitt (Diana Krall, Paul McCartney), Alex Acuna (LA Phil, Beck), Teddy Campbell (American idol, The Tonight Show w Leno), Ellis Hall (Ray Charles, Tower of Power), Jacob Armen (Prince), Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Melody Gardot), Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys), Dave Schiffman (Adele, Limp Bizkit), Gregg Field (Sinatra, Pharell), Sylvia Massy (Tool, Johnny Cash), CJ Vanston (Toto, spinal Tap), Dame Gail Dorsey (David Bowie, Gwen Stefani), Jenny Mason (The Mrs), Neal Pogue (Outkast, Andre 3000), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor), Moogie Canazio (Sergio Mendes, Sarah Vaughan), Laura Dickinson (Frozen II, Lady and the Tramp), Daniel Seeff (KJazz, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), James Torme,

Zev Feldman of Resonance Records (Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Nat King Cole), John Wooler of Mood Media (Flying Lotus, Elton John, Miles Davis) and Brent Fischer (D'Angelo, Elvis Costello and The Roots).

February 5, 1941 – January 28, 2023

Barrett Strong co-wrote some of Motown’s best-known hits including

I Heard it Through the Grapevine, by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight. His co-writing credit on Papa Was a Rolling Stone, for The Temptations earned him a Grammy award for Best R&B Song in 1973.

He left Motown in the 70s and recorded for Epic and Capitol Records. He also owned and operated a production company called Boomtown out of the Motor City, mentoring young artists. A Mississippi native who moved to Detroit at age 4, Strong was a self-taught musician who played by ear on his father’s old upright piano.

In addition to his Grammy win, Strong was also a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Songwriters in 1990 and a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee as of 2004.

Motown's Mr Gordy released a statement by saying, “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. Barrett is an original member of the Motown Family and will be missed by all of us.”

May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023

Over 1,000 artists have recorded Burt Bacharach's songs, unforgettable melodies like Walk on By, Do You Know the Way to San Jose performed by Dionne Warwick, or What's New Pussy Cat performed by Tom Jones, Bacharach-David songs like The Look of Love with Dusty Springfield’s sultry 1967 hit, was featured in the movie Casino Royale. Mr. Bacharach accompanied the singer-songwriter Elvis Costello at Radio City Music Hall in New York in 1998. He won two Academy Awards for best song: for Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head written with Mr. Hal David, in 1970, and Arthur's Them (Best That You Can Do) written with Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager and Christopher Cross, in 1982. The American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of 20th-century. He died of natural causes, as per publicist Tina Brausman and will soar with the Angels in musical heaven.

Bacharach is survived by his fourth wife Jane and three children (a fourth child, Nikki, predeceased him).

st

German singer-songwriter Shirin David has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing division of Warner Music Group.David, who is 27, has amassed an impressive array of five number one singles during the course of her career, including “Gib ihm,” Ich darf das,” and “Lieben wir.”

Her debut album, 2019’s Supersize, landed at the top of the German charts and her 2021 follow-up, Bitches brauchen Rap, reached #3.

David is currently working on her third studio album, with new and eye towards releasing it by the end of the year.

“I’m excited to be working with Warner Chappell Music. I’ve got some amazing new music in the pipeline and I can’t wait for people to hear it,” Shirin said.

Dave Brubeck's The Gates of Justice Featuring The Brubeck Brothers at Royce Hall on February 26

On Sunday, Feb. 26, Dave Brubeck’s The Gates of Justice will be performed at Royce Hall as part of Music and Justice, a series by the Lowell Milken Center for Music of the Jewish American Experience that will feature prominent musicians, scholars and critics.

Brubeck composed The Gates of Justice in the aftermath of the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Brubeck fused elements of African American and Jewish spiritual music, saying that he hoped the juxtaposition of musical styles would “construct a bridge upon which the universal theme of brotherhood could be communicated.” The concerts have another historic element to them. They mark the first time that Dave Brubeck’s three sons — Darius, Chris and Dan Brubeck — will perform The Gates of Justice on stage together. The concerts will also feature work by living Jewish and Black composers, as well as two world premieres by school of music faculty, one by Arturo O’Farrill and another by Diane White-Clayton, lecturer of ethnomusicology and the director of the UCLA African American Music Ensemble. Dave Brubeck, whose 1959 album Time Out was the first jazz album to sell more than 1 million copies, protested against segregation in the 1960s. He planned a tour of southern colleges and universities which he then publicly canceled when they refused to allow his integrated trio to perform. Scholars estimate that the protest cost Brubeck roughly $400,000 in today’s money. “Brubeck’s commitment to social justice was real and substantial,” said Neal Stulberg, director of orchestral studies at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and one of the chief organizers of the concerts. Order tix here

On the heels of being named a Pandora 2023 Artist to Watch, an Amazon Music 2023 Breakthrough Artist to Watch, Dalton Dover releases his highly anticipated first single Giving Up On That via UMG Nashville/Mercury Records.

“It feels incredible to finally be able to share Giving Up On That with the world,” says Dover. “I performed it during my Grand Ole Opry debut, and for it to be my first official single with Mercury Records makes this song even more special to me.”

Next month, Dover prepares to make his international debut at C2C: Country to Country Festival’s CMA Songwriters Series before joining Chase Rice on the Way Down Yonder Tour in April. Dover honed his captivating live show last year with two performances at CMA Fest, opening for Luke Comb’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium show in Atlanta, Ga. and joining Priscilla Block’s Welcome To The Block Party Tour.

In addition to a deal with UMG Nashville, Dover has signed with Sony Music Publishing in partnership with Droptine Music Publishing along with United Talent Agency.

Warner Music Group has launched Hip-Hop Fifty, a yearlong, global celebration of the groundbreaking genre that turned the world on its head during the last half century. The far-reaching Hip-Hop Fifty campaign will bring together the worlds of art, fashion, sports, and more to honor every facet of America's most popular musical genre. Vinyl Me, Please will produce limited-edition, vinyl versions of select hip-hop albums from the Warner Music catalog. Celebration Launched At Grammy® House In Los Angeles Partnerships Announced With Dolby, LGND Music, New York Red Bulls, Peloton, And Vinyl Me, Please, With More To Be Introduced In Coming Weeks. watch the official video here

Founded in New York City in 2008, yMusic --Rob Moose, violin; Nadia Sirota, viola; Gabriel Cabezas, cello; Alex Sopp, flute; Hideaki Aomori, clarinet; CJ Camerieri, trumpet--believes in presenting excellent, emotionally communicative music, regardless of style or idiom. Their virtuosic execution and unique configuration have attracted the attention of high profile collaborators—from Paul Simon to Bill T. Jones to Ben Folds—and inspired original works by some of today’s foremost composers, including Andrew Norman, Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli, Marcos Balter, Judd Greenstein and Gabriella Smith.

They have performed around the world in venues of all sizes, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Madison Square Garden.

yMusic enters its 15th season with a slate of new projects, including a recital at Carnegie Hall, featuring the New York premiere of composer Andrew Norman’s Difference and the world premiere of Allison Loggins-Hull’s Supply, a forthcoming album of original music composed collaboratively by the members of the ensemble, and an album of original songs written with Bruce Hornsby. Their latest release, Together, by Judd Greenstein, was praised by NPR as “effervescent,” offering “episodes of transparent beauty built from chattering winds, pulsating strings and a soaring trumpet.” To date, yMusic has released four full-length albums of commissioned music, 2020’s Ecstatic Science, 2017’s First, 2014’s Balance Problems, and 2011’s Beautiful Mechanical, Time Out New York’s “#1 Classical Record of the Year.” Outside of the classical genre, yMusic has collaborated in the studio and on stage with dozens of popular artists, including Ben Folds, Emily King, Jose Gonzales, ANOHNI, Dirty Projectors, John Legend, Son Lux, the Staves, Bruce Hornsby, and Paul Simon. They're a delight to listen to. Enjoy yMusic- Music in Circles -Live at Rockefeller Chapel here

The Collection Captures the Legendary Performer at his Most Heartfelt and Moonlit Best.

In addition to the release of From the Capitol Vaults (Vol. 3), a lyric video for the romantic classic “The Very Thought of You,” written by Ray Noble and issued by Cole in 1958, was released to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Taken from the album of the same name that peaked at #17 on Billboard’s Top LP chart, it’s the perennial love song:

“I see your face in every flower / Your eyes in stars above / It's just the thought of you / The very thought of you /My love” to you, our beloved readers!

From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 3)

1.    Make Believe Land

2.    I Still See Elisa

3.    O.K. For TV

4.    I Envy

5.    Marilyn

6.    I'll Never Settle For Less

7.    Up Pops Love

8.    My Dream Sonata

9.    How Little We Know

10.  Should I

11.  Like Someone In Love

12.  Lorelei

13.  I Heard You Cried Last Night

14.  Misery Loves Company