Elvis Presley‘s “Suspicious Minds” is the best song ever written about the concept of suspicion. It wasn’t the first time the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll tackled the subject. Elvis recorded a song that later became a hit by an artist whose singing voice was extremely similar to his own. The song in question was allegedly crafted by one of The Beatles’ producers.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicion’ is ‘Suspicious Minds’ on its head
Covers were a huge part of the “All Shook Up” singer‘s catalog from the very beginning. His debut album is nothing but covers! It was only fair that other artists should take shots at recording Elvis originals. Terry Stafford was an Elvis soundalike who had one hit song. It was a cover of Elvis’ “Suspicion.”
“Suspicion” doesn’t have the monster hook or gospel textures of “Suspicious Minds.” Like a lot of early 1960s dance music,...
Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicion’ is ‘Suspicious Minds’ on its head
Covers were a huge part of the “All Shook Up” singer‘s catalog from the very beginning. His debut album is nothing but covers! It was only fair that other artists should take shots at recording Elvis originals. Terry Stafford was an Elvis soundalike who had one hit song. It was a cover of Elvis’ “Suspicion.”
“Suspicion” doesn’t have the monster hook or gospel textures of “Suspicious Minds.” Like a lot of early 1960s dance music,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s “Bossa Nova Baby” is one of his more well-remembered 1960s hits, but was the end of Elvis’ peak era. A somewhat similar Frank Sinatra song blew it out of the water. One of the writers of “Bossa Nova Baby” wasn’t a huge Elvis fan at first.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Bossa Nova Baby’ started a bad 5 year stretch for Elvis
Elvis produced more hits than nearly every other artist who ever lived. However, his career hit a big slump that lasted five-and-a-half years. According to The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, “Bossa Nova Baby” reached the top 10 near the end of 1963. Between then and 1969, Elvis didn’t have a single top 10 hit, with the exception of a cover of Darrell Glenn’s “Crying in the Chapel.”
That was a dark period for Elvis. While he produced some classics during that time period, such as “Viva Las Vegas” and “How Great Thou Art,...
Elvis Presley’s ‘Bossa Nova Baby’ started a bad 5 year stretch for Elvis
Elvis produced more hits than nearly every other artist who ever lived. However, his career hit a big slump that lasted five-and-a-half years. According to The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, “Bossa Nova Baby” reached the top 10 near the end of 1963. Between then and 1969, Elvis didn’t have a single top 10 hit, with the exception of a cover of Darrell Glenn’s “Crying in the Chapel.”
That was a dark period for Elvis. While he produced some classics during that time period, such as “Viva Las Vegas” and “How Great Thou Art,...
- 2/20/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Unabashed pop groups with fervid teenage followings tend to get trivialized, at least in the media. They’re dismissed as being slick and calculated and superficial. But there’s a story in “Wham!,” the new Netflix documentary about the quintessential pop duo of the 1980s, that testifies to what a chancy and audacious artist George Michael was even back in his teen-idol days.
The year is 1983. Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, coming off their first album, “Fantastic”, have established Wham! as an effective lightweight pop machine, with its two young stars prancing around the stage in sexy sportswear. The time has come to record “Careless Whisper,” a song they’ve had in their back pocket for several years (we hear the super-early demo version of it that they recorded in 1981 in Ridgeley’s living room on a Teac 4-track Portastudio). Michael has become enough of a powerhouse to hook up with Jerry Wexler,...
The year is 1983. Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, coming off their first album, “Fantastic”, have established Wham! as an effective lightweight pop machine, with its two young stars prancing around the stage in sexy sportswear. The time has come to record “Careless Whisper,” a song they’ve had in their back pocket for several years (we hear the super-early demo version of it that they recorded in 1981 in Ridgeley’s living room on a Teac 4-track Portastudio). Michael has become enough of a powerhouse to hook up with Jerry Wexler,...
- 7/8/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Aretha Franklin documentary Amazing Grace, which tells the story of the singer’s 1972 gospel album, is subject of more legal issues.
The film, which was mired in limbo for 46 years as a result of various legal battles, is now the subject of a suit from producers including Alan Elliott, against distributor Neon and CEO Tom Quinn.
The crux of the issue also involves the Hollywood trade press, including Deadline, which covered the news that Neon had acquired the U.S rights to the film in December 2018. There was one small problem, the producers allege, it hadn’t signed a deal, and in fact, the producers were in talks with other buyers, including Apple, when Neon announced the deal.
The suit (read it here) alleges that Neon “fraudulently induced” the producers to accept a distribution deal by publicly announcing the pact.
“In a plan commandeered by Quinn, Neon acquired the coveted...
The film, which was mired in limbo for 46 years as a result of various legal battles, is now the subject of a suit from producers including Alan Elliott, against distributor Neon and CEO Tom Quinn.
The crux of the issue also involves the Hollywood trade press, including Deadline, which covered the news that Neon had acquired the U.S rights to the film in December 2018. There was one small problem, the producers allege, it hadn’t signed a deal, and in fact, the producers were in talks with other buyers, including Apple, when Neon announced the deal.
The suit (read it here) alleges that Neon “fraudulently induced” the producers to accept a distribution deal by publicly announcing the pact.
“In a plan commandeered by Quinn, Neon acquired the coveted...
- 8/11/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Marc Maron is back on the road, crisscrossing the country perfecting a new one-hour stand-up special with plans to “premiere it in a big way” at the New York Comedy Festival in November.
“It’s been great,” he told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet at the Respect premiere, where he was promoting his role as legendary producer Jerry Wexler. “I just got back from Denver where I did five shows, and it’s nice to be out there.”
Speaking of, Louis C.K. just hit the stage for a pair of sold-out stand-up shows in New York....
“It’s been great,” he told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet at the Respect premiere, where he was promoting his role as legendary producer Jerry Wexler. “I just got back from Denver where I did five shows, and it’s nice to be out there.”
Speaking of, Louis C.K. just hit the stage for a pair of sold-out stand-up shows in New York....
- 8/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Marc Maron is back on the road, crisscrossing the country perfecting a new one-hour stand-up special with plans to “premiere it in a big way” at the New York Comedy Festival in November.
“It’s been great,” he told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet at the Respect premiere, where he was promoting his role as legendary producer Jerry Wexler. “I just got back from Denver where I did five shows, and it’s nice to be out there.”
Speaking of, Louis C.K. just hit the stage for a pair of sold-out stand-up shows in New York....
“It’s been great,” he told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet at the Respect premiere, where he was promoting his role as legendary producer Jerry Wexler. “I just got back from Denver where I did five shows, and it’s nice to be out there.”
Speaking of, Louis C.K. just hit the stage for a pair of sold-out stand-up shows in New York....
- 8/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jennifer Hudson has dropped her version of “(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman” for the soundtrack for the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect.
“Natural Woman” was penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin (with some help from Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler), and featured on Franklin’s 1968 album, Lady Soul. Hudson’s version of the soul standard is presented as if it were a live performance, with a crowd roaring in the back as she belts the famous refrain over a rich horn fanfare.
The Respect soundtrack is set...
“Natural Woman” was penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin (with some help from Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler), and featured on Franklin’s 1968 album, Lady Soul. Hudson’s version of the soul standard is presented as if it were a live performance, with a crowd roaring in the back as she belts the famous refrain over a rich horn fanfare.
The Respect soundtrack is set...
- 7/16/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The first series in the franchise to have an African-American and a woman as its marquee player, NatGeo’s Genius: Aretha is, like the title of its opening episode and the Queen of Soul herself, all about “Respect.”
Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, the pandemic-delayed premiere picks up with the Cynthia Erivo-portrayed Aretha Franklin performing a rousing rendition of “Chain of Fools” at triumphant 1967 show in Chicago before shifting the action to 1954 and the dangerous routes of rural Alabama. With threats and violence in the Jim Crow mists, we meet the pre-superstar Little Re (Shaian Jordan) and her preacher father Cl Franklin (Courtney B. Vance) with a flat tire and two racists breathing down their sweaty necks.
The script for the opener of the eight-episode Genius: Aretha (read it below) is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts On the Page, a series that highlights the...
Penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, the pandemic-delayed premiere picks up with the Cynthia Erivo-portrayed Aretha Franklin performing a rousing rendition of “Chain of Fools” at triumphant 1967 show in Chicago before shifting the action to 1954 and the dangerous routes of rural Alabama. With threats and violence in the Jim Crow mists, we meet the pre-superstar Little Re (Shaian Jordan) and her preacher father Cl Franklin (Courtney B. Vance) with a flat tire and two racists breathing down their sweaty necks.
The script for the opener of the eight-episode Genius: Aretha (read it below) is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts On the Page, a series that highlights the...
- 6/28/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic’s anthology series “Genius” premiered in 2017 with its first installment about Albert Einstein starring Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush. It went on to receive 10 Emmy nominations including Best Limited Series and lead actor for Rush. It returned in 2018 with a focus on Pablo Picasso and earned another seven bids, once again in the limited series category and for lead actor Antonio Banderas. Now the acclaimed Nat Geo series could three-peat with its latest installment, “Genius: Aretha,” anchored by Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
“Genius: Aretha” is the most highly acclaimed and watched season in franchise history. Verne Gray (Newsday) praised its “beautiful production” and “first rate performances, notably the one that counts most – Erivo’s.” Brian Lowry (CNN) said, “Deriving its episodic subtitles from Franklin songs, ‘Genius: Aretha’ is a testament to that hard work. And like the best musical biographies,...
“Genius: Aretha” is the most highly acclaimed and watched season in franchise history. Verne Gray (Newsday) praised its “beautiful production” and “first rate performances, notably the one that counts most – Erivo’s.” Brian Lowry (CNN) said, “Deriving its episodic subtitles from Franklin songs, ‘Genius: Aretha’ is a testament to that hard work. And like the best musical biographies,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Denton Davidson
- Gold Derby
This story about Cynthia Erivo first appeared in the Limited Series & TV Movies issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
Cynthia Erivo grabs you in the gut with every performance she puts on screen. Of a series of remarkable roles in recent years — the unflappable Belle in “Widows,” Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” — perhaps the most exciting is the one she takes on in the limited series “Genius: Aretha.” She not only sings in Aretha Franklin’s indelible style but displays a new level of acting range as a woman demanding the world see her on her own terms. At 34, Erivo has already won a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy, along with two Academy Award nominations. She now seems destined once again to be part of the Emmy race. Editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman spoke to her in April.
When you accomplish as many incredible things as you have, it sometimes appears to...
Cynthia Erivo grabs you in the gut with every performance she puts on screen. Of a series of remarkable roles in recent years — the unflappable Belle in “Widows,” Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” — perhaps the most exciting is the one she takes on in the limited series “Genius: Aretha.” She not only sings in Aretha Franklin’s indelible style but displays a new level of acting range as a woman demanding the world see her on her own terms. At 34, Erivo has already won a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy, along with two Academy Award nominations. She now seems destined once again to be part of the Emmy race. Editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman spoke to her in April.
When you accomplish as many incredible things as you have, it sometimes appears to...
- 6/15/2021
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
It is remarkable how few people know that the same person produced Bob Dylan’s three defining early albums (as well as “Like a Rolling Stone”), the first two Velvet Underground albums, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention’s debut “Freak Out” and pivotal music by jazz legends Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor (including tracks with John Coltrane), among many others.
It was Tom Wilson, a visionary music producer who died in 1978 at the age of 47.
He was even the man who in 1965 overdubbed a folk-rock backing onto a song he’d recorded the previous year by an acoustic duo who had already split up and were living on different continents — that would be Simon & Garfunkel — resulting in the smash hit that ignited their career, “Sounds of Silence” (the duo quickly reunited and hastily recorded a new album). He also produced key songs by the Animals (the classic “Don’t Bring Me Down”), Nico,...
It was Tom Wilson, a visionary music producer who died in 1978 at the age of 47.
He was even the man who in 1965 overdubbed a folk-rock backing onto a song he’d recorded the previous year by an acoustic duo who had already split up and were living on different continents — that would be Simon & Garfunkel — resulting in the smash hit that ignited their career, “Sounds of Silence” (the duo quickly reunited and hastily recorded a new album). He also produced key songs by the Animals (the classic “Don’t Bring Me Down”), Nico,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety Film + TV
Genius: Aretha, as in Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is the latest limited series from Nat Geo to portray the life of a tectonic talent whose gifts, like those of Picasso in a previous season, have yet to be equaled.
The eight-part drama jumps back and forth between Franklin’s formative years as a girl-wonder singer on the gospel circuit through her time in New York as a would-be jazz vocalist under the tutelage of Columbia Records producer John Hammond to her groundbreaking recordings with Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler to her partnership with Clive Davis and his Arista Records label in the ...
The eight-part drama jumps back and forth between Franklin’s formative years as a girl-wonder singer on the gospel circuit through her time in New York as a would-be jazz vocalist under the tutelage of Columbia Records producer John Hammond to her groundbreaking recordings with Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler to her partnership with Clive Davis and his Arista Records label in the ...
Genius: Aretha, as in Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is the latest limited series from Nat Geo to portray the life of a tectonic talent whose gifts, like those of Picasso in a previous season, have yet to be equaled.
The eight-part drama jumps back and forth between Franklin’s formative years as a girl-wonder singer on the gospel circuit through her time in New York as a would-be jazz vocalist under the tutelage of Columbia Records producer John Hammond to her groundbreaking recordings with Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler to her partnership with Clive Davis and his Arista Records label in the ...
The eight-part drama jumps back and forth between Franklin’s formative years as a girl-wonder singer on the gospel circuit through her time in New York as a would-be jazz vocalist under the tutelage of Columbia Records producer John Hammond to her groundbreaking recordings with Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler to her partnership with Clive Davis and his Arista Records label in the ...
Roger Hawkins, a drummer who powered the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on hits by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and the Staple Singers, died Thursday following an extended illness. He was 75 and his death was announced by the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation on Facebook.
As part of the Muscle Shoals Music Section – affectionately known as the Swampers – Hawkins was the backbone of scores of pop, soul, R&b, and rock hits.
The 2013 documentary, Muscle Shoals, spotlighted the talent of the recording team. Hawkins most notable successes included working with Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett, on the massive hits Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, Mustang Sally and Land of 1000 Dances. He also played drums on the Staple Singers’ iconic I’ll Take You There.
Hawkins was born in Indiana and moved to Alabama as a teenager. Hawkins backed local singer Percy Sledge on When a Man Loves a Woman, which quickly...
As part of the Muscle Shoals Music Section – affectionately known as the Swampers – Hawkins was the backbone of scores of pop, soul, R&b, and rock hits.
The 2013 documentary, Muscle Shoals, spotlighted the talent of the recording team. Hawkins most notable successes included working with Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett, on the massive hits Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, Mustang Sally and Land of 1000 Dances. He also played drums on the Staple Singers’ iconic I’ll Take You There.
Hawkins was born in Indiana and moved to Alabama as a teenager. Hawkins backed local singer Percy Sledge on When a Man Loves a Woman, which quickly...
- 5/21/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Roger Hawkins, the drummer in the legendary Swampers and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section who played on hits like Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” and Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” has died at the age of 75.
The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation announced Hawkins’ death Thursday. Al.com reports that Hawkins died following an extended illness; the drummer suffered from numerous illnesses later in life, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Our hearts are breaking today as the heartbeat of ‘The Swampers’ drummer Roger Hawkins...
The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation announced Hawkins’ death Thursday. Al.com reports that Hawkins died following an extended illness; the drummer suffered from numerous illnesses later in life, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Our hearts are breaking today as the heartbeat of ‘The Swampers’ drummer Roger Hawkins...
- 5/20/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Five top TV showrunners will reveal the magic behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Emmy contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Thursday, June 3, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Daniel Montgomery and a group chat with Daniel and all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“The Boys”: Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“The Comey Rule...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“The Boys”: Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“The Comey Rule...
- 5/20/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The official trailer and poster for Respect, the biopic of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, have been released.
The film from MGM Pictures in association with Bron Creative and One Community arrives August 13 in theaters and stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin. The story follows her rise from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom.
Also on board for the film are Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Tituss Burgess asReverend Dr. James Cleveland, Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler, Kimberly Scott as Mama Franklin, Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore asCarolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin, Tate Donovan as John Hammond, and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman nominated for a...
The film from MGM Pictures in association with Bron Creative and One Community arrives August 13 in theaters and stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin. The story follows her rise from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to international superstardom.
Also on board for the film are Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Tituss Burgess asReverend Dr. James Cleveland, Marc Maron as Jerry Wexler, Kimberly Scott as Mama Franklin, Saycon Sengbloh as Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore asCarolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as Young Aretha Franklin, Tate Donovan as John Hammond, and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman nominated for a...
- 5/19/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The Queen of Soul finds her voice in the new trailer for Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson that arrives in theaters this August.
The first full preview for the Liesl Tommy-directed film opens with a young Franklin showcasing her gospel talents at the piano. “Singing is sacred, and you shouldn’t do it just because somebody wants you to,” her mother tells her. “What’s most important is that you are treated with dignity and respect.”
The trailer also focuses on the birth of Franklin’s Otis Redding-penned hit “Respect,...
The first full preview for the Liesl Tommy-directed film opens with a young Franklin showcasing her gospel talents at the piano. “Singing is sacred, and you shouldn’t do it just because somebody wants you to,” her mother tells her. “What’s most important is that you are treated with dignity and respect.”
The trailer also focuses on the birth of Franklin’s Otis Redding-penned hit “Respect,...
- 5/19/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
To become the queen, she needed to find her voice.
Academy Award® Winner Jennifer Hudson is Aretha Franklin. Watch the new trailer now, and don’t miss Respect in theaters this August.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
With a story by Callie Khouri and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy® and WGA Award nominations.
The cast includes Jennifer Hudson,...
Academy Award® Winner Jennifer Hudson is Aretha Franklin. Watch the new trailer now, and don’t miss Respect in theaters this August.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
With a story by Callie Khouri and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as Emmy® and WGA Award nominations.
The cast includes Jennifer Hudson,...
- 5/19/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo steps into the shoes of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in the Nat Geo anthology series Genius: Aretha. “It was an honor and I had this overwhelming sense of responsibility to try and tell the story through her as truthfully as I possibly could with this much grace as I possibly could,” said Erivo, joined by her co-star Courtney B. Vance at Deadline’s Contenders Television awards-season event.
Reflecting on the legacy of Franklin and the indelible mark she left, Erivo remarked, “I guess her legacy could teach us that we shouldn’t really be afraid of the unknown. Aretha didn’t know whether or not the answer would be yes when she asked to be a producer on her Amazing Grace album. She didn’t know what would happen when she changed record labels and trusted Jerry Wexler. She didn’t know all those things.
Reflecting on the legacy of Franklin and the indelible mark she left, Erivo remarked, “I guess her legacy could teach us that we shouldn’t really be afraid of the unknown. Aretha didn’t know whether or not the answer would be yes when she asked to be a producer on her Amazing Grace album. She didn’t know what would happen when she changed record labels and trusted Jerry Wexler. She didn’t know all those things.
- 5/15/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo’s “Genius” brand is a force to be reckoned with at the Emmys, winning two trophies and being nominated for Best Limited Series and Best Actor for its first two installments: “Genius: Einstein” with Geoffrey Rush in 2017 and “Genius: Picasso” with Antonio Banderas in 2018. The latest season to enter the awards derby is “Genius: Aretha,” starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin. The eight-episode series aired in March to critical acclaim, with Erivo being praised as “born to play” the legendary Queen of Soul. In Nat Geo’s video clip above, watch Erivo singing “How I Got Over” — yes, she sings her own songs.
The scene is a pivotal moment in the series, as the actress fully steps into Franklin’s shoes for the first time and a star is born before our eyes, both on-screen and off. The moment comes after Franklin has been told yet again that...
The scene is a pivotal moment in the series, as the actress fully steps into Franklin’s shoes for the first time and a star is born before our eyes, both on-screen and off. The moment comes after Franklin has been told yet again that...
- 5/7/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
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Aretha Franklin was the kind of shooting star that sprints through the atmosphere only once in a lifetime. Born on March 25, 1942, the talented singer-songwriter honed her craft in church, and became an icon whose music will continue to inspire legions of recording artists for generations to come.
In a career of more than 60 years, the Queen of Soul sold over 75 million records, won 18 Grammys, became the first female Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and amassed a collection of legendary hits soundtracking our lives with timeless anthems such as “Respect,” “Do Right Woman,” and “Rock Steady.”
Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2018 was a devastating loss to the music world, but...
Aretha Franklin was the kind of shooting star that sprints through the atmosphere only once in a lifetime. Born on March 25, 1942, the talented singer-songwriter honed her craft in church, and became an icon whose music will continue to inspire legions of recording artists for generations to come.
In a career of more than 60 years, the Queen of Soul sold over 75 million records, won 18 Grammys, became the first female Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and amassed a collection of legendary hits soundtracking our lives with timeless anthems such as “Respect,” “Do Right Woman,” and “Rock Steady.”
Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2018 was a devastating loss to the music world, but...
- 3/25/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
After premiering with two episodes on Sunday, Genius: Aretha continues tonight with two more episodes as the National Geographic anthology tells the tale of Aretha Franklin's life and career.
We have the pleasure of premiering an exclusive clip from Genius: Aretha Season 1 Episode 3, titled "Do Right Woman."
In the clip, Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) attends a protest for the Civil Rights Movement, but all is not as it seems.
The singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist is shown to be trying to conceal her identity in the scene.
It makes sense. Aretha was well-known for her impressive talents at that point in her life, but she crosses paths with another activist who quickly realizes just who she is.
Aretha wants to help in any way she can and starts by handing out flyers.
Unfortunately, her help is cut short when she is cornered by a man who...
We have the pleasure of premiering an exclusive clip from Genius: Aretha Season 1 Episode 3, titled "Do Right Woman."
In the clip, Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) attends a protest for the Civil Rights Movement, but all is not as it seems.
The singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist is shown to be trying to conceal her identity in the scene.
It makes sense. Aretha was well-known for her impressive talents at that point in her life, but she crosses paths with another activist who quickly realizes just who she is.
Aretha wants to help in any way she can and starts by handing out flyers.
Unfortunately, her help is cut short when she is cornered by a man who...
- 3/22/2021
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Aretha Franklin sang about “Respect” but what she really craved was control.
Franklin, who was undeniably brilliant, fiercely wanted to protect the love and loss within her private life as well as have a say in the strategic trajectory of her career. These are two of the major themes thoughtfully explored in Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, which premiered with two episodes Sunday March 21. Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo sings beautifully and delivers a masterful performance as the icon at various stages of her life in the titular role. And Courtney B. Vance shines as he steals countless...
Franklin, who was undeniably brilliant, fiercely wanted to protect the love and loss within her private life as well as have a say in the strategic trajectory of her career. These are two of the major themes thoughtfully explored in Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, which premiered with two episodes Sunday March 21. Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo sings beautifully and delivers a masterful performance as the icon at various stages of her life in the titular role. And Courtney B. Vance shines as he steals countless...
- 3/22/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
In the wake of Aretha Franklin’s death in 2018, competing biopics on the Queen of Soul were announced: one coming to movie screens and the other making up the third season of National Geographic’s anthology series “Genius.” Both biopics were delayed by a year because of the global pandemic, and now “Genius: Aretha” is the first release to set the tone for our view of Franklin as a performer, a legend, and a woman.
The series starts with a grown Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) arriving at Muscle Shoals to work under acclaimed music producer Jerry Wexler (David Cross). She’s brought along her husband, Ted White (Malcolm Barrett) and almost immediately the dynamic between the pair is evident. It also introduces one of the more frustrating things about “Genius: Aretha”: It’s a biography told with a muddled chronology, and this storytelling technique is distracting and confounding.
In this...
The series starts with a grown Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) arriving at Muscle Shoals to work under acclaimed music producer Jerry Wexler (David Cross). She’s brought along her husband, Ted White (Malcolm Barrett) and almost immediately the dynamic between the pair is evident. It also introduces one of the more frustrating things about “Genius: Aretha”: It’s a biography told with a muddled chronology, and this storytelling technique is distracting and confounding.
In this...
- 3/21/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
National Geographic’s much-stalled third season of limited series “Genius,” which tells the story of Aretha Franklin (played by Cynthia Erivo), finally premieres Sunday. Set as four-night event, airing two episodes back-to-back through Wednesday, “Genius: Aretha” will give fans the deep dive into the “Respect” singer’s life they’ve been waiting for.
And it’s likely that when you see it, there will be some parts of the tale that are hard to watch, but pivotal to Franklin’s journey nonetheless — like the numerous confrontations she had as a Black woman with white men while she fought her way to the top of the music industry.
“It’s very important to the series, for me as a Black, American woman, to take a look at that,” “Genius: Aretha” showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks told TheWrap. “And in the beginning, some folks were like, ‘Gee, there are a lot of men in the show.
And it’s likely that when you see it, there will be some parts of the tale that are hard to watch, but pivotal to Franklin’s journey nonetheless — like the numerous confrontations she had as a Black woman with white men while she fought her way to the top of the music industry.
“It’s very important to the series, for me as a Black, American woman, to take a look at that,” “Genius: Aretha” showrunner Suzan-Lori Parks told TheWrap. “And in the beginning, some folks were like, ‘Gee, there are a lot of men in the show.
- 3/16/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Cynthia Erivo belts “Amazing Grace” as Aretha Franklin in a new teaser for Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, which premieres on March 21st.
The 30-second spot (which will also air during the Grammys this Sunday, March 14th) centers around footage of Erivo as Franklin singing an a cappella rendition of the famous hymn. It’s paired with a montage of clips that show Franklin working as both an artist and activist, her rise as the Queen of Soul juxtaposed with the tumult of the Civil Rights era.
Genius: Aretha...
The 30-second spot (which will also air during the Grammys this Sunday, March 14th) centers around footage of Erivo as Franklin singing an a cappella rendition of the famous hymn. It’s paired with a montage of clips that show Franklin working as both an artist and activist, her rise as the Queen of Soul juxtaposed with the tumult of the Civil Rights era.
Genius: Aretha...
- 3/12/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Everyone wants concerts to come back. Everyone who attended the premiere event for Nat Geo’s “Genius: Aretha” at the makeshift drive-in in the Rose Bowl parking lot Thursday had a more specific wish: that Cynthia Erivo concerts would come back. Never mind that that really hasn’t much of a thing up till now, with Erivo being too busy with acting gigs to tour. The premiere screening was followed by a taped performance by Erivo, filmed last weekend nearby in an empty Greek Theatre, that made it clear the road and audiences along it will be ready whenever she is.
The end of Erivo’s 20-minute performance met with considerable honking from a car-bound crowd that couldn’t help but momentarily forego the Rose Bowl setting’s rules about laying off the horn. The mini-concert, first revealed in a “Just for Variety” preview, had Erivo arriving on the Greek...
The end of Erivo’s 20-minute performance met with considerable honking from a car-bound crowd that couldn’t help but momentarily forego the Rose Bowl setting’s rules about laying off the horn. The mini-concert, first revealed in a “Just for Variety” preview, had Erivo arriving on the Greek...
- 3/12/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Cynthia Erivo’s long-teased portrayal of Aretha Franklin will finally hit your TV screen in March.
NatGeo has announced a Sunday, March 21 premiere date for Genius: Aretha, with episodes airing at 9 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, two episodes will drop each night for four consecutive nights, culminating with the finale on Wednesday, March 24.
More from TVLineChris Hemsworth to Host Shark Beach Special for Nat Geo's 2021 SharkFestTVLine Items: The Equalizer Promo, Afraid of the Dark Date and MoreTVLine Items: Marvel's What If...? Trailer, Days Recasts Vivian and More
Erivo, a Tony Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, stars as Franklin, who began...
NatGeo has announced a Sunday, March 21 premiere date for Genius: Aretha, with episodes airing at 9 pm and 10 pm. Additionally, two episodes will drop each night for four consecutive nights, culminating with the finale on Wednesday, March 24.
More from TVLineChris Hemsworth to Host Shark Beach Special for Nat Geo's 2021 SharkFestTVLine Items: The Equalizer Promo, Afraid of the Dark Date and MoreTVLine Items: Marvel's What If...? Trailer, Days Recasts Vivian and More
Erivo, a Tony Award winner and two-time Oscar nominee, stars as Franklin, who began...
- 2/9/2021
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
R-e-s-p-e-c-t for National Geographic, which set the premiere date for “Genius: Aretha” Tuesday and dropped the trailer for the pandemic-delayed season of the anthology, which stars Cynthia Erivo in the title role.
In the trailer, which you can view above, Erivo’s Aretha Franklin is crowned the “Queen of Soul” and spends much of the two-minute video trying to maintain hold of that title while others set out to bring her down.
Nat Geo revealed Tuesday during its day at the virtual Television Critics Association press tour that “Genius: Aretha,” which has suffered multiple production delays over the last year due to Covid-19, will air as a four-night event series beginning Sunday, March 21, at 9/8c. The eight episodes of the season will air in pairs of two, with all available to stream on Hulu by Thursday, March 25.
“Genius: Aretha” will explore “Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as...
In the trailer, which you can view above, Erivo’s Aretha Franklin is crowned the “Queen of Soul” and spends much of the two-minute video trying to maintain hold of that title while others set out to bring her down.
Nat Geo revealed Tuesday during its day at the virtual Television Critics Association press tour that “Genius: Aretha,” which has suffered multiple production delays over the last year due to Covid-19, will air as a four-night event series beginning Sunday, March 21, at 9/8c. The eight episodes of the season will air in pairs of two, with all available to stream on Hulu by Thursday, March 25.
“Genius: Aretha” will explore “Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as...
- 2/9/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
In 1971, Peter Guralnick published Feel Like Going Home, which told the story of the blues through a series of revelatory profiles of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Howlin’ Wolf, and more. He ended the book with a goodbye: “I consider this chapter a swan song,” wrote Guralnick, who was 27 at the time. “Not only to the book but to my whole brief critical career. Next time you see me I hope I will be my younger, less self-conscious and critical self. It would be nice to just sit back and listen...
- 12/19/2020
- by Peter Guralnick
- Rollingstone.com
Jennifer Hudson channels Aretha Franklin in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming biopic of the late Queen of Soul “Respect,” which debuted Sunday during the BET Awards ceremony.
The film, directed by Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy in her feature film debut, follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom.
In addition to Hudson, the film also stars Forest Whitaker as her Baptist minister father C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as her mother, Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as her first husband, Ted White, Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess as gospel music legend James Cleveland, Saycon Sengbloh as sister Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as gospel singer Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as young Aretha, Tate Donovan as record producer John Hammond and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Also Read:...
The film, directed by Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy in her feature film debut, follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom.
In addition to Hudson, the film also stars Forest Whitaker as her Baptist minister father C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as her mother, Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as her first husband, Ted White, Marc Maron as music producer Jerry Wexler, Tituss Burgess as gospel music legend James Cleveland, Saycon Sengbloh as sister Erma Franklin, Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Heather Headley as gospel singer Clara Ward, Skye Dakota Turner as young Aretha, Tate Donovan as record producer John Hammond and Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington.
Also Read:...
- 6/29/2020
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
The first full trailer for MGM’s “Respect,” the upcoming Aretha Franklin starring vocal powerhouse Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, has arrived. The preview dropped Sunday night following Hudson’s performance at the BET Awards, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
The film directed by Liesl Tommy was originally slated to open in theaters October 9, but was pushed to a limited Christmas Day debut, to be followed by an expansion kicking off January 8 and a wide opening on January 15, timed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Expect a major awards play for star Hudson, who previously won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn in the musical “Dreamgirls.” Watch the trailer for “Respect” below.
The film charts the highs and lows of Franklin’s life and career. She began as a young gospel singer in Detroit and became a smash success after signing...
The film directed by Liesl Tommy was originally slated to open in theaters October 9, but was pushed to a limited Christmas Day debut, to be followed by an expansion kicking off January 8 and a wide opening on January 15, timed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Expect a major awards play for star Hudson, who previously won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing turn in the musical “Dreamgirls.” Watch the trailer for “Respect” below.
The film charts the highs and lows of Franklin’s life and career. She began as a young gospel singer in Detroit and became a smash success after signing...
- 6/29/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
“Black music is the backbone of the music industry in the U.S. today. It seems to be less affected by variables in the economy than any other forms of music… The major problem is the lack of broad, open acceptance by all segments of society based on feelings that are racist in their nature.”
This statement would not have been out of place on Instagram last week, as conversations about racial inequality swept the music industry. But the quote is from 1982, made by Bill Haywood, senior vice president of...
This statement would not have been out of place on Instagram last week, as conversations about racial inequality swept the music industry. But the quote is from 1982, made by Bill Haywood, senior vice president of...
- 6/10/2020
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Cynthia Erivo portrays Aretha Franklin in the first look at the upcoming National Geographic Genius anthology dedicated to the Queen of Soul. The 30-second teaser will air during Sunday’s Academy Awards, where the Best Actress-nominated Erivo will perform her Harriet song “Stand Up.”
The preview shows glimpses of the eight-part Genius: Aretha, premiering over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, May 25th, on National Geographic. “What kind of music do you really want to make,” an unseen Jerry Wexler asks Erivo’s Frankin in the teaser. “I want to make hits,...
The preview shows glimpses of the eight-part Genius: Aretha, premiering over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, May 25th, on National Geographic. “What kind of music do you really want to make,” an unseen Jerry Wexler asks Erivo’s Frankin in the teaser. “I want to make hits,...
- 2/8/2020
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Cynthia Erivo is ready for her close-up as Aretha Franklin!
The Oscars nominee, 33, completes her transformation into the Queen of Soul in the first teaser for National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha, a biographical television anthology series about the legendary singer.
In a short trailer released on Friday, Erivo captures Franklin’s passion for music — from her humble upbringing to recording her iconic hits in the studio.
“What kind of music do you really want to make, Miss Franklin?” producer Jerry Wexler, played by actor David Cross, asks her at one point in the clip.
To which Erivo’s Franklin replies,...
The Oscars nominee, 33, completes her transformation into the Queen of Soul in the first teaser for National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha, a biographical television anthology series about the legendary singer.
In a short trailer released on Friday, Erivo captures Franklin’s passion for music — from her humble upbringing to recording her iconic hits in the studio.
“What kind of music do you really want to make, Miss Franklin?” producer Jerry Wexler, played by actor David Cross, asks her at one point in the clip.
To which Erivo’s Franklin replies,...
- 2/8/2020
- by Gabrielle Chung
- PEOPLE.com
Cynthia Erivo just notched an Oscar nod for playing American hero Harriet Tubman — and now we’re getting our first look at her playing the Queen of Soul.
National Geographic has released the first teaser for Season 3 of the biopic anthology Genius, with Erivo starring as legendary singer Aretha Franklin. (The teaser is set to debut during Sunday’s Oscars broadcast on ABC, where Erivo is nominated twice, for Best Actress and Best Original Song for Harriet.) In the teaser — which you can watch above — we see Aretha recording some of her iconic hits and basking in the limelight… but...
National Geographic has released the first teaser for Season 3 of the biopic anthology Genius, with Erivo starring as legendary singer Aretha Franklin. (The teaser is set to debut during Sunday’s Oscars broadcast on ABC, where Erivo is nominated twice, for Best Actress and Best Original Song for Harriet.) In the teaser — which you can watch above — we see Aretha recording some of her iconic hits and basking in the limelight… but...
- 2/8/2020
- TVLine.com
National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios will release a first-look, national teaser promo for Genius: Aretha during this Sunday’s Oscars telecast airing on ABC, a sister network of NatGeo, which is also owned by Disney.
Cynthia Erivo, a 2020 Academy Awards nominee, stars as Aretha Franklin in the third season of the global anthology series. Set to perform Stand Up live during the Oscars, Erivo is nominated in two categories: Actress in a Leading Role and Music (Original Song) for the film Harriet.
Genius: Aretha will premiere over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at 9/8c. The series will be the first authorized scripted limited series on the life of Aretha Franklin. The eight-part series will explore Franklin’s musical genius and career, and the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world.
The cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) as C.L. Franklin; David Cross as Jerry Wexler; Malcolm Barrett as Ted White; Pauletta Washington (She’s Gotta Have It) as Grandmother Rachel; Patrice Covington (Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Erma Franklin; Rebecca Naomi Jones (The Big Sick) as Carolyn Franklin; Steven Norfleet (Watchmen) as Cecil Franklin; Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Vice Principals) as Ruth Bowen; Omar J. Dorsey (Queen Sugar) as James Cleveland; Marque Richardson (Dear White People) as King Curtis; and introducing Shaian Jordan as Little Re.
Imagine is partnering with Warner Music Entertainment for this third season, which will again be executive produced by Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Suzan-Lori Parks is showrunner and executive producer, and Anthony Hemingway is executive producer and producing director for the season.
Record producer Clive Davis and Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman have also joined as executive producers. Returning executive producers include Francie Calfo, Ken Biller, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (Mwm Studios), and Sam Sokolow (Eue/Sokolow). In addition, Imagine’s Anna Culp serves as producer alongside Peter Afterman.
Cynthia Erivo, a 2020 Academy Awards nominee, stars as Aretha Franklin in the third season of the global anthology series. Set to perform Stand Up live during the Oscars, Erivo is nominated in two categories: Actress in a Leading Role and Music (Original Song) for the film Harriet.
Genius: Aretha will premiere over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, at 9/8c. The series will be the first authorized scripted limited series on the life of Aretha Franklin. The eight-part series will explore Franklin’s musical genius and career, and the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world.
The cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) as C.L. Franklin; David Cross as Jerry Wexler; Malcolm Barrett as Ted White; Pauletta Washington (She’s Gotta Have It) as Grandmother Rachel; Patrice Covington (Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Erma Franklin; Rebecca Naomi Jones (The Big Sick) as Carolyn Franklin; Steven Norfleet (Watchmen) as Cecil Franklin; Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Vice Principals) as Ruth Bowen; Omar J. Dorsey (Queen Sugar) as James Cleveland; Marque Richardson (Dear White People) as King Curtis; and introducing Shaian Jordan as Little Re.
Imagine is partnering with Warner Music Entertainment for this third season, which will again be executive produced by Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. Suzan-Lori Parks is showrunner and executive producer, and Anthony Hemingway is executive producer and producing director for the season.
Record producer Clive Davis and Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman have also joined as executive producers. Returning executive producers include Francie Calfo, Ken Biller, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (Mwm Studios), and Sam Sokolow (Eue/Sokolow). In addition, Imagine’s Anna Culp serves as producer alongside Peter Afterman.
- 2/7/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
In the first teaser for “Respect,” Jennifer Hudson belts Aretha Franklin’s signature song for the new biopic inspired by the late Queen of Soul’s life.
“Respect” is directed by Tony-nominee Liesl Tommy, and the film follows Aretha’s rise as a singer, first in her father’s church choir, to how she eventually attains international superstardom.
Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige all co-star in the film.
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Shares First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin (Photo)
Whitaker is playing Franklin’s father and McDonald her mother, while others in the cast are playing music icons, including Blige as Dinah Washington, Headley as Clara Ward, Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, Donovan as Columbia Records producer John Hammond, and Maron as Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler.
“Respect” is directed by Tony-nominee Liesl Tommy, and the film follows Aretha’s rise as a singer, first in her father’s church choir, to how she eventually attains international superstardom.
Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige all co-star in the film.
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Shares First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin (Photo)
Whitaker is playing Franklin’s father and McDonald her mother, while others in the cast are playing music icons, including Blige as Dinah Washington, Headley as Clara Ward, Burgess as Reverend Dr. James Cleveland, Donovan as Columbia Records producer John Hammond, and Maron as Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler.
- 12/20/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Wandering the hallways in the depths of the Macon City Auditorium, Chuck Leavell was just moments away from taking the stage for the Capricorn Revival concert at the historic Georgia venue.
“To see all of this come back to life is nothing short of a miracle,” Leavell told Rolling Stone before sitting behind his keyboards as the musical director of the showcase, the official relaunch of the former Capricorn Records studio and the groundbreaking label that’s been dormant for years, its original Macon studio abandoned for decades.
“This is...
“To see all of this come back to life is nothing short of a miracle,” Leavell told Rolling Stone before sitting behind his keyboards as the musical director of the showcase, the official relaunch of the former Capricorn Records studio and the groundbreaking label that’s been dormant for years, its original Macon studio abandoned for decades.
“This is...
- 12/8/2019
- by Garret K. Woodward
- Rollingstone.com
Cynthia Erivo is transformed into the late, great Queen of Soul in a first-look photo from Genius: Aretha, the upcoming biographical series from National Geographic and Fox 21 Television Studios.
See the photo below.
Erivo, a Tony Award winner for Broadway’s 2015 The Color Purple and the star of this year’s Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet, will play Aretha Franklin in the third installment of the series (following seasons devoted to Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso).
“Over the last few months,” said Erivo, “I’ve been preparing myself to embody the Queen of Soul, from relistening to her music to discovering her rare interviews and reading some amazing books on her — all to really capture Aretha’s attitude and spirit. I’m truly humbled to be working alongside a very talented and musical team. Together, we’ll serve the Queen and create something special.”
Also featured in the cast are...
See the photo below.
Erivo, a Tony Award winner for Broadway’s 2015 The Color Purple and the star of this year’s Harriet Tubman biopic Harriet, will play Aretha Franklin in the third installment of the series (following seasons devoted to Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso).
“Over the last few months,” said Erivo, “I’ve been preparing myself to embody the Queen of Soul, from relistening to her music to discovering her rare interviews and reading some amazing books on her — all to really capture Aretha’s attitude and spirit. I’m truly humbled to be working alongside a very talented and musical team. Together, we’ll serve the Queen and create something special.”
Also featured in the cast are...
- 12/6/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
David Cross has joined the cast of the upcoming third season of “Genius” at Nat Geo, which will focus on music legend Aretha Franklin.
Cross will star as music producer Jerry Wexler. Cynthia Erivo is set to play Franklin, with Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Sanai Victoria also set to star in the eight-episode season.
Cross’ Wexler is described as a scrappy, Bronx-born legendary producer who is one of the first to spot Franklin’s incredible talent and potential. He’s a street savvy music man with great ears who isn’t afraid to go into segregated clubs to find talented performers like Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett. He even coined the term “rhythm and blues.” He poached Franklin from Columbia to Atlantic Records and works with her from 1966-79 during which time she records some of her most iconic hits.
Cross will star as music producer Jerry Wexler. Cynthia Erivo is set to play Franklin, with Courtney B. Vance, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Sanai Victoria also set to star in the eight-episode season.
Cross’ Wexler is described as a scrappy, Bronx-born legendary producer who is one of the first to spot Franklin’s incredible talent and potential. He’s a street savvy music man with great ears who isn’t afraid to go into segregated clubs to find talented performers like Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett. He even coined the term “rhythm and blues.” He poached Franklin from Columbia to Atlantic Records and works with her from 1966-79 during which time she records some of her most iconic hits.
- 11/20/2019
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald and Mary J. Blige have all joined the ensemble cast of MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, the studio announced Friday.
Tituss Burgess, Tate Donovan and Marc Maron are also joining the life story of the queen of soul, as are Broadway stars Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley and newcomer Skye Dakota Turner.
Tony-nominee Liesl Tommy is directing “Respect,” which goes into production on Nov. 1. Tracey Scott Wilson wrote the screenplay. “Respect” will open in theaters on Aug. 14, 2020. Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason Jr., who has produced music for both Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson, are producing the film.
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Finds Its Aretha Franklin for Next Season of Historical Anthology
Whitaker, Wayans, McDonald, Sengbloh and Kilgore are all playing members of Franklin’s family. Whitaker will portray Aretha’s father, Reverend Cl Franklin, who...
Tituss Burgess, Tate Donovan and Marc Maron are also joining the life story of the queen of soul, as are Broadway stars Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley and newcomer Skye Dakota Turner.
Tony-nominee Liesl Tommy is directing “Respect,” which goes into production on Nov. 1. Tracey Scott Wilson wrote the screenplay. “Respect” will open in theaters on Aug. 14, 2020. Scott Bernstein and Harvey Mason Jr., who has produced music for both Aretha Franklin and Jennifer Hudson, are producing the film.
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Finds Its Aretha Franklin for Next Season of Historical Anthology
Whitaker, Wayans, McDonald, Sengbloh and Kilgore are all playing members of Franklin’s family. Whitaker will portray Aretha’s father, Reverend Cl Franklin, who...
- 10/18/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
MGM and Bron Studios have finalized the cast for its Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson, who was previously announced in the lead role. Pic follows the rise of Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom. Production begins Nov. 1. Pic will be released on Aug. 14, 2020 with Universal handling overseas.
Joining Hudson in the Liesl Tommy-directed movie is Forest Whitaker; Marlon Wayans; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige; Marc Maron; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore, and Tate Donovan. Emmy-nominee Tracey Scott Wilson penned the script.
It was also announced today that after a worldwide casting search, the role of young Aretha Franklin will be played by Skye Dakota Turner (Broadway’s Young Anna Mae in Tina: The Tina Turner...
Joining Hudson in the Liesl Tommy-directed movie is Forest Whitaker; Marlon Wayans; Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winner Audra McDonald; Multiple Grammy winning, and Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominee Mary J. Blige; Marc Maron; Emmy-nominee Tituss Burgess; Tony-nominee Saycon Sengbloh; Tony-nominee Hailey Kilgore, and Tate Donovan. Emmy-nominee Tracey Scott Wilson penned the script.
It was also announced today that after a worldwide casting search, the role of young Aretha Franklin will be played by Skye Dakota Turner (Broadway’s Young Anna Mae in Tina: The Tina Turner...
- 10/18/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
On October 4th, the North Mississippi Allstars will release their new album Up and Rolling. It’s a fresh batch of 12 songs from Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson, the guitar and percussion siblings from Independence, Mississippi, and also includes a number of guest appearances. Mavis Staples and Cedric Burnside both show up, along with Jason Isbell and Duane Betts, who guest on the song “Mean Old World,” which was once cut by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. Premiering today on Rolling Stone, the Dickinsons’ rendition of “Mean Old World” becomes...
- 9/5/2019
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Amazing Grace exposes never-before-seen footage taken during the intimate recording of Aretha Franklin’s iconic album. This spellbinding performance can now be relished at home, when Amazing Grace releases on Digital Download, Blu-ray and DVD 2nd September (available to pre-order now). To celebrate the release, we are giving away 2 Blu-ray copies!
In 1972, Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, brought producer Jerry Wexler, her backup singers, and the legendary Atlantic Records rhythm section to The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Watts to record an album of gospel music before an enthusiastic live audience. The result, “Amazing Grace”, went on to become the top-selling gospel record of all time, the biggest album of Aretha Franklin’s career, and one of her most beloved works.
But even as the album gained fans around the world, few realised that those inspirational sessions had not only been recorded,...
In 1972, Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, brought producer Jerry Wexler, her backup singers, and the legendary Atlantic Records rhythm section to The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Watts to record an album of gospel music before an enthusiastic live audience. The result, “Amazing Grace”, went on to become the top-selling gospel record of all time, the biggest album of Aretha Franklin’s career, and one of her most beloved works.
But even as the album gained fans around the world, few realised that those inspirational sessions had not only been recorded,...
- 9/4/2019
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Alabama musician, songwriter, and actor Donnie Fritts, an architect of Southern soul music whose songs were covered by dozens of artists from Waylon Jennings to Dusty Springfield, died Tuesday night. His publicist confirmed Fritts’ death at the age of 76.
Fritts’ friend and fellow songwriter Gary Nicholson posted a tribute to Fritts on Facebook early Wednesday morning, writing in part, “There aren’t words to describe what his loving friendship has meant to me through the years, so many songs and stories, it’s gonna take awhile to process this one.
Fritts’ friend and fellow songwriter Gary Nicholson posted a tribute to Fritts on Facebook early Wednesday morning, writing in part, “There aren’t words to describe what his loving friendship has meant to me through the years, so many songs and stories, it’s gonna take awhile to process this one.
- 8/28/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Fifty years ago, a handful of milestone albums set the tone for rock of the following decade. Crosby, Stills & Nash initiated a fresh approach to harmonies and looser group names; the eponymous debut by the Allman Brothers Band laid the foundation for the Southern rock of the Seventies. And setting the scene for the white soul-pop that would explode with the likes of Hall and Oates was Boz Scaggs’ self-titled album, which Atlantic Records rolled out on this day in August 1969.
Technically, Boz Scaggs wasn’t a debut; Scaggs had...
Technically, Boz Scaggs wasn’t a debut; Scaggs had...
- 8/27/2019
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
As fanciful as Martin Scorsese’s new film about Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975 is, it doesn’t aim to turn truth into myth nearly as much as the infamous movie Dylan himself made during that period, “Renaldo and Clara” — in which the cast list had Ronee Blakley playing “Mrs. Dylan.” Whatever impish reasons he might have had for doing that, it was undoubtedly a sign of the affection Dylan had for Blakley, who’d come right off a promotional tour for Robert Altman’s “Nashville” onto his tour, with a quick stop to record his single “Hurricane.”
Blakley appears in archival footage and fresh interviews in the Netflix film “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese,” and she can also be heard singing with Dylan throughout the new 14-cd boxed set “Rolling Thunder: The 1975 Live Recordings.” She’s also known for her solo albums...
Blakley appears in archival footage and fresh interviews in the Netflix film “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese,” and she can also be heard singing with Dylan throughout the new 14-cd boxed set “Rolling Thunder: The 1975 Live Recordings.” She’s also known for her solo albums...
- 6/14/2019
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Mac Rebennack, the New Orleans pianist, singer-songwriter and producer better known as Dr. John, died Thursday at the age of 77. The cause of death was a heart attack, according to his family.
“Towards the break of day on June 6, 2019, iconic music legend Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., professionally known as Dr. John, passed away of a heart attack,” his family said in a statement. “As a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee, six-time Grammy winner, songwriter, composer, producer and performer, he created a unique blend of music which carried his hometown,...
“Towards the break of day on June 6, 2019, iconic music legend Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., professionally known as Dr. John, passed away of a heart attack,” his family said in a statement. “As a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee, six-time Grammy winner, songwriter, composer, producer and performer, he created a unique blend of music which carried his hometown,...
- 6/6/2019
- by Andy Greene and David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
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