Concord Records and Starbucks Partner to Create Historic Ray Charles Duets CD.Entertainment Editors/Business Editors BEVERLY HILLS Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2004 Additional New Artist Recordings Will Be Produced and Distributed Through Co-Branding Between Starbucks Hear Music Brand and Concord Records Concord Records is a well-known U.S. jazz record label, based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local Concord Records (www.concordrecords.com) and Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX SBUX Starbucks Corporation (stock symbol) SBUX Starbucks Coffee Company ) announced plans today to release a new recording that features duet performances with the legendary Ray Charles For the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see . Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his stage name Ray Charles, was a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. . The CD is slated for release at the end of the summer, and marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the two companies to produce and distribute new recordings under the Concord and Starbucks Hear Music(TM) (www.hearmusic.com) brands. "While discovering new music has been an important part of the Starbucks Experience, this recording marks the first time that Starbucks will be involved with the creation of music from such legendary icons," comments Don MacKinnon, vice president, Starbucks Music and Entertainment. "We are excited that this new venture will be launched with a renowned artist such as Ray Charles, and with songs that are sure to inspire music fans of all ages." The recently completed landmark CD features the multi-talented Ray Charles performing handpicked songs with a plethora of world-renowned artists, such as Elton John Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March, 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. , Norah Jones Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30 1979 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and occasional actress of American and Indian descent. , BB King, Diana Krall Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer. Biography Krall was born into a musical family in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. She began learning the piano at the age of four. , Michael McDonald Michael McDonald may refer to:
"The duets project has been a tremendous experience," says Mr. Charles. "I am working with some of the best artists in the business, as well as some of my dearest friends." During a career that spans nearly six decades, Mr. Charles, a 13-time Grammy(R) Award-winner and an original inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in , has appeared on more than 250 recordings. While he has performed with various artists in the past, this Hear Music and Concord Records release will be his first full album of duets. The project was spearheaded and produced by John Burk, Executive Vice President of Concord Records. Multi-Grammy(R) Award-winning producer Phil Ramone also produced several tracks on the CD. The venture between Concord Records and Starbucks builds upon Hear Music's commitment to enhance customers' lives by helping them discover great music. These efforts are showcased with the groundbreaking retail digital music service launched at the Hear Music(TM) Coffeehouse in Santa Monica, California For other uses, see Santa Monica (disambiguation). Santa Monica is a coastal city in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. Situated on Santa Monica Bay of the Pacific Ocean, it is surrounded by the City of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades and Brentwood on the north, , as well as with Hear Music's CD compilations and CD series, including "Artist's Choice(TM)." One of many interviews Hear Music conducted for this series includes Ray Charles "Artist's Choice(TM)." Released in April 2002, this album provides insights into the songs that influenced and shaped Mr. Charles' career with artists such as Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and Duke Ellington. Also scheduled for release in October is a movie based on Mr. Charles' life story, "Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story," starring Jamie Foxx in the title role. In addition to multiple Grammy(R) Awards, including one for Lifetime Achievement, Mr. Charles is also a recipient of both the Presidential Medal for the Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are held to be the highlight event in the cultural life of the United States. The idea was the brainchild of George Stevens, Jr. (who remains involved), and he and his partner, the late Nick Vanoff, put together the first event, launching it in 1978. . Mr. Charles recently received the NAACP NAACP in full National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Oldest and largest U.S. civil rights organization. It was founded in 1909 to secure political, educational, social, and economic equality for African Americans; W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Image Awards "Hall of Fame" honor and was named a "Cultural Treasure" by the City of Los Angeles
Over its 30-year history, Concord Records (www.concordrecords.com), which is co-owned by entertainment legend Norman Lear and his long-time partner Hal Gaba, has amassed a catalog of over 1,000 albums from such artists as Charlie Byrd, Rosemary Clooney, Gene Harris, Tito Puente and Mel Torme, among others. The label's current roster of world-class artists includes: Karrin Allyson, Peter Cincotti, Michael Feinstein, Nnenna Freelon, Robben Ford, Barry Manilow, Ozomatli, Eddie Palmieri and Poncho Sanchez. Founded in 1990, and acquired by Starbucks Coffee Company in 1999, Hear Music is dedicated to helping people discover great music. Not a traditional record label or distributor, Hear Music, with a catalog of nearly 100 CD compilations, handpicks songs from new and classic records to create CDs that help people discover music they might not hear otherwise. Hear Music creates music programming and CDs for Starbucks coffeehouses worldwide and operates four innovative retail stores in California and Seattle. Hear Music CDs are featured at Hear Music and Starbucks retail locations, as well as at www.hearmusic.com. Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 7,500 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business. In addition to its retail operations, the Company produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot(TM) coffee drink, and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety of consumer products. Tazo Tea's line of innovative premium teas and Hear Music's exceptional compact discs enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products. The Seattle's Best Coffee Seattle's Best Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer and wholesaler based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It became part of Starbucks Corporation on July 14, 2003. Its international division is owned by FOCUS Brands, Inc. (R) and Torrefazione Italia(R) Coffee brands enable Starbucks to appeal to a broader consumer base by offering an alternative variety of coffee flavor profiles. |
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