Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Next round’s on Taylor Swift: She’s the world’s highest-paid musician

Taylor Swift is doing something right. A lot of things, actually: She’s No. 1 on Forbes’ 2016 list of the highest-paid musicians in the world. Her $170 million take, earned primarily through her recent world tour and various endorsements, also made her the top-earning celebrity back in June, the magazine said. Yes, out of all

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow dies in Dakar

Ousmane Sow, a luminary figure of African contemporary art, died early Thursday morning in Dakar. He was 81. “He takes with him the dreams and the plans that his body, too tired, did not wish to follow,” Sow’s family told Agence France-Presse. Born in the Senegalese capital of Dakar in 1935, Sow was one of

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials

Alma Deutscher celebrated composer, musician and writer at the age of 11

Alma Deutscher is a composer, virtuoso pianist and concert violinist who wrote her first sonata five years ago and whose first full opera, ‘Cinderella’ has its world premiere in Vienna next month. Alma Deutscher, un prodigio de 11 años. Compone desde los 6 y estrena ópera propia en Viena esta Navidad #Flipadhttps://t.co/l6w2XQs2f7 pic.twitter.com/NV9ESZqMbp— Javi y

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Aretha Franklin stole the show with her national anthem performance on Thanksgiving Day

Aretha Franklin really stole the show at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game. Franklin totally went off book and performed a rather lengthy performance of the National Anthem that made for some pretty hilarious responses from Twitter. RELATED: Soon-to-be first daughter Ivanka Trump gave us a glimpse inside her family’s Thanksgiving Day Yes, Franklin has

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sports & Competitions, USA

Talented Mormon violinist thrills Jewish audience

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was the featured soloist at TICO’s opening programs, Thursday evening, November 17 and Saturday evening, November 19. The large audience in the Cohen Social Hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue included many members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, of

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County

The King and I: Remembering King Bhumibol

  By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In the early 1950s our record of the month club—started by my late husband, Sam Josefowitz—was expanding into other countries. Concert Hall Society, Handel Society, Opera Society, and Jazztone Society were the first clubs to provide members with a record every month. They were made of

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Natasha Josefowitz

Famed Jewish composer Ben Zion Shenker passes away

Jewish composer and singer Ben Zion Shenker passed away Sunday morning at the age of 92. Shenker, one of the most prominent Jewish musical figures of the past century, was known for preserving the Modzitzer musical tradition. He composed hundreds of songs during his career, some of which are sung by Jews every Sabbath, such

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Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Soul singer Sharon Jones, whose work with the Dap Kings sparked a renaissance, has died

Sharon Jones, the incendiary soul singer who propelled to stardom at an age when most musicians had either hit the big time or accepted the club circuit, has died. The artist’s albums with her backing band the Dap-Kings paved the way for a soul renaissance that influenced singers including Amy Winehouse and Adele. Jones’ death

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Bob Dylan to miss Nobel Prize Award ceremony, cites prior engagements

Stockholm (dpa) – Rock legend Bob Dylan, the 2016 Nobel Literature laureate, will miss out on the December 10 award ceremony “due to pre-existing commitments,” the Swedish Academy said Wednesday. The US singer-songwriter wrote a personal letter to the Academy saying that, “due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December,”

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Leon Russell dies at 74; hit songwriter, Wrecking Crew member, musical bridge builder

Leon Russell, instantly recognizable for his long white hair and a rich, hearty voice that drifted between country and soul, died Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. He was 74. Russell was lauded for swampy rockers such as “Delta Lady” and “Roll Away the Stone,” and for heart-rending ballads such as the oft-recorded “A Song for You”

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials

Jewish trivia quiz: Leonard Cohen, z”l

By Mark D. Zimmerman NEW YORK — Surely the most famous song written and performed by Leonard Cohen, who passed away last week, is Hallelujah. The song, with its Biblical references to Samson and Delilah and David and Bathsheba, has been covered by hundreds of performers, including Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainright, Willie Nelson and Justin

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Trivia, Humor & Satire