Posts made in November 2020

Trippie Redd

Trippie Redd – Pegasus

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Multi-Platinum selling rapper Trippie Redd’s new album Pegasus, released Oct 30 via 10K Projects/Caroline, has debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart with 60,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, 56,000 comprise SEA units (totaling 79.22 million on-demand streams of the set’s songs) and 4,000 comprise album sales.

The Canton, OH native’s ambitious 26-track project includes the hit singles “Excitement” with PARTYNEXTDOOR and “I Got You” with Busta Rhymes. The album also includes guest features from Swae Lee, Chris Brown, Young Thug, Future, Quavo and more. See below for full track listing.

To safely celebrate the launch of Pegasus, Trippie hosted a series of Halloween-themed drive in experiences across the country this weekend, screening his favorite scary movie, Candyman, and selling limited edition merch in LA, Atlanta and NYC. In his recent interview with famed influencer Dixie D’Amelio for her new talk show The Early Late Show, the 21-year-old rapper expressed how much he missed touring and seeing his fans on the road. Along with the drive-in events, Trippie also teamed up with Storyboard to create a Virtual Haunted House experience. Fans can use their Spotify and Apple logins to enter the house to hear the album, explore the spooky space, chat with each other and look for special prizes!

CONTINUE LISTENING TO PEGASUS  HERE

WATCH HIS INTERVIEW WITH DIXIE D’AMELIO HERE

ABOUT TRIPPIE REDD

One of the most versatile and creatively daring artists in hip-hop today, Trippie Redd makes music that’s both wildly experimental and massively appealing. Since delivering his debut mixtape A Love Letter to You in 2017, the platinum-selling rapper/singer/songwriter has continually defied genre boundaries, embedding his melodic take on rap with frenetic elements of rock-and-roll and heavy metal.

Born Michael Lamar White IV and raised in Canton, Ohio, Trippie grew up on hip-hop icons like Tupac Shakur, Nas, and Jay-Z, but later became fascinated with the shock-rock of Slipknot, Rob Zombie, and fellow Canton native Marilyn Manson. Drawing much of his inspiration from the free-flowing style and inventive lyricism of Lil Wayne, Trippie began recording in his cousin’s basement following the death of his brother and later relocated to Atlanta to further hone his skills, quickly landing a record deal with 10K Projects.

The fourth installment of his signature Love Letter to You series became his first-ever album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Released in November 2019, the 21-track effort amassed over 125.9 million streams in its first week alone.

With the coronavirus pandemic forcing artists to improvise, Trippie still made the best of navigating 2020’s uncertain terrain. The 2018 XXL Freshman made it a point to give back to those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontlines. Trippie partnered with Purity Organic and Sweet Leaf Tea in March to donate more than 32,000 beverages to hospital workers across his hometown of Canton (Mercy), NYC (Northwell Medical), and Los Angeles (Cedars Sinai, UCLA).

His Hollywood acting debut also came in April with a cameo during an episode of Lil Dicky’s critically acclaimed DAVE. The FXX show averaged over 5.3 million viewers per episode in season one and quickly became FX Network’s most popular comedy series.

Trippie caps off the year with the release of his highly anticipated Pegasus album on Halloween. The mythical LP includes previously released singles such as the intoxicating “Excitement” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR and Trippie bridging the generational gap with the legendary Busta Rhymes on “I Got You.” The “Dark Knight Dummo” rapper adds to his myriad of high-profile collaborations on Pegasus by connecting with Chris Brown, Young Thug, Swae Lee, Lil Wayne and Future among others.

Trippie Redd is one of only a handful of rappers with over 1B audio streams in the U.S. alone in 2020, and he has had four consecutive projects with Top 5 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 albums in less than 16 months. He hopes Pegasus will become his fifth this week.

PEGASUS TRACKLISTING

  1. Let It Out ft. Myiah Lynnae
  2. Moonlight
  3. Love Scars 4
  4. The Nether
  5. So Stressed ft. Yung LB
  6. Excitement ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR
  7. Mood ft. Chris Brown
  8. Pegasus
  9. Weeeeee
  10. Personal Favorite ft. Rich The Kid
  11. V-12
  12. Spaceships ft. Young Thug
  13. Never Change ft. Future
  14. Good Morning
  15. No Honorable Mention ft. Quavo & Lil Mosey
  16. I Got You ft. Busta Rhymes
  17. Too Fly
  18. Red Beam ft. Sean Kingston
  19. Oomps Revengt pt 2
  20. Take One
  21. Sleepy Hollow
  22. Kid That Didd ft. Future & Doe Boy
  23. Don
  24. Hell Rain ft. Lil Wayne & Hoody Baby
  25. TR666 ft. Swae Lee
  26. Sun God ft. Myiah Lynnae

FOLLOW TRIPPIE REDD

INSTAGRAM / YOUTUBE / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

Charlie “Bird” Parker – The Mercury & Clef LP Collection

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By Cassandra Yany

Saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker is re-releasing five of his records for The Mercury & Clef 10-Inch LP Collection for his 100th anniversary, “Bird 100.” Bird was “an architect of modern music” and is widely known as the greatest alto saxophonist.

The LPs Charlie Parker With Strings (1950), Bird and Diz (1952), Charlie Parker Plays South of the Border (1952), Charlie Parker With Strings (Vol. 2) (1953), and Charlie Parker (1954) have been newly remastered, pressed to 10-inch black vinyl and packed in the original album covers. The collection will be available for purchase December 18 exclusively via uDiscover and the Official Charlie Parker webstore.

The boxed set serves as an ode to the 10-inch vinyl, which was a popular format in the late 1940s, between the 78 and the 12-inch. It includes an elegant booklet that contains rare photos, detailed recording session information and essays by pianist-journalist Ethan Iverson and author David Ritz. All of the albums, aside from Bird and Diz, have been out of print on vinyl since their original releases. These elements make the collection the most detailed presentation yet of Bird’s rich 1940s to mid-1950s streak before he passed in 1955 at the age of 34.

Bird’s Strings albums mark two peaks in his recording. Vol. 1 starts off with his version unforgettable version of Sam Lewis and John Klenner’s “Just Friends,” which contains a thrilling and technically brilliant improvised saxophone solo. Thomas Adair and Matt Dennis’ sorrowful “Everything Happens to Me” is lifted with the singing of Bird’s sax. Parker naturally channels a romantic ballad with his spin on Rodgers and Hart’s “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.” Vol. 2 produces a nocturnal mood with tracks such as George and Ira Gershwin’s “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” Arthur Scwartz and Howard Dietz’s “Dancing in the Dark,” and Cole Porter’s “Easy to Love.”

Bird’s most well-known collaborator was trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Bird and Diz provides a look at the pair and was the only joint session with Bird, Diz and revolutionary pianist Thelonious Monk. The album includes the toe-tapping “Bloomdido,” and the percolating “An Oscar for Treadwell.” Co-written by Parker and trumpeter Benny Harris, “Leap Frog” is dizzying in its velocity and quicksilver innovation.

Parker and Gillespie dabbled in Afro-Cuban styles, particularly with pioneering Latin vocalist and percussionist Machito. South of the Border demonstrates Bird’s transcultural connection. In Iverson’s essay, saxophonist Henry Threadgill notes “the rassling match when the modern jazz guys came in and tried to play with the Latin cats in the Forties.” He points out that Bird did this effortlessly: “Charlie Parker could bring the music together, but as soon as Bird stopped, the rassling match would begin again.” This is where Parker is in his element, especially on songs like Óscar Gómez and Albert Hammond’s “Un Poquito De Tu Amor,” Zequinha de Abreu’s “Tico Tico,” and Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita.”

Bird recorded his self-titled album in 1952 and 1953 with two quartets including drummer Max Roach. One side featured bassist Percy Heath and Al Haig, while the other featured Teddy Kotick and pianist Hank Jones. This essential title is Bird’s only studio LP in a quartet setting, is a standout with the strength of its performances and its clean recording quality. Bird proves his power on esteemed tracks like “Now’s The Time,” “Laird Baird” and “Confirmation.”

The Mercury & Clef 10-Inch LP Collection completes an excellent year for Bird and indicates another great one to come. Prior to the hundredth anniversary, Verve/ UMe released The Magnificent Charlie Parker on vinyl and Jazz at Midnite for Record Store Day. Next year, the recording company will release a new collection title Bird In LA, which will offer a new perspective on a previously under examined part of Parker’s life. The collection will include unreleased songs that were recorded during Bird’s documented visits to Los Angeles in the mid ‘40s through the early ‘50s.

The set features David Stone Martine’s illustrated original sleeve art, which uDiscover is also offering as framed, archival-quality canvas prints. The wall art is available in various sizes and includes the albums Big Band, Machito Jazz With Flip & Bird, The Magnificent Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker With Strings and Charlie Parker With Strings (Vol. 2).

The Mercury & Clef 10-Inch LP Collection

LP1 – Charlie Parker With Strings (1950)

Side A:

  1. April In Paris
  2. Summertime
  3. If I Should Lose You

Side B:

  1. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
  2. Everything Happens
  3. Just Friends

LP2 – Charlie Parker With Strings (Vol. 2) (1953)

Side A:

  1. Laura
  2. They Can’t Take That Away from Me
  3. You Came Along from Out of Nowhere
  4. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

Side B:

  1. Dancing in the Dark
  2. East to Love
  3. I’m in the Mood for Love
  4. I’ll Remember April

LP3 – Bird & Diz (1952)

Side A:

  1. Bloomdido
  2. My Melancholy Baby
  3. Relaxing with Lee
  4. Passport

Side B:

  1. Lead Frog
  2. An Oscar for Treadwell
  3. Mohawk
  4. Visa

LP4 – Charlie Parker Plays South of the Border (1952)

Side A:

  1. Tico Tico
  2. Un Poquito de Tu Amor
  3. My Little Suede Shoes
  4. Estrellita

Side B:

  1. Begin the Beguine
  2. La Paloma
  3. La Cucaracha
  4. Mama Inez

LP5 – Charlie Parker (1954)

Side A:

  1. Now’s the Time
  2. I Remember You
  3. Confirmation
  4. Chi Chi

Side B:

  1. I Hear Music (a.k.a. The Song is You)
  2. Laird Baird
  3. Kim
  4. Cosmic Rays

Pre-Order The Mercury & Clef 10-Inch LP Collection Here

View Unboxing Video Here

Juna N Joey – Heroes

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Veterans Day arrives Wednesday, and to celebrate the brother-sister duo of Juna N Joey are releasing a brand new single titled “Heroes,” which you can stream by clicking right here.

With patriotic and uplifting lyrics, it tributes the heroes of our country with a classic, country sound. Their harmonies bring their passion for helping and celebrating others to life.

This is the follow up to Juna N Joey’s song “Anchor,” which you can hear by clicking right here. They also started the “Find Your Anchor” campaign for the prevention of bullying.

The two are coming off an exciting 2019, during which DreamWorksTV asked them to participate in the Netflix special “Spirit Riding Free” singing Keith Urban‘s “Somebody Like You.”

They also co-wrote their first single, “Stay Young” in Nashville, which caught the attention of Release Radar on Spotify and Country Radio. You can hear the song by clicking right here.

They then opened for American Idol star Cade Foehner on his Southern Hallelujah Tour. They also joined the Gratitude Tour with Michael Rouse’s ESF Camps.

They first started posting on YouTube, using guitar, piano, keyboard, and saxophone. They’re currently working on an EP.

You can learn more about them by clicking right here. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

PUMA Clyde All-Pro

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PUMA announced the newest addition to the Clyde Franchise Monday with its brand new Clyde All-Pro, a basketball silhouette taking style and performance to the next level.

The Clyde Franchise is inspired by shoes worn by Walt “Clyde” Frazier on the basketball court in the 1970s but with a twist: they have all of the technology and performance of today.

The shoe is perfect for on-court training and has ProFoam+ for stability and cushioning. It also uses Matryx material, which is lightweight and durable, for support.

Three styles will be available throughout November.

First is the Clyde All-Pro, which comes in two colorways, PUMA White-Blue Atoll and PUMA White-PUMA Black. It has a Pebax drop in the heel with a ProFoam+ midsole and a Matryx engineered knit providing enhanced stability, breathability and support. It will retail for $130 and will be available on PUMA’s website, PUMA’s NYC Store and select retailers Nov. 11.

Next, the Clyde All-Pro Elf, a colorway that lets you wear a classic Christmas movie on your feet. Between the iconic colors of the film and the maple syrup, spaghetti and elf hat on the heels, the movie is brought to the life and the pavement. The collaboration will cross over to other PUMA products, including footwear and apparel. The Clyde All-Pro Elf will start at $130 and will be available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, PUMA’s website and at the PUMA NYC store beginning Nov. 19.

Finally, the Clyde All-Pro Kuzma Mid is designed by Kyle Kuzma and Rhuigi Villaseñor, the founder of Rhude. It combines vintage-inspired colors and performance tooling. The shoe can be used on the streets or the courts and have Kuzma’s logo in the sock liner. It will retail for $150 and will be available Nov. 27 on PUMA’s website, the PUMA NYC Store, at select retailers and during Foot Locker’s “12 Days of Greatness.”

For more information, you can click right here.

Morgan Wallen – 7 Summers

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Big Loud/Republic Records’ Morgan Wallen has released the highly-anticipated official music video for his “dreamy, melancholy and unabashedly wistful” (Billboard) Top 30 single “7 Summers.”

Directed by Justin Clough and shot in Nashville, TN, the cinematic, eight-minute short film marks Wallen’s acting debut and depicts the song’s “nostalgic look back at a lost love” (Rolling Stone), reviving what happened “seven summers ago” on-screen.

WATCH “7 SUMMERS” HERE

This Wednesday (11/11), Wallen will perform his chart-racing Top 3 single “More Than My Hometown” while vying for New Artist of the Year on the 54th Annual CMA Awards airing on ABC.

KEEP UP WITH MORGAN WALLEN
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

ABOUT MORGAN WALLEN:
Morgan Wallen has staked his claim as Country music’s next superstar with nearly 3 BILLION+ on-demand streams, MULTI-PLATINUM certifications, and three consecutive chart-toppers. “Unapologetically fresh and modern” (The Tennessean), the dynamic Tennessee native has been riding a red hot streak since 2017, collecting accolades including Best New Country Artist at the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Billboard’s #1 song of 2019 on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts (multi-week #1 “Whiskey Glasses”), ACM, CMA and CMT Music Awards nominations, recognized on PEOPLE’s Ones to Watch and MusicRow’s 2019 Next Big Thing lists, plus high-profile features in the Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, The Washington Post, Genius, and more. Wallen proved his crossover appeal with 2X PLATINUM Diplo collaboration “Heartless,” and previewed his highly anticipated sophomore album with New Year’s surprise drop “This Bar,” current Top 3 single “More Than My Hometown,” and record-breaking hit “7 Summers,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and inside the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10 while shattering first-day streaming records at Apple Music and Spotify.

Loose Standards Undermined Research on COVID-19 Test Accuracy

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The COVID-19 pandemic was met with a rush of research on the many factors related to the crisis, including the accuracy of different testing methods. However, many of the studies conducted in the early stages of the pandemic did not meet the usual rigorous scientific standards, according to researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine.

In “The estimation of diagnostic accuracy of tests for COVID-19: A scoping review,” which will appear in an upcoming edition of the Journal of Infection, authors Dierdre Axell-House, Richa Lavingia, Megan Rafferty, Eva Clark, E. Susan Amirian and Elizabeth Chiao found that better-designed studies are needed to appropriately evaluate the different types of COVID-19 tests.

They reviewed 49 articles published between Dec. 31, 2019, and June 19, 2020, that evaluated the validity of different types of coronavirus testing. These studies were assessed using elements of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) guidelines, which are used to evaluate if bias could be playing a role in the results of studies on diagnostic test accuracy.

Amirian, an epidemiologist at Rice’s Texas Policy Lab (TPL), said when it comes to conducting studies on testing accuracy, design is critically important. She said the major limitations found in the design of most of the studies they examined could lead to erroneous or misleading results.

“Without rigorous evaluations of which tests are the most accurate, it’s hard to know which tests are more likely to lead to false negatives, which could contribute to greater spread of the virus,” said Rafferty, a health data analyst at the TPL. “Although it’s difficult to say, some of the quality issues may have resulted from these studies being streamlined in response to the immediate need for timely information.”

“COVID-19 has now been a health crisis for nearly a year,” Amirian said. “With regard to research, the academic community needs to move away from being in acute emergency mode and think about how we’re going to handle this as a chronic crisis. When researchers are in emergency mode, we tend to be more open to sacrificing a lot of the strict quality standards for conducting research that we usually uphold.”

The paper is available online here.

Kaelen Felix illustrates article for 360 MAGAZINE

Finding New Light

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by Sonya Keshwani, two year breast cancer survivor & founder of StyleEsteem Wardrobe

There are many things no one tells you about getting diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 years old. How you will meet physical limits you didn’t know existed, and then keep pushing beyond them. How your entire identity – past, present and future – will be viewed through the lens of your diagnosis. And how the diagnosis and healing process are much more challenging and tough than pinkwashed TV commercials would have you believe. 

Through all these instances, every cancer patient experiences moments when they have to make a decision to either see themselves as a continuous human being experiencing cancer and healing, or as a new person who is living a second chance life. I saw a third option for myself. I decided that the person who was going to be a “survivor” deserved to wear her challenges as beautiful accomplishments, while also appreciating the fullness of her new life. 

Since a young age, fashion had been a medium for expressing my joy and vibrancy. So when I lost my hair to chemo, I channeled that same approach into the creation of fashionable turbans. Through the lens of beautiful fabrics and patterns, I learned that challenging situations are wrought with beauty and sparkle. I started the shift from seeing my bald head as a symbol of cancer, to seeing myself – my true character and strength – as beyond skin deep.  I went from creating new styles between chemo sessions, to launching a company that empowers women through cancer and hair loss, called StyleEsteem Wardrobe. This company and the mission to help others became my “why” on the path to healing.

One of the greatest blessings of my “why” is how it has enabled me to connect with other profound individuals and organizations on a similar mission – to improve and empower the quality of life for cancer patients. Earlier this year, my “why” brought me to A Silver Lining Foundation gala in Chicago, where I met Twist Out Cancer Advisory Board Member Gudrun Wu Snyder. We instantly connected as she told me about Twist Out Cancer, a place where cancer patients’ stories are turned into inspirational works of art. Their mission and the story of their founder, Jenna Benn Shersher, spoke to me like a glittering beacon of hope, similar to the one that inspired me during the creation of StyleEsteem. Right away, I knew I wanted to get involved, so Gudrun encouraged me to apply to the Brushes with Cancer program. 

When I was selected as an inspiration for the Brushes with Cancer 2020 Chicago cohort, it was an emotional experience for me. Like we are told when we are young “you can be anything you want to be when you grow up”, I similarly told myself this as a cancer patient. That I could be anything through cancer – inspirational, fashionable, fierce and graceful. Two years into my survivorship, what I had told myself in my heart was being amplified by others in my community, and this alone was such a powerful experience for me. 

My pairing with my artist, Sujata Gazder, a talented, intuitive and bold fashion designer, couldn’t have been more perfect. She saw beneath the surface of my diagnosis, into a story of family unity, broken stereotypes, and audacious hope. She saw my diagnosis as a catalyst for taking back control of my joy and my purpose in life. And we both agreed that hair loss was not loss entirely, it was the adornment of something new and beautiful in my life. 

Due to the pandemic, as well as Sujata being based out of Chicago and me being based out of New York, creating the final masterpiece had unique requirements from each of us. Phone catch ups, Zoom fittings, and photo sneak peeks of her work in progress.  The dress beautifully and perfectly honored each element of my survivorship, from my hair journey and attitude, to my family and spiritual roots. I was amazed at how Sujata could create something I so deeply connected with after knowing me for such a short period of time. 

Outside of my experience with Sujata, being part of this cohort has bonded me with countless other individuals who found their own path to beauty through the darkness of diagnosis. I am proud to stand among them as a survivor and a supporter. And I am so grateful for this space where our stories are transformed into inspiring works of art and unforgettable experiences.

Today I look forward to our virtual gala where we will celebrate each other’s stories, and to seeing my gown in person for the first time when I meet Sujata. This process has taught me that diagnosis is like a crystal. Whoever is holding your crystal in their hands can see new beauty, color and light in your story. And when you exercise vulnerability and trust to let that happen, you can find new meaning and purpose in your own path.

Mina Tocalini, 360 Magazine, Woman at Computer

What happens to the home and economy when women leave the workforce?

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The pandemic-induced recession forced many women to drop out of the workforce, with research showing they were much more likely than men to give up jobs so they could take care of children when schools went online.

The consequences of these decisions may go beyond each individual, though. 

“They could have large repercussions for the economy, the home, and society as a whole, says Andi Simon (www.andisimon.com), a corporate anthropologist, founder of Simon Associates Management Consultants, and author of the upcoming book Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business.

Some ramifications of this 2020 exodus from the workforce for women could include:

  • A drop in consumer spending. When one spouse loses a job, whatever the reason might be, it means an immediate and sudden drop in income for that household. “The impact on household earnings will lead to reduced spending,” Simon says. “That will have ripple effects throughout the economy.”
  • An impact on women’s careers and advancement. Eventually, many of these women will no doubt go back to work, but how well they will be able to just pick up their careers where they left off could be another matter, Simon says. “Will they have lost ground in the line for promotions to men who didn’t take any time away from work?” she asks. “Also, depending on how slow the recovery is, rejoining the workforce might not be that quick and easy.”
  • A reduction in demand for family-related industries. When both spouses work outside the home, couples often need to make use of services that developed or grew because one adult – usually the woman – wasn’t around to take care of certain household duties. For households where a mother is now back in the home, that has changed. “They no longer need to pay someone for childcare services,” Simon says. “In addition, the need for house-cleaning services is likely to drop.”
  • Changes to retail markets. A woman who stays home with the kids has different needs than a woman who commutes to an office each day, and those differences could be reflected in the world of retail, Simon says. Just as an example, there could be a drop in demand for makeup. Sales of business attire for women may plummet – or at least take a hit as more casual, comfortable clothes become more important wardrobe necessities. Restaurants could continue to struggle as people eat out less and cook at home more.
  • Entrepreneurial urges could shift to home businesses. Some women could still keep their career mindsets and try to establish their own businesses run from their homes, Simons says. But she cautions that there are questions about just what those businesses might be since some potential areas – such as marketing, consulting, and business coaching – have seen a downshift in demand for their services. “That leaves you to wonder just how viable setting up a home business might be,” Simon says.

Despite all those concerns, some good can come out of this period as well for women who want a better life both personally and professionally, Simon says.

“If you’ve not been satisfied with your career and your life, this could be an opportunity to rethink and rewrite your personal story,” she says. “You need to imagine what you want to become, focus on how to make that possible, and then begin to take steps to make it happen.”

About Andi Simon

Andi Simon, Ph.D. (www.andisimon.com), author of the upcoming book Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business, is a corporate anthropologist and founder of Simon Associates Management Consultants (www.simonassociates.net). A trained practitioner in Blue Ocean Strategy®, Simon has conducted several hundred workshops and speeches on the topic as well as consulted with a wide range of clients across the globe. She also is the author of the award-winning book On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights. Simon has a successful podcast, On the Brink with Andi Simon, that has more than 125,000 monthly listeners, and is ranked among the top 20 Futurist podcasts and top 200 business podcasts. In addition, Global Advisory Experts named Simons’ firm the Corporate Anthropology Consultancy Firm of the Year in New York – 2020. She has been on Good Morning, America and Bloomberg, and is widely published in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Business Week, Becker’s, and American Banker, among others. She has been a guest blogger for Forbes.com, Huffington Post, and Fierce Health.

Sting’s new album “Duets” will be released in March

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Due to unforeseen pandemic-related manufacturing delays, the release date of Sting’s forthcoming album, Duets has been postponed to March 19, 2021. Also available in a vinyl LP edition, fans can still pre-order this special collection now – which includes liner notes by Sting – at: https://sting.lnk.to/Duets. A limited edition with autographed cover art is available for pre-order as well at the official store within the pre-sale link above.

Featuring the brand new collaboration with Italian icon, Zucchero entitled “September,” which will be released digitally worldwide on November 27, Duets also includes “Desert Rose” with Rai music singer Cheb Mami, “It’s Probably Me” with Eric Clapton, 44/876 with Shaggy, among some of Sting’s other most beloved duets with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Annie Lennox, Charles Aznavour, Mylène Farmer, Melody Gardot, Gashi and more. The full tracklisting can be found below.

Duets was Executive Produced and A&R’d by Guénaël “GG” Geay & Martin Kierszenbaum with all songs mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering, Los Angeles, United States.

DUETS Track Listing:

Standard CD
1. Little Something with Melody Gardot
2. It’s Probably Me with Eric Clapton
3. Stolen Car with Mylène Farmer
4. Desert Rose with Cheb Mami
5. Rise & Fall with Craig David
6. Whenever I Say Your Name with Mary J. Blige
7. Don’t Make Me Wait with Shaggy 
8. Reste with GIMS
9. We’ll Be Together with Annie Lennox
10. L’amour C’est Comme Un Jour with Charles Aznavour
11. My Funny Valentine with Herbie Hancock
12. Fragile with Julio Iglesias
13. Mama with Gashi
14. September with Zucchero
15. Practical Arrangement with Jo Lawry
16. None Of Us Are Free with Sam Moore
17. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning with Chris Botti

VINYL LP 1 
A1. Little Something with Melody Gardot
A2. It’s Probably Me with Eric Clapton
A3. Stolen Car with Mylène Farmer
A4. Desert Rose with Cheb Mami

B1. Rise & Fall with Craig David
B2. Whenever I Say Your Name with Mary J. Blige
B3. Don’t Make Me Wait with Shaggy 
B4. Reste with GIMS

VINYL LP 2  
A1. We’ll Be Together with Annie Lennox
A2. L’amour C’est Comme Un Jour with Charles Aznavour
A3. My Funny Valentine with Herbie Hancock
A4. Fragile with Julio Iglesias

B1. Mama with Gashi
B2. September with Zucchero
B3. Practical Arrangement with Jo Lawry
B4. None Of Us Are Free with Sam Moore
B5. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning with Chris Botti 
 

About Sting: Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five studio albums, earned six GRAMMY Awards® and two Brits, and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. 

As one of the world’s most distinctive solo artists, Sting has received an additional 11 GRAMMY Awards®, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year.  In 2003, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his myriad of contributions to music. Also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has received the Kennedy Center Honors, The American Music Award of Merit and The Polar Music Prize. Sting has been awarded Honorary Doctorates of Music by the University of Northumbria (1992), Berklee College of Music (1994), University of Newcastle upon Tyne (2006) and Brown University at its 250thCommencement ceremony (2018). 

Throughout his illustrious career, Sting has sold 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist. 

Following his critically acclaimed album, 57th & 9th, his first rock/pop collection in over a decade, Sting and reggae icon, Shaggy, both managed by the Cherrytree Music Company, released a collaborative, island-influenced album, entitled 44/876, drawing from the many surprising connections at the heart of their music. With its title referencing their home country codes, 44/876 first and foremost honors the duo’s mutual love for Jamaica: Shaggy’s homeland, and the place where Sting penned such classics as The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Their chart-topping release debuted at #1 in Germany and Top 10 in the UK. It spent over 20 weeks atop Billboard’s Reggae Album chart in the US, earned Gold certifications in Poland and France and received the GRAMMY Award® for Best Reggae Album. 

Last year, Sting was honoured at the BMI Pop Awards for his enduring hit single “Every Breath You Take,” which has become the Most Performed Song, with 15 million radio plays, from BMI’s catalog of over 14 million musical works. 

Also last year, a new album entitled My Songs, featuring contemporary interpretations of his most celebrated hits, was released and followed by a world tour of the same name. Sting’s ‘My Songs’ World Tour is a dynamic and exuberant show featuring his most beloved songs spanning the 17-time GRAMMY Award® winner’s prolific career with The Police and as a solo artist. 

The special edition release of Sting’s album, My Songs was released November 8 and includes a bonus CD with new live recordings from the My Songs World Tour.  A digital album titled My Songs: Live containing 11 new live recordings captured along the My Songs World Tour is also available. 

Next year, Sting will headline a Las Vegas residency, “My Songs,” set to open at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show will present a compendium of Sting’s songs with dynamic, visual references to some of his most iconic videos and inspirations. 

He has appeared in more than 15 films, executive produced the critically acclaimed A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and in 1989 starred in The Threepenny Opera on Broadway.  His most recent theatre project is the Tony®-nominated musical The Last Ship, inspired by his memories of the shipbuilding community of Wallsend in the North East of England where he was born and raised. The show, with music and lyrics by Sting, ran on Broadway in 2014/2015 and completed a UK regional theatre tour which ran from March-July 2018. Thereafter, Sting starred as shipyard foreman Jackie White in the Toronto-based production of The Last Ship at the Princess of Wales Theatre. He reprised the role for productions in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre (January 14 – February 16, 2020), followed by San Francisco at the Golden Gate Theatre. Additional information on The Last Ship Tour can be found at www.thelastshipmusical.com

Sting’s support for human rights organizations such as the Rainforest Fund, Amnesty International, and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach.  Along with wife Trudie Styler, Sting founded the Rainforest Fund in 1989 to protect both the world’s rainforests and the indigenous people living there.  Together they have held 19 benefit concerts to raise funds and awareness for our planet’s endangered resources. Since its inception, the Rainforest Fund has expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in more than 20 countries over three continents. 

www.sting.com
Instagram: @theofficialsting
Twitter: @officialsting
Facebook: @Sting

About the Cherrytree Music Company: Founded in 2005 by Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Martin Kierszenbaum, the Cherrytree Music Company provides management, record label and publishing services to a boutique roster of artists, producers and mixers who push the creative envelope in popular music. Cherrytree has had an indelible impact on the music landscape from managing celebrated musician and cultural icon Sting to launching Lady Gaga’s first two albums. The Cherrytree Music Company has released the artistically and commercially ground-breaking records of Feist, Ellie Goulding, Robyn, La Roux, LMFAO, Far East Movement and Disclosure and sold over 35 million units. In the process, the Cherrytree Music Company has become a vital source for popular music and catalyst for artist collaboration and innovation. For more information on the Cherrytree Music Company, please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zbmdi1qdk5zoq8v/Cherrytree%2015%20Radio%20Special.mp3?dl=0

Trebek illustration by Kaelen Felix

Alex Trebek Dies at 80

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By Hannah DiPilato

Alex Trebek, the face of “Jeopardy!” for many years, has passed away at 80 years old. He is known and loved by many for being the show’s host since 1984.

“Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends,” the official Jeopardy account tweeted on Sunday morning. “Thank you, Alex.” 

Trebek leaves behind his wife Jean and his children Emily, Matthew and Nicky. Trebek has been fighting stage four pancreatic cancer since March 2019. 

Trebek shared this cancer diagnosis in a video to fans on March 6th. “Now normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this and I’m going to keep working,” Trebek said while vowing to keep hosting the show. 

Trebek hosted over 8,200 episodes of “Jeopardy!,” and shared answers through 37 seasons according to CNN. He accomplished many things throughout his 36 years as host, including five Daytime Emmy Awards. Similarly, he surpassed Bob Barker of “The Price is Right” for the person that has hosted the most games-show episodes. Trebek now holds this record in the Guinness Book of Records. 

In 2018 Trebek hinted at retirement but signed a final contract extension that was set to end in 2022. “I’m just enjoying what I’m doing, I’m happy to have a job,” said Trebek in a 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I like the show, I like the contestants and it pays well.” It was clear Trebek loved his job and the show. 

“He loved that ‘Jeopardy!’ popularized intelligence and it was important for him,” said Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer to CNN. “I think he really became synonymous with the show, in that he really was that smart.” 

Trebek “reveled in these intelligent people, in the contestants, in the writers,” Richards continued. “It’s just who he was — he craved knowledge and it showed.”

According to People, Trebek and Jean celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary in 2019 but agreed that almost thirty years married still wasn’t enough. 

“I’m pretty satisfied with my life,” Trebek shared with People. “But my wife Jean and I have been together almost 29 years, and I was thinking about President Bush when he died, and all the comments about his life about what a nice guy he is, and how he and his wife had been together 73 years.  I thought, oh my gosh … if I’d just met Jean in my 20s we could have had a longer life together.”

Jean added about her husband to People. “He takes his job very seriously, but won’t take himself too seriously,” said said. “He’s just an intelligent human being. Part of Alex’s staying youthful is his staying curious,” she continued. 

Throughout his years on “Jeopardy!” Trebek battled many health complications. Besides battling cancer, he suffered from two heart attacks, a knee replacement, blood clots on his brain and a torn Achilles tendon according to People. 

Trebek kept fighting until he passed away peacefully in his home. According to Sony Pictures episodes of “Jeopardy!” featuring Trebek will continue to air until December 25.