Black Music Notes March 17

• 3/16/10: Maxwell
  Recent Grammy Award winning neo-soul crooner Maxwell will be honored and received the 2010 Entertainer of the Year award at the 26th National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) Annual Communications Awards Dinner, to be held March 19 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Other honorees include Hezekiah Walker, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, and Rev. Al Sharpton. A live all-star tribute to the late Teddy Pendergrass, featuring Joe, Johnny Gill, Peabo Bryson and Ray Chew as musical director, and a video tribute to Inner City Broadcasting founder, the late Percy Sutton is also planned.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/15/10: Freda Payne
  R&B vocalist Freda Payne is still going strong and booking gigs – these days as a sought after jazz chanteuse. The 'Band of Gold' singer will play New York City's Iridium Jazz club for a very special "Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald" March 25 through March 28. According to a rep for a venue, Payne plans to "conjure the spirit of Ella" with her renditions of 'A-Tisket, a-Tasket,' 'Sweet Georgia Brown,' 'It Don't Mean a Thing' and 'Mack the Knife,' as well as many other Fitzgerald classics.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/15/10: Take 6
  The multiple Grammy Award winning a cappella vocal sextet Take 6 will make a return to the world's famous Blue Note Jazz club in New York City with a week of shows playing March 30 through April 4. The group, who was championed by super producer Quincy Jones early on in their near 25 year professional recording career, is still performing around the globe in support of their latest CD, 'The Standard,' their take on pop and jazz standards featuring collaborations with George Benson, Al Jarreau, Aaron Neville and Brian McKnight.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/12/10: Akon
  Chart-topping hip hop soul crooner Akon is looking to capitalize off his success in the music world and tap into India's burgeoning film industry. According to published reports, the Senegalese singing sensation will be among the many artists contributing to the soundtrack of the forthcoming Bollywood sci-fi action film, 'RA. One.' "India is my next focus area," Akon told reporters. "I want to try different things, want to explore… want to enjoy my work." 'RA. One' is set to hit theaters later this year.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/12/10: The Dream
  Despite many artists claiming to retire after releasing a certain amount of albums, The Dream sounds pretty confident that his forthcoming 2010 opus, 'Love King' will be his very last. "It's the last album, period," he recently told 'MTV News.' "In the back of my mind, I'm thinking a fighter fights," he explained. "You don't retire on top. [Michael] Jordan didn't retire on top. I'm not saying I'm the best [like him], but I'm the best at what I can do. And I can stop now and say, 'This album is pretty good.' "
  
  
  
  

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• 3/12/10: Quincy Jones
  When it comes celebrating the illustrious career of multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones, some of music's elite are pitching in a helping hand. This June, fans can expect to hear contemporary versions of some of Jones' most notable works on 'Q: Soul Bossa Nostra.' The Interscope Records-released tribute will feature appearances from the likes of Akon, Ludacris, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Talib Kweli, BeBe Winans, Three 6 Mafia, Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch and Jamie Foxx.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/8/10: Seal/Michael Jackson/Prince
  Despite previous reports that Jermaine Jackson's much anticipated tribute concert in honor of his late brother Michael was cancelled indefinitely, it appears the show is back on schedule. Various reports are stating he is reaching out to the likes of Justin Timberlake, Prince, Seal, and Santana to perform at the June 8 event set to take place at London's Wembley Arena. 'The best way and most suitable way is to assemble the world's largest tribute in history that is only fitting to a man who moved the hearts and souls of an unimaginable amount,' Jermaine said in a statement. Although there's no official word on the concert's website taking place, reports are citing that the show will air globally on June.
  
  
  
  
  

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• 3/8/10: The Roots
  Although The Roots have been busy entertaining late night audiences across the nation on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' the Philadelphia collective is finally set to release their new album. Billboard magazine reports Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and company have set a June 8 release date for 'How I Got Over.' In addition to their upcoming Def Jam Records project, the eclectic group is also hard work on the follow-up to Booker T. Jones' 2009 Grammy-winning album, 'Potato Hole.'
  
  
  
  
  

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• 3/8/10: The Dramatics
  Singer and founding member of the Dramatics, Ron Banks, died on March 4 at his Detroit residence. Banks, who was responsible for hits such as 'Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get' and 'In the Rain,' reportedly suffered from a heart attack according to Billboard magazine. The late singer is survived by his wife Sandy and six children. He was 58.
  
  
  
  

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• 3/8/10: Solomon Burke
  Grammy Award-winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Solomon Burke is set to mark his 70th birthday with the release of his latest album, 'Nothing's Impossible.' The Willie Mitchell-produced opus, which is 35-years in the making, documents one of the producer's final projects. In retrospect Burke recalls the recording sessions as something that was memorable. "If I could turn back the hands of time, I would freeze frame every second of it," he said. "It hurts so much to know I won't get that chance again…You know when God's in it, because everything works. No matter how hard you try for it not to work; it works. It was the last great shot (with Mitchell)…" 'Nothing's Impossible' hits stores April 6.
  
  
  
  

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