By the time Martin Scorsese’s music documentary “The Last Waltz” premiered in 1978, the legendary Americana music progenitors the Band, whom the film explores, had gone from “Cahoots” to kaput for two years.
The 1976 farewell concert at the center of the film was already a piece of rock and roll history by the time the film debuted. Seeing it Oct. 5 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in celebration of its 45th anniversary, it’s clear how much history and American music culture was also saying “Good Night” with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and the Band’s unofficial leader Robbie Robertson (who called the group “The Brotherhood.”)
To help sort out the importance of “Waltz’s” place in rock history was music historian Harvey Kubernik, who shared his recollections of attending the concert at the Winterland Theater in San Francisco; music rights firm CEO/founder Olivier Chastain,...
The 1976 farewell concert at the center of the film was already a piece of rock and roll history by the time the film debuted. Seeing it Oct. 5 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in celebration of its 45th anniversary, it’s clear how much history and American music culture was also saying “Good Night” with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and the Band’s unofficial leader Robbie Robertson (who called the group “The Brotherhood.”)
To help sort out the importance of “Waltz’s” place in rock history was music historian Harvey Kubernik, who shared his recollections of attending the concert at the Winterland Theater in San Francisco; music rights firm CEO/founder Olivier Chastain,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Steven Gaydos
- Variety Film + TV
Art Laboe, the pioneering Los Angeles DJ who championed the Oldies but Goodies format and was revered for sharing on-air dedications with listeners, died Oct. 7 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Laboe was the founder of the Original Sound record label and the host of the long-running “Art Laboe Connection” syndicated radio program. He was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll and R&b on West Coast radio stations.
Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. His “Art Laboe Connection” aired in Los Angeles on Kday-fm on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week.
“My favorite place to be is behind that microphone,” Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. “I have one of...
Laboe was the founder of the Original Sound record label and the host of the long-running “Art Laboe Connection” syndicated radio program. He was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll and R&b on West Coast radio stations.
Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. His “Art Laboe Connection” aired in Los Angeles on Kday-fm on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week.
“My favorite place to be is behind that microphone,” Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. “I have one of...
- 10/11/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Olivia Newton-John, the top female pop vocalist of the 1970s who starred in movies including “Grease” and “Xanadu,” died Monday. She was 73.
Her husband, John Easterling, posted the news on her official Facebook page, writing: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
A cause of death was not given, but Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer that surfaced for a third time in 2017. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” her husband wrote. “Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.”
Her “Grease” costar and hit duet partner John Travolta was quick to weigh in with a tribute on social media.
Her husband, John Easterling, posted the news on her official Facebook page, writing: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
A cause of death was not given, but Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer that surfaced for a third time in 2017. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” her husband wrote. “Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.”
Her “Grease” costar and hit duet partner John Travolta was quick to weigh in with a tribute on social media.
- 8/8/2022
- by Chris Morris
- Variety Film + TV
Too much echo… not enough Canyon.
That’s at the core of the imbalances in the celebrated new rock doc “Echo in the Canyon”: It’s a movie with too much Beach Boys and Beatles — as strange as it seems to make a complaint of that — and not enough of the people who really lived in the Canyon. Too much time exploring the Hollywood recording studios, and not enough in the living rooms and backyards in those hills that gave life to the music.
And while this is at least in part a film about and spurred by the making of Jakob Dylan’s era-tribute duets album (coming in June and also titled “Echo in the Canyon”) and related 2015 L.A. concert, there’s too much 21st century and not enough 20th.
As most rock buffs know by now, the film, directed by long-time music manager and label executive Andrew Slater,...
That’s at the core of the imbalances in the celebrated new rock doc “Echo in the Canyon”: It’s a movie with too much Beach Boys and Beatles — as strange as it seems to make a complaint of that — and not enough of the people who really lived in the Canyon. Too much time exploring the Hollywood recording studios, and not enough in the living rooms and backyards in those hills that gave life to the music.
And while this is at least in part a film about and spurred by the making of Jakob Dylan’s era-tribute duets album (coming in June and also titled “Echo in the Canyon”) and related 2015 L.A. concert, there’s too much 21st century and not enough 20th.
As most rock buffs know by now, the film, directed by long-time music manager and label executive Andrew Slater,...
- 5/30/2019
- by Steve Hochman
- Variety Film + TV
Rock photographer Guy Webster, whose images adorn dozens of classic album covers, has died at the age of 79.
Webster’s biographer Harvey Kubernik confirmed the photographer’s February 5th death to Rolling Stone, adding that Webster had been suffering from diabetes and liver cancer. Variety first reported Webster’s death.
“Guy Webster established his reputation as a photographer capable not only of capturing the emotional nuance of the era, but also of helping to define it, with shots of hundreds of personalities before they were legends—including Simon & Garfunkel, Jack Nicholson,...
Webster’s biographer Harvey Kubernik confirmed the photographer’s February 5th death to Rolling Stone, adding that Webster had been suffering from diabetes and liver cancer. Variety first reported Webster’s death.
“Guy Webster established his reputation as a photographer capable not only of capturing the emotional nuance of the era, but also of helping to define it, with shots of hundreds of personalities before they were legends—including Simon & Garfunkel, Jack Nicholson,...
- 2/9/2019
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
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