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Unreleased Tracks by Celia Cruz Featured in New Album “Celia Cruz En Vivo: 100 Años de Azúcar”

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Loud And Live Studios and Celia Cruz Entertainment announced today the release of a new Commemorative LP in celebration of the centennial of Celia Cruz’s birth. It is a compilation of nine songs recorded at a concert in Miami, FL, by the Queen of Salsa during the years of 1986 and 1987 titled En Vivo: 100 Años de Azúcar (100 Years of Azúcar). These recordings have remained unreleased for almost four decades.

“Looking for material in our archives, we found these recordings that we didn’t even know existed, made by radio personality Albertico Rodríguez in a nightclub in Miami in the mid-eighties. Celia only released one live album during her entire career, which makes these recordings even more valuable,” says Omer Pardillo-CidCelia Cruz’s last manager and universal executor of her legacy, in addition to being one of the album producers. “One of the great treasures of my life was accompanying Celia for so many years. After her death, I made it my mission to safeguard the work that she left us so that it would not be forgotten over time. This project is one more example that Celia is immortal. Now she is the one who accompanies me and will do so for eternity.”

The power of the music of the so-called La Guarachera de Cuba is inestimable. More than twenty years after her death, the iconic Cuban artist seems to be more alive than ever. In the two decades that have passed, the fame and affection for the artist continues to grow daily. Celia Cruz has become the most idolized Hispanic singer in history. This cultural icon, who received countless honors and awards during her lifetime, including three GRAMMY Awards and four Latin GRAMMY Awards, was commemorated by the United States Postal Service with a postage stamp featuring her image as part of the Latin Music Legends Forever series. Recently, her image was immortalized by the toy company Mattel as a Barbie doll in their Inspiring Women series, and in August 2024, the United States Mint, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, will honor the artist as one of four women selected to have their faces depicted on a United States 25-cent coin, as part of the American Women Quarters program.

This album, which features some of her most iconic songs such as Quimbara, Bemba Colorá, La Dicha Mía and Tu Voz, in completely unreleased versions, is produced by Loud And Live Studios and curated by multi-GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY award-winning producers Nelson Albareda and Omer Pardillo-Cid, and radio personality Albertico Rodríguez. The recordings were restored and remastered by engineer Pedro “Waldy D” Domínguez, also a GRAMMY award winner.

This album will be available in several configurations, including a Limited-Edition Collector’s box set. The Limited-Edition set will feature unique packaging, one of its main attractions, adorned with authentic vintage sequined fabric from one of the textiles used in Cruz’s famous costumes. The Limited-Edition Collector’s set and the Deluxe box set edition will also include a hardcover book containing one hundred photographs celebrating each year of the legendary artist’s life, along with exclusive printed photos that are sure to become collector’s items. Additionally, the album will be released as standard vinyl and made available on all digital platforms.

“This album is very special to me for several reasons. First and foremost, Celia CruzCuba’s most iconic artist was one of the first artists I worked with. Second, these are recordings of live concerts in the city I cherish, Miami. Third, I have always liked design, whether graphic or advertising, and I think the packaging of this album is unique and a true representation of Celia’s style,” says Nelson Albareda, CEO of Loud And Live and executive producer of the album. “And finally, the music itself, my great passion. As a Cuban-American, this music celebrates my roots, my heritage, and my essence as a human being. An artist like Celia comes along every hundred years, and that is precisely what we are celebrating, 100 Años de Azucar.”

“En Vivo: 100 Años de Azúcar,” distributed by InnerCat, had its exclusive premiere on SiriusXM Caliente channel 158 and is now available on all digital platforms and in physical formats at www.celiacruz.com. The launch of this album marks the beginning of a series of celebrations organized by the Celia Cruz Foundation to honor the centennial of the iconic artist. These festivities will commence in October 2024 and continue through the end of 2025.

Watch 40 Fingers Cover Dire Straits’ ‘Sultans of Swing’ on Four Guitars

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Feel the infectious energy as the four exceptionally skilled musicians of 40 Fingers light up the stage with their vibrant acoustic rendition of the timeless Dire Straits classic, “Sultans of Swing,” in the heart of Ljubljana, Slovenia! Their dynamic performance not only pays homage to the iconic original but also injects it with their own unique style and charisma, captivating the audience with every strum and riff.

1,000 Musicians Play Queen, David Bowie, And The Who

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Get ready to groove with The Rockin’1000, a powerhouse ensemble of 1,000 exceptionally gifted musicians, as they ignite the stage with three timeless rock anthems from the 1970s! From The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” to David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel,” and culminating in Queen’s iconic “We Will Rock You,” these electrifying performances took place across three unforgettable shows, two in 2019 and one in 2016. It’s a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll spirit and sheer musical prowess that will have you on your feet, singing along, and feeling the pulse of each unforgettable moment.

My Next Read: “The Half of It: A Memoir” By Madison Beer

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Discovered at twelve years old, Madison Beer was one of the first artists to have her entire life documented online. Over the past decade, she has navigated the spotlight as a child, through her teenage years, and now as a young woman in her twenties.

In The Half of It, Madison pulls back the curtain to show the behind-the-scenes of her journey, from reckoning with mass hate online and the time her private pictures were leaked, to battling suicidal thoughts while making her highly acclaimed debut album, Life Support, and her recovery since then. This memoir is an honest and unflinching account of self-love, mental health, and advocacy from one of the fastest-rising musical voices and most influential social media presences of her generation. It hammers home the point, more striking and urgent than ever, that no matter how close the internet may make us feel to people, we truly don’t know the half of it.

Vancouver Hard Rockers THE MIGHTY ONE Reimagines The Power Ballad For The Age Of Social Awareness With “Kickin’ Stones”

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In their third album, “The Torch of Rock and Roll”, The Mighty One has chosen to go full tilt at the fragility and vulnerabilities we try to hide from all but a select few. The 5th single from this album “Kickin’ Stones,” out now, is a haunting tribute to Jeff Worobec, a dear friend of songwriter, guitarist and lead singer Tim Steinruck who harkened back to the bygone days of youth and boundless promise when writing this song. The Mighty One, rounded out with talented musicians Bob Wagner (drums), Chris Campbell (bass), Randy Robertson (lead guitar) and James Meyer (keyboards) tackle the often difficult to discuss parts of what it is that makes us human, by exploring themes of hopelessness, loneliness, isolation and suicide in this song that also manages to remind us of the days when epic power ballads produced by hard rock and metal bands ruled the airwaves.

In what feels like a trip back in time to the days before the rock and metal stranglehold on popular music was upended, “Kickin’ Stones” takes you on a journey from the soft key intro to the outro that soars to instrumental heights with lyrical imagery spread evenly between. The song continues the tradition of a strong message with tact and dignity while not being afraid to say words out loud that others might bury in poetry that could obscure the fundamental message of suicide prevention and awareness.

Steinruck explains, “Jeff was a real good-looking man but was famous for sabotaging his relationships. One day he came into the studio with that look on his face. ‘What happened?’ I asked. ‘She’s gone’ he said. ‘I sent her down the road kickin’ stones.’ In that moment something just clicked, and the story of his life became a song.”

The Mighty One was formed in 2007 and had chart success with their self-titled album, and its single “Reprieved” with both reaching the Top 10 and the 2009 video for “Reprieved” still enjoying regular rotation on Canada’s music channel Much Loud. Their sophomore album, SHiFT, with two singles “Waiting For You” and “Countdown to Ascension” had radio success and prompted invitations to SXSW in Austin, Texas and Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Ontario. Further success was found when “Waiting For You” was licensed to the NHL and Sirius XM to celebrate Sydney Crosby’s return after leave due to a concussion. Their most recent album, “The Torch of Rock and Roll” continues to spawn singles; garner nominations and awards including “International Songwriter, Album, and Band Of The Year” at the 2023 International Singer Songwriter Awards in Atlanta, Georgia; and exponentially grow their Canadian and international fan base. They have received attention through coverage in Rock Hard, Power Play, and Fireworks magazines and you can hear their music on A+E, MTV, NASCAR, and Discovery Channels.

Sarantos Drops Thought-Provoking Single ‘Never Trust a Happy Song’

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Chicago-based independent artist Sarantos presents a new single, “Never Trust a Happy Song.” The anthemic, catchy song’s joyful tone belies its weighty message, with lyrics describing personal missteps, mistakes, and moments of isolation and abandonment. Sarantos ultimately prompts listeners to ask what lies beneath the smooth veneer—of a song, or of any other attractive thing that may not be what it seems.

The multifaceted and hyper productive Sarantos is dedicated to bringing his art to life, literally, by releasing new music and writing weekly, keeping his fans tuned in for constant surprises. In Sarantos’s path, no stone is left unturned, no genre unexplored, no feeling unexamined. And he’s been doing this for almost a decade, releasing 18 albums containing more than 200 original songs, building a catalog of 4,000 songs in total—alongside nine fiction/fantasy books—and garnering a social media following of over one million. His efforts have paid off, landing several top 10 independent chart placements, two Grammy considerations, and multiple TV and media placements.

With his latest pop tune, “Never Trust a Happy Song,” Sarantos asks us to probe deeper, and presents the challenge of doing so when surrounded by a rallying pop song and imagery showing off other people’s happiness. The music video accompanying the song is a supercut of beautiful young people grooving with their headphones on, playing guitar, and taking in the scenery of a beach at sunset or a city in winter. Taken together, the footage recalls ads for antidepressants, meant to show the ordinary contentment one may finally feel with the right dosage.

But life and its inherent struggles will still challenge us, as Sarantos reminds us with the lyrics: “I’ve lived so many lives / Lost track of countless nights / Died so many times / But I’ve yet to do one right.” The lyrics continue through to a cathartic, humbling acceptance: “The world cares nothing about me / It’ll lie to you / Maybe it’s right to doubt me / It won’t cry for you.” Maybe we’re on our own, he suggests, but what does that matter? We pick up the pieces and push through.

“Never Trust a Happy Song” is decidedly poppy and extremely catchy. Yet Sarantos gravitates away from the saccharine, steering instead toward an uncompromising sincerity. The lyrics are raw and introspective, but Sarantos reminds listeners that they don’t have to sulk through the tune by weaving in and out of an almost playful chorus. His stellar vocal delivery carries listeners through relatable emotionality while working in tandem with an innate musicality. The guitar solo drifts through the song’s upbeat verses like a bittersweet memory, reminding us that although the song is catchy, we still shouldn’t trust a happy song.

Indie Rockers The Petras Announce New Single ‘Sapphire’

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The Petras’ “Sapphire,” set the stage for what’s to come from this fresh all-women band out of Kingston, Ontario. “Sapphire” is a rousing indie rock banger that invites listeners to embrace their unique and wonderful selves that invokes the band’s inspirations: The Runaways and The Beaches.

Says The Petras vocalist Brielle LeBlanc, “We all have something that’s special about us, something that makes us shine. And we’ve all had the feeling of being misunderstood, judged, or envied for it. This song is about not being afraid to shine… to celebrate the “Sapphire’ in all of us!”

Sapphire walks in the room and the whole table turns
Out of pocket but she’ll never learn
On fire like a rocket in the night
Always gets anything she likes

Written by LeBlanc (also of rock band Luscious) and guitarist Rowan “Rogue” Picard and featuring Zoe Evans on bass and Madisen “Maddy” Benoit on drums, “Sapphire” was produced by Juno award winner and founding member of Glass Tiger, Michael Hanson at Altravox Studios. Ryan Lewis of Elevation Music Studio recorded and edited the track.

The Petras and Hanson are currently working on material for an EP.

M For The Movement Releases New Electrifying Single “Takeover” Featuring Snoop Dogg

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Toronto pop-rap duo M For The Movement, comprised of J.Vision and Mega Sean, release their new single “Takeover” featuring Snoop Dogg, Alia Renee, Price da Boss, DT The Artist, and Methadist. This electrifying track promises to be a game-changer in the music industry, with a star-studded collaboration featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.

M For The Movement has been making waves since the release of their first unofficial EP, “The Night Before Christmas,” under the pseudonym “The Night Before M” in December 2020. With over 50,000 streams in the first two weeks, the group quickly gained recognition for their unique sound and style.

Having shared the stage with industry giants like Rihanna, D12, Wayne Wonder, and more, M For The Movement is no stranger to delivering electrifying live performances. Their summer 2023 appearances opening for Sean Paul and closing their tour with Sean Kingston and Nelly solidified their status as a rising force in the music scene.

“Takeover” is not just a song; it’s an experience that combines the cinematic storytelling prowess of J. Vision with Mega Sean’s authentic and powerful lyrical delivery. The track seamlessly blends genres, creating a sound that is uniquely M For The Movement. With a diverse range of influences, the duo brings a fresh perspective to the music scene.

“We had obtained the Snoop Dogg verse some time ago and sat on it for good reason, thinking of the perfect game plan on how to execute a song with a name like his attached to it,” Mega Sean said. “With this feature we wanted to spread love and show unity and lead by example by collaborating with some of Toronto’s best up incoming talent in the Hip Hop scene to help bring the city of Toronto together with the biggest artists from Los Angeles and also show unity in the music business on a universal scale.”

“Takeover” is just a taste of what M For The Movement has in store. With an official album on the horizon, collaborations with JUNO Award-winning artist Choclair, and featuring platinum-selling artist Snoop Dogg, the group is poised to leave their mark on the landscape.

Yovng Chimi Announces Five Limited-Run Tour Dates

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Puerto Rican rapper Yovng Chimi announced he will hit stages across North America this summer with a limited run of tour dates, bringing fans in five different cities his unique brand of drill and trap. Produced by Live Nation, the limited run tour kicks off on June 21 at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Mexico City**, before wrapping up in Orlando at the Kia Center on August 10.

Yovng Chimi will not be hitting the road alone! He is bringing fellow Puerto Rican talents Pressure 9×19 and Slayter along for the ride. This exciting lineup makes the tour a can’t-miss event for any US fan of Latin Drill and Trap. Get ready for a night of high-energy performances and the hottest sounds coming out of Puerto Rico’s music scene.

Fresh off the success of his debut album, WLGS (Whole Lotta Gvng Shit), Yovng Chimi is taking his influential energy and sound on the road. After erupting onto the scene in 2021, he has become a breakout star by not being afraid to push boundaries. Blending drill and trap with his raw lyrics, he’s carved a unique space in Latin music captivating audiences worldwide.

YOVNG CHIMI, is a rising star hailing from San Juan Puerto Rico – the new face of Latin Trap & Drill is known for

making waves with his distinct sound and genre-blending approach; his rise to prominence has been meteoric. Within just two years, he has cemented his place as a leading figure in Latin drill. Collaborations with industry heavyweights like Anuel AA, Ozuna, Eladio Carrion, and Arcangel showcase his versatility and ability to bridge the gap between hip-hop and Latin music seamlessly. It is this unique fusion that sets him apart, attracting a growing legion of fans worldwide.

Born in PR but raised in NY. SLAYTER began his music career as a rap artist coming out of NY. He slowly started to gain attention from many people in his area and outside of NY. Slayter, who was making waves with his sound, was able to work with artists such as GHerbo, Sada Baby, Ohgeesy and many more. About 8 months ago he decided to tap back into his Puerto Rican roots and transitioned to Latin Rap. He quickly gained attention from many artists out there especially Glizzy Gang’s own Yovngchimi who ended up signing him. Slayter has now worked with many Latin artist such as Casper Mágico, Pressure 9×19, Bryant Myers and many more

TOUR DATES:
Fri Jun 21 Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Mon Jun 24 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount
Tue Jun 25 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore Philadelphia
Sat July 27 Mexico City, MX Carpa Velodromo
Sat Aug 10 Orlando, FL Kia Center

SiriusXM Canada Celebrates 15 Years Of Being Named One Of Canada’s Best Managed Companies

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SiriusXM Canada, the country’s leading audio entertainment company, has been recognized for the 15th year in a row by receiving the prestigious 2024 Canada’s Best Managed Companies award.  Furthermore, the company is a 2024 winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years or more.

Celebrating over 30 years, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program awards excellence in private Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or greater. To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in the areas of strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities, and innovation, governance and financial performance.

“Being recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 15 years in a row is a remarkable achievement that speaks volumes to the dedication, talent, and ingenuity of our team,” said Mark Redmond, President and CEO, SiriusXM Canada. “I am immensely proud to share this important milestone with our employees, whose unwavering commitment and hard work have been essential to our success. I know we will continue to focus on our mission to drive innovation, foster growth, and bring listeners closer to what they love, everyday.”

 Canada’s Best Managed Companies is one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing innovative and world‑class businesses. Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent evaluation process.

Applicants are evaluated by an independent panel of judges with representation from program sponsors and special guests.

The 2024 cohort of Best Managed companies share common themes such as having a people-centric culture, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to clients and customers, and accelerating operational digitization.

“Exploring new avenues for the advancement of tomorrow, this year’s Best Managed winners displayed courage, resourcefulness, and creativity,” said Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte Private, Global Best Managed Leader and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “We’re extremely proud to highlight the impressive achievements of companies such as SiriusXM Canada in a rapidly evolving business world. Their exceptional accomplishments leave you feeling inspired, celebrated, and connected.”