In this exclusive AARP interview, beloved actor Henry Winkler reflects on overcoming dyslexia, typecasting and self-doubt to create a wide-ranging career that led to his first Primetime Emmy at 72 years old. He is featured on the cover of AARP The Magazine’s October/November 2023 issue.
Henry Winkler was not someone destined for success in Hollywood. Growing up in 1950s New York City as the son of German Jewish immigrants who fled the Holocaust, he struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia, which made it difficult for him to read and achieve in school. Nonetheless, at 28 years old, he scored the part of Arthur Fonzarelli, also known as “Fonzie” or “The Fonz” on the hit ABC sitcom “Happy Days,” created by Garry Marshall. Playing Fonzie transformed Winkler into an international superstar and a household name.
After “Happy Days,” Winkler faced a new struggle: typecasting. Casting directors couldn’t see Winkler pulling off anything other than a leather jacket-wearing “greaser.” Despite this, Winkler pushed forward and developed his own path. He started his own production company and executive produced a number of TV shows and films, including Rob Reiner’s “The Sure Thing” (1985) and the original “MacGyver” TV series (1985-1992.) He also performed with John Ritter on Broadway and cowrote 39 children’s books, including a series about the adventures of a boy named Hank Zipzer, who has dyslexia.
Winkler’s acting career picked up again in the 1990s and 2000s. He landed roles in films such as “Scream” (1996) and “Holes” (2003), and he worked with Adam Sandler on films including “The Waterboy” (1998) and “Click” (2006). In 2003, he started a role as lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn in Mitch Hurwitz’s “Arrested Development,” and in 2013, he got a recurring role as Dr. Lu Saperstein on Michael Schur’s “Parks and Recreation.” Winkler’s next big break came in 2018 when he debuted as acting teacher Gene Cousineau in the HBO dark comedy “Barry,” created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg. His role as Gene earned him his first Primetime Emmy in 2018 for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.
Winkler has written a memoir, “Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond,” due out in October 2023.
Kindness, creativity, inclusivity, and a touch of magic makes the world a brighter place. Explore the story and impact of Canadian entertainer Ernie Coombs and his iconic series in the new documentary Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, premiering October 10 on Prime Video.
Peter Frampton talks with Dan Rather about how his iconic talk box came to be before explaining the creative process behind his hit songs “Baby, I Love Your Way” and “Show Me The Way” on The Big Interview.
Live Nation has launched “On the Road Again” a new program created with the legendary Willie Nelson to support developing artists and the integral teams that support them.
Developing artists playing in clubs are the backbone of live music. Almost every artist plays clubs at some point in their career. According to live music charts from Pollstar there are 4,000 venues in the United States, and small venues host about 70% of all shows each year.
These hardworking artists are impacted the most as tour costs rise and fluctuate. Even as the music industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, Live Nation wants to do more to help the live music careers of these talented artists, as well as the hardworking crews that operate behind the curtain.
“Touring is important to artists so whatever we can do to help other artists, I think we should do it. This program will impact thousands of artists this year and help make touring a little bit easier,” said Willie Nelson, who generously provided his famous hit song On the Road Again as the anthem for the program.
Through the end of the year, the On The Road Again program is expected to deliver tens of millions of dollars in extra earnings to club artists and crew by:
Supporting Developing Artists: All of Live Nation’s clubs are investing in developing artists by providing $1,500 in gas and travel cash per show to all headliners and support acts, on top of nightly performance compensation. Additionally, these clubs will charge no merchandise selling fees, so artists keep 100% of merch profits. Touring is a crucial part of an artist’s livelihood, and we understand travel costs take one of the biggest bites out of artists’ nightly profits. By helping with these core expenses, we aim to make it easier for artists on the road so they can keep performing to their fans in more cities across the country.
Thanking our Behind-The-Scenes Heroes: Live Nation also wants to recognize all the unsung heroes working behind the scenes night after night to help make these shows happen, with more grind and less glory than most of the business. On The Road Again is providing financial bonuses to local promoters that help execute at shows, tour reps that live life on a bus, as well as venue crew members that have worked over 500 hours in 2023.
Lending A Hand to Crew Across the Industry: On the Road Again is donating $5 million to Crew Nation to support crew across the industry facing unforeseen hardship.
“Delivering for live artists is always our core mission,” said Michael Rapino, President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment. “The live music industry is continuing to grow and as it does, we want to do everything we can to support artists at all levels on their touring journey especially the developing artists in clubs. Like Willie says, this is all about making it a little easier for thousands of artists to continue doing what they love: going out and playing for their fans.”
On the Road Again is a true collaboration that draws on insights from Nelson’s years on the road as well as feedback from touring artists, their teams and venue operators to help support day to day life on tour. All benefits from On the Road Again are being provided directly from the venue’s existing earnings, with no increases to consumers.
For more information on the program and a list of participating venues, visit roadagain.live
“Strong Kids, Safe Kids” was a 1984 public service announcement that left a lasting impact on child safety awareness. What made it even more memorable was the presence of the iconic character “The Fonz” from the TV show “Happy Days,” portrayed by Henry Winkler. With his trademark charisma, The Fonz helped deliver crucial messages about keeping children safe from abuse and harm.
Following his highly-successful, sold-out run, music legend Lionel Richie will return to Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas with his all-new show, “Lionel Richie: King of Hearts” in Fall 2023. The beloved Las Vegas headliner will take the stage for six shows on October 11, 13-14, 18, 20-21, 2023. IP packages will also be available for purchase on LionelRichie.com for these performance
Since his start at Encore Theater, Richie has performed 36 sold-out performances between 2019 – 2022. His return to the intimate venue allows new and returning fans to experience his talents and sell-out audiences like nowhere else.
Ticket Information
2023 Performance Dates: October 11, 13-14, 18, 20-21, 2023; shows begin at 8 p.m.
Price: Tickets starting at $69.95 plus applicable fees
Richie is a highly decorated performer with Oscar®, Golden Globe®, and four GRAMMY Award® wins, as well as recently being named an inductee into the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and American Music Awards’ “Icon Award” last year. Known for countless hits including, “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “All Night Long,” “Penny Lover,” “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” “We Are the World” and others, the international superstar will return to the intimate Encore Theater to offer fans more nights of unforgettable entertainment.
For more information on “Lionel Richie: King of Hearts” and other 2023 performances at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, visit WynnLasVegas.com.
International superstar Lionel Richie has a discography of albums and singles that are second to none. With more than 125 million albums sold worldwide, an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, four Grammy Awards, the distinction of MusicCares Person of the Year in 2016, Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017, the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress in 2022 and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. He recently became the only artist in history to be featured on the AMA’s stage in every decade since the show’s inception with his receival of the 2022 AMA Icon Award, which marked his 18th AMA award. In March 2018, Richie put his handprints and footprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood, one of the oldest awards in Hollywood. In an unforgettable evening featuring his brightest and best anthems which have defined the music icon’s unparalleled career, Richie extended his “Back to Las Vegas” residency at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas with a twenty-two show engagement in 2022 and is continuing his highly successful residency model into Fall 2023. Richie serves as a judge on ABC’s “American Idol” the past five seasons and is currently shooting the sixth season of the show.
As the universal accolades and extensive airplay continue to pour in for the 78-year-old Bruce Cockburn’s 38th album, O Sun O Moon, True North Records has announced the release of a new single, “Us All,” on September 26, along with a string of additional world tour dates.
Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song.
Bruce Cockburn has won 13 JUNO Awards, an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada, among many other accolades. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a six-time platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
BRUCE COCKBURN 2023/2024 TOUR
OCT 11 HAMILTON ON FIRST ONTARIO HALL
OCT 12 MONTREAL QC GESU-ELISE
OCT 14 QUEBEC CITY QC IMPERIAL BELL
OCT 16 FREDERICTON NB THE PLAYHOUSE
OCT 17 CHARLOTTETOWN PE CONFEDERATION CENTRE
OCT 19 MONCTON NB CAPITOL THEATRE
OCT 20 NEW GLASGOW NS WELLNESS CENTRE
OCT 21 HALIFAX NS REBECCA COHN
OCT 23 PORTLAND ME STATE THEATRE
OCT 24 OLD SAYBROOK CT KATHARINE HEPBURN ARTS
OCT 25 NORTHAMPTON MA ACADEMY OF MUSIC
OCT 27 RUTLAND VT PARAMOUT THEATRE
OCT 28 ITHACA NY HANGAR THEATRE
OCT 30 NELSONVILLE OH STUART’S OPERA HOUSE
NOV 1 CARMEL IN TARKINGTON CENTRE
NOV 2 MILWAUKEE WI SOUTH MILWAUKEE PAC
NOV 3 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 4 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 16 LOS ANGELES CA McCABE’S
NOV 17 LOS ANGELES CA McCABE’S
NOV 18 SANTA BARBARA CA LOBERO THEATRE
NOV 19 SANTA CRUZ CA RIO THEATRE
NOV 30 SACRAMENTO CA CREST THEATRE
DEC 1 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 2 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
MAR 5 CHIARI ITALY AUDITORIUM SCHOLE
MAR 6 BOLOGNA ITALY TEATRO DEHON
MAR 8 VICENZA ITALY TEATRO ASTRA
MAR 9 TORINO ITALY FOLK CLUB
MAR 11 ROME ITALY PARCO DELLA MUSICA
APR 24 FRESNO CA TOWER THEATRE
APR 25 LAS VEGAS NV SMITH CENTRE FOR ARTS
APR 27 PRESCOTT AZ YAVAPAN ARTS CENTER
APR 28 TUCSON AZ RIALTO THEATRE
APR 30 ALBUQUERQUE NM KIMO THEATRE
MAY 2 AUSTIN TX 04 CENTER
MAY 3 HOUSTON TX HEIGHTS THEATRE
MAY 4 DALLAS TX KESSLER THEATRE
MAY 7 ST. LOUIS MO DELMAR HALL
MAY 8 OKLAHOMA CITY OK TOWER THEATRE
MAY 10 BOULDER CO BOULDER THEATRE
MAY 11 BASALT CO ARTS CAMPUS
MAY 12 SALT LAKE CITY UT STATE ROOM
Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Lawrence Curry has released his debut LP I Sail To Thee, out now. Curry’s full-body voice and well-seasoned guitar skills carry through his album, but the masterwork of it all is his storytelling ability–undoubtedly an ode to his Celtic roots.
From track to track, the multi-instrumentalist pulls inspiration from real-life tales and his own experiences to weave individual, specific stories.
Inspired by his travels in Scotland, the storyteller extraordinaire recounts the tale of a shipwrecked mariner’s rescue in his atmospheric closing track and first single “Of Which Mortals Only Dream.” The song’s melody follows the arc of the story perfectly. It begins with mysterious guitar picking, inviting the listener to be part of the song, feeling as though they themselves are lost at sea. Curry sings:
I was wrecked and washed upon the shore
so very close to death my friends its true
for six nights I would shake and shiver
until the seventh morn when she found me
I’d not seen a living soul
and only heard the rolling of the sea
As the narrative reveals a rescue by a mystery woman, the melody follows suit with a steady strumming evoking a sense of safety of being found. Percussion slowly emerges, eventually leading into a light groove. The story of “Of Which Mortals Only Dream” came to Curry during his time overseas but only made it to paper during the pandemic.
Having started playing the guitar and writing folk songs at fourteen years old, Curry’s musical career has taken different shapes over the years. After taking a small step away from music, the singer-songwriter returned as a semi-professional composer and sound designer. Nevertheless, the calling to write music and share stories is rooted so deep within him that he never stopped writing songs. The pandemic made this calling clear and most of the tracks that make up I Sail To Thee were brought to life during that time.
“I realized during the pandemic, with all that time for self-reflection, that life is too short and fragile not to do what you love and be who you are,” says Curry. Rightfully so, the musician practices what he preaches.
The 9-track album is a complete ode to who he is and the people who have come before him. Interlaced with small parts of him, the album reflects the history of his home province, his Celtic roots, his travels to Ireland and Scotland, and affection for his wife. The Canadian folk artist has managed to intertwine the past and present through united tales of longing, and the product is an album that has the power to carry listeners across oceans and time.
Curry’s hope is that each song is a story that will stay with the listener, long after the music stops.
Jack Browning, the 25-year-old folk-maestro from London, who wouldn’t be out of place in Nashville, makes his gentle mark on the world’s music scene with his debut album, Red Eye Radio, set to release this September. It’s an album promising to captivate listeners and get under their skin with its modern blend of traditional folk, dirty blues, rock n roll, and alt-country influences, showcasing Browning’s heartfelt lyrical prowess and distinctive storytelling.
Browning’s musical journey has taken him far and wide, across the UK and Europe and on to the United States, all thanks to his early band life, touring and playing with the likes of Jeff Beck, Joss Stone, and Gregory Porter during his late teens. With that musicianship experience money can’t buy and drawing inspiration from iconic alt-country musicians like Neil Young, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Calexico, and Bruce Springsteen, as well as folk legends like Townes Van Zandt and John Prine, his commitment to preserving the tradition of great songwriting while infusing it with his unique perspective has garnered him a devoted following.
Red Eye Radio, recorded between October 2022 and January 2023 and mastered by the acclaimed Charlie Francis, is a remarkable collection of original handpicked songs. These songs delve into the themes of life on the road, laboring as a construction worker, grappling with mental health, and the innate human desire to explore and wander. The album serves as a personal introspection to Browning, weaving together a rich tapestry of warm emotions and life experiences.
Browning collaborated closely with renowned producer Dan Lucas and a pool of talented musicians, including Rick Kent, Patrick Lyons, Wiza Kaluba, Brant Tilds, Wes Brooks, and Crosby Coford. The result is a cohesive record with a narrative thread running through each track. All thanks to Browning’s leadership and talented songwriting ear.
The album’s fourth single, “Blue Eyed Son,” has already garnered significant attention and acclaim. With its hauntingly beautiful melody and Browning’s soulful vocals, the song perfectly introduces the emotional depth and musical talent that define “Red Eye Radio.” Lyrically, this first single nods to Browning’s outlook on the world, with the trials and tribulations of a working singer-songwriter.
‘Why did you see my blue eyed son?
Your hard work is nearly done.
Them cold nights are pulling on in,
This whole world reeking of sin.’
“Dog Tired” beats along gently, like a night train through the mid-west. Along the journey, Browning’s vocals entwine seamlessly with the pedal steel and harmonica to create an intimate back-and-forth dance with lyrics portraying the artist’s life as a construction worker. The song’s lyrics will resonate with anyone listening who has felt the exhaustion of trying to pursue their passion after a hard day’s work.
“Kerosene” starts as a quiet, introspective composition, cloaking itself in a larger soundscape that hits like a whole alt-country swag, with a full-band production. The pedal steel comes into its own and again takes center stage with a rapturous, haunting solo. The song’s dynamic shifts leave the lyrics wide open for interpretation.
“The Family Guns” is a two-part masterpiece that draws inspiration from composers like Ennio Morricone, Western-style film, and modern mariachi soundscape veterans Calexico. Even hinting at Joey Burns-style vocals. When the second half hits, the song transforms into a captivating murder ballad, complete with mariachi trumpet and Pat Lyons’ lyrical steel guitar.
“Red Eye Radio” is not just an album; it’s a journey through the heart and soul of an artist who has found his voice. Browning’s ability to craft songs that resonate with authenticity and emotion promises to leave a lasting impact on the music landscape.
With a promise to loved ones that spanned years before Browning decided to take the plunge, “So, on a train home, covered in drywall dust and with my dreams having never felt further away, I phoned them, and we booked in two days recording.”
At the beginning of Browning’s journey, he explains, “It became infinitely clear in that first two-day session that with finished songs and the ideas I had still to flesh out, I might have an album with me.”
Continuing, Browning discusses the recording process, “Most of the lyrics were jumbled and unwritten, and the structures of the majority of the songs were hashed out right there with drummer Rick, bassist Wiza, and Dan at the desk in the studio mornings, with a lot of work to be done in the afternoons into the evenings.”
The album recording went far and wide, with Browning recruiting musicians from all over, “The final piece of the actual dirty work was working with several musicians from around the UK and the US who would add their expertise, ideas, and skill to record remotely. Working with Wes Brook on keys, Brant Tilds on trumpet for the song which became The Family Guns, and Brian Eade on harmonica added all sorts of possibilities for the mixing part of the record.”
As the release date for Red Eye Radio approaches, fans and music enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the entire album, ready to immerse themselves in Browning’s alt-country musical world. With the success of the first single, “Blue Eyed Son,” the debut album is poised to be a milestone in his burgeoning career.
XL Syndicate out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is a collective whose sound was influenced by multiple genres including Soca, Reggae, and R&B — consistent with the group’s Caribbean upbringing. “Caribbean vibes run deep in our veins,” they write on their Instagram page, which is generating quite the following. Their latest track and music video, “Lights Go Down,” is a fitting ode to the prime days of house music and warehouse parties that continued all night until the sun came up. The collective has retooled that classic sound for our current era.
This is a song that could be played in the rocking clubs of Toronto, Miami, Vegas, and Ibiza. However, XL Syndicate says that the genesis of the song was much more intimate and revolves around the universal theme of seeking refuge in music and dance.
“Move/Till the lights down/Move/Get lost in the crowd/Move/You can’t make a sound,” begins the addictive hook, which includes vocals from RAENE out of London.
XL Syndicate themselves have an intense love of dance and wanted to bring that same spirit dance floors around the world. “Recording ‘Lights Go Down’ was a celebration of music’s ability to spark joy and unbridled enthusiasm. We channeled our creative energy into infusing the track with an irresistible groove, utilizing a mix of instruments that amplify the song’s dance-inducing qualities,” XL Syndicate said. Ultimately, the group put together “Lights Go Down” so that others could experience a similar release. It’s the perfect song to round out a long summer of raging.
