On Monday November 7th, world-renowned Australian “fingerstyle” acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, CGP, will release his first ever album of holiday music, All I Want For Christmas (Favoured Nations Entertainment). Emmanuel, honoured as the CMA’s Global Artist this year, co-produced the album with veteran Nashville picker/arranger John Knowles, CGP.

The pair collaborated on new arrangements for nine Yuletide classics including I’ll Be Home For Christmas, The Christmas Song, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Emmanuel also wrote one original for the collection – “One Christmas Night” – and arranged a second new composition, The Magic Of Christmas Time, by Rick Price, who plays piano on the song.

“People have asked me about doing a Christmas album so many times over the last 20 years,” says Emmanuel. “When I had time to really get into this project, it just had a life of its own, and was so easy to make because we all loved the music so much.  It’s exciting that there will be so many fans happy about it coming out.”

Most of the arrangements for All I Want For Christmas came together via Skype, while Emmanuel was on tour internationally, and Knowles – who also plays guitar on the album – was home in Nashville prepping.

Emmanuel employed several guitars for the sessions, relying heaving on a new David Taylor model that he says, “has a singing quality to it, a beautiful voice.” Everything was recorded at Beech Creek Studios in Franklin, TN with Kim Person, who has produced Emmanuel’s last five albums.

Nirvana changed the world of music with their release of “Nevermind” on September 24, 1991.  Relive the glory of grunge with your choice of several 20th Anniversary Editions. For fans of Nirvana, the super-deluxe edition of “Nevermind” provides the ultimate treasure chest of essential, unheard material.  In addition to its four iconic singles – “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are,” “Lithim” and “In Bloom” – the 20th Anniversary Edition of “Nevermind” includes rare B-sides and DVD footage from the 1991 Paramount Theatre and Del Mar concert.  These rare B-sides are brought back to life with digital remastering on both the 20th Anniversary 2CD Deluxe and 4CD+1DVD Super Deluxe Editions of “Nevermind.”

Nevermind was the second studio album by the US rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group’s first release on DGC Records. Frontman Kurt Cobain sought to make music outside the restrictive confines of the Seattle grunge scene, drawing influence from groups such as the Pixies and their use of song volume dynamics.

Despite low commercial expectations by the band and its record label, Nevermind became a surprise success in late 1991, largely due to the popularity of its first single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. By January 1992, it had replaced Michael Jackson’s album Dangerous at number one on the Billboard charts. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified the album Diamond (over 10 million copies shipped), and the album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Nevermind was responsible for bringing alternative rock to a large mainstream audience, and critics subsequently regard it as one of the best rock albums of all time.

You can order an 20th Anniversary Edition of Nevermind, or you can get the original here:

Grace For Drowning is Steven Wilson’s second album and develops further the uncompromising creativity evident on his highly regarded debut, Insurgentes.

A double album ("Two 40-45 minute albums in the same package."), Wilson describes the release as, "My biggest project to date."

Wilson adds, “Insurgentes was an important step for me into something new. This record takes that as a starting point, but it’s more experimental and more eclectic. For me, the golden period for music was the late sixties and early seventies, when the album became the primary means of artistic expression, when musicians liberated themselves from the 3 minute pop song format, and started to draw on jazz and classical music especially, combining it with the spirit of psychedelia to create “journeys in sound.” So, without being retro, my album is a kind of homage to that spirit. There’s everything from [Ennio] Morricone-esque film themes to choral music to piano ballads to a 23 minute progressive jazz–inspired piece.”

Burning Shed is selling Grace For Drowning in three limited edition formats, a deluxe version, and as a 2cd digipack, and a heavyweight double vinyl issue.

The Deluxe version features 3 CDs (including a bonus CD of out-takes and demos) and a Blu-Ray disc, and is packaged in a hard back book, which features 120 pages of artwork and notes.

The Blu-Ray disc features 5.1 surround sound and high resolution stereo mixes of the album, additional demos, films for 5 tracks (directed by Lasse Hoile), photo galleries, hand written notes and lyrics.

The vinyl edition features both ‘albums’ on heavyweight (180gm) vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. It also comes with a drop card containing a code to download a digital version of the album.

The 2 cd digibook version comes with a 28 page booklet.

Due to the size and nature of the deluxe edition we are aware that shipping costs may be high to some parts of the world. For this reason, a limited number of the deluxe edition of Grace For Drowning will also be available from three stores in Western Europe (one each in Germany, Holland and Belgium) and one in North America.

Volume 1 – Deform To Form A Star:
Side 1
1. Grace For Drowning (2.00)
2. Sectarian (8.00)
3. Deform to Form a Star (8.00)
Side 2
4. No Part of Me (5.45)
5. Postcard (4.30)
6. Raider Prelude (2.30)
7. Remainder the Black Dog (9.15)
Volume 2 – Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye:
Side 3
1. Raider II (23.15)
Side 4
2. Belle de Jour (3.00)
3. Index (4.45)
4. Track One (4.15)
5. Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye (8.00)

In October 2009, Uriah Heep released their 40th Anniversary ‘Celebration’ album, containing new studio recordings of 12 of their most successful, classic tracks, plus two brand new songs. This recording heralded an exciting new phase for the band, taking their classic sound right into the future.

The band hit the road to celebrate 40 years at the top and opened new frontiers in Eastern Europe, Australia, South Africa, Japan and America. The band has played 53 different countries in total. The band’s motto has always been “if the people cannot come to see and hear Heep music, we will take it to them” and based on that when the band was invited to play for the first time in Armenia, they did not think twice and went for it. So when the band agreed they were approached by TV and film crews to document this concert which shows an epic performance and an incredibly strong and powerful audience reaction.

“It was unique because it was a first for us, and the fact that our music meant so much to so many people, was just wonderful” says Mick Box. “It cannot get any better than that. There were some technical problems to overcome, as we played on hired equipment, but the emotion of the night won through, and if asked, we would indeed go back and play again“.

Uriah Heep, who indisputably invented Hard Rock in conjunction with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, have sold in excess of 30 million albums since their inception in 1969. From their early incarnation as The Gods and Spice, through record breaking tours, gold and platinum selling albums, timeless chart scaling anthems and a fiercely dedicated fan base of worldwide proportions, Uriah Heep can rightly claim to be one of the greatest U.K. Progressive Heavy Rock bands of both the 20th and 21st centuries.

“Live in Armenia” will be exclusively released in a glossy digipak 2CD+DVD package and on a limited 2LP gatefold sleeve version (including only the audio portion). Full tracklisting is below:

CD1: Wake the Sleeper; Overload; Tears of the World; Stealin’; Book of Lies; Gypsy; Look at Yourself; What Kind of God; Angels Walk With You; Shadow.
CD2: July Morning; Easy Livin’; Sunrise; Sympathy; Lady In Black.
DVD: Wake the Sleeper; Overload; Tears of the World; Stealin’; Book of Lies; Gypsy; Look at Yourself; What Kind of God; Angels Walk With You; Shadow; July Morning; Easy Livin’; Sunrise; Sympathy; Lady In Black.
Dvd Stereo mix 2.0 – Screen 16:9; format: NTSC Region Free / Length 100 mins.

Monday 5th September sees the UK release of Derek Sherinian’s new solo album ‘Oceana’ – released on the Music Theories Recordings label via the Mascot Label Group.

Great Derek Sherinian deals from Amazon

If this were the 1970′s, the heyday of such keyboard titans as Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord, he would be among that elite circle of players whom were superstars – back in a time when such talent was not only appreciated, but celebrated in popular music. This is, however, 2011, and in this age, Derek Sherinian is the premiere rock keyboardist of his generation, a member of the supergroup Black Country Communion, a core member of Dream Theater, and a prolific solo artist.

Derek has played with a diverse range of artists including Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen and KISS. In addition to being a part of Dream Theater, Derek was also a member of the prog rock band Platypus, and the founder of the progressive fusion/metal band Planet X.

Oceana is mixed by the legendary drummer Simon Phillips (whose drumming credentials include Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck, 10CC, Roxy Music, Mick Jagger, Mike Oldfield).

The new album features contributions from Joe Bonamassa (Black Country Communion), Tony MacAlpine (Planet X), Simon Phillips (Toto), Steve Lukather (Toto), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Jimmy Johnson and Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder).

Sherinian has carved out a niche for himself within the progressive metal scene. His solo albums have featured the best technically proficient and creative musicians, including luminaries as diverse as Al DiMeola, Steve Lukather, Yngwie Malmsteen, Slash, John Petrucci, John Sykes and Zakk Wylde.

With Oceana, the album is yet again an assemblage featuring some of the most talented players to ever strap on a guitar, all of whom have joined Sherinian in the studio.

[click for hi res] Steve Lukather once again collaborated with the keyboardist on the tracks Mulholland, Euphoria and Seven Sins, and former Planet X guitarist and fusion legend Tony MacAlpine performed on Five Elements and Mercury 7. Acclaimed session musician Steve Stevens is featured on Ghost Runner and the title track Oceana, while Black Country Communion band-mate Joe Bonamassa makes an appearance on I Heard That. Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) performs on El Camino Diablo, and Jimmy Johnson plays the bass on all tracks with the exception of Ghost Runner and Oceana, which both feature Tony Franklin. Toto’s Simon Phillips performs drums across the whole album.

Favouring a guitar heavy rock based approach to fusion ala Jeff Beck, Sherinian’s music creates a certain energy that comes through the recordings, setting him apart from other jazz fusion artists. His music also appeals to fans of technical heavy metal.

Thanks to his relentless touring schedule with a wide range of well-known artists, Sherinian easily adapts to ever changing musical genres, while always maintaining his signature style.

Earlier this year record producer Kevin Shirley opened the door for the keyboardist to join Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and Joe Bonamassa in the rock supergroup Black Country Communion.

BCC’s two acclaimed album releases have set the stage for ‘Oceana’ to reach a more mainstream audience, a move which will surely continue to cement Derek’s legacy as one of the premiere rock keyboardists of the 21st century.

To promote the release of ‘Oceana’, Derek will embark on a solo tour in early 2012.

DEREK SHERINIAN – OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

Keyboardist Derek Sherinian is a man out of time. Raised in Santa Cruz, California, he began playing piano at the age of five, then came under the spell of Elton John’s music, and the early influences of The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

While still a junior in high school, Derek was offered a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After three semesters he was introduced to Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys), who was putting together a touring band. After an ultimately impressing audition, he earned his spot.

After leaving Miles, he landed a gig with rock legend Alice Cooper. He toured with Alice and performed over 250 shows in support of his ‘Trash’ album. Alice nicknamed Sherinian, “The Caligula of the Keyboards.”

After another tour, in 1991 he became offstage keyboardist for hard rockers KISS. However, it was with him joining prog metal superstars Dream Theater that his profile began to rise. More technically challenging musically than anything he had previously been a part of, he was named the band’s keyboardist just prior to the tour in support of the album Awake. After spending four years with the band, Sherinian went solo in 1999 and released his first solo album Planet X.

Between 2000 and 2009, Sherinian released several albums including Universe (2000), Inertia (2001), Moonbabies (2002), Black Utopia (2003), Mythology (2004), Blood of the Snake (2006) and Molecular Heinosity (2009).

In 2010 he toured extensively with Billy Idol. In the same year, he joined the rock supergroup Black Country Communion alongside Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham. BCC’s first two albums went to No.1 in the Official UK Rock Album Chart. The band is currently in the midst of a European tour which includes London’s High Voltage Festival.

One of the most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock ‘n’ roll bands in history, YES, have debuted the music video for “We Can Fly” the first single from their new album, Fly From Here. The album was released on July 1st in Europe and streets on July 12th in North America through Frontiers Records. This is the both the band’s first music video and studio album release in ten years. The video was directed by award winning filmmaker Ken Horn (won a BAFTA and an Emmy for the BBC series The Street) and features a guest appearance by long-time YES producer and Ken’s brother, Trevor Horn. The video builds upon the existential aeronautic theme developed in the song’s lyrics and can be seen here:

Fly From Here” debuted in several national European charts on

# 14 in Germany
# 30 in the UK
# 31 in Sweden
# 39 in Switzerland
# 43 in the Netherlands

is currently #5 on iTunes Rock Album Charts.

YES is Benoit David on vocals (his first studio recording with YES), Steve Howe on guitars/vocals, founder Chris Squire on bass/vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards and Alan White on drums. Their long awaited 20th studio album follows 2001′s Magnification and marks the band’s return to working with producer, Trevor Horn, who produced YES’ chart topping album, 90125, in 1983 and also sang for the band on the Drama album in 1980.

The band recently kicked off their summer tour on July 4th in Philadelphia, USA. In support of Fly From Here, YES will be bringing new music as well as their classic hits to their loyal following. The 22-city tour ends August 3rd in Mountain View, CA.

First formed in 1968, YES‘ remarkable career spans over 40 years and the band has time and again redefined the boundaries of rock music. YES has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide and continues to stretch the boundaries of progressive art-rock with their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical styles.

For more official YES news and information, go to http://www.yesworld.com. The YES EPK discussing “Fly From Here” can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-DKEcDtt8.

YES & Styx North American Tour 2011

Date City Venue
July 12th Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
July 14th Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 15th Orange Beach, AL Amphitheater at the Wharf
July 16th Nashville, TN Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel
July 18th Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
July 19th Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
July 20th Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
July 22nd Thackerville, OK WinStar Casino
July 23rd Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheater
July 24th Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 26th Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 28th Eagle, ID Eagle River Pavilion
July 29th Redmond, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
July 30th Goldendale, WA Maryhill Winery
August 2nd Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
August 3rd Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

Rock’n'roll icon, guitar genius, interactive progenitor, consummate singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Rundgren, will get up close and personal with four rare UK concerts in October 2011. Dates include HMV Ritz, Manchester on Saturday 1st October, and The London Jazz Café on Monday 3rd October, Tuesday 4th October and Wednesday 5th October.

Tickets are on sale from 10:00 on Tuesday 28th June. Ticket Hotline: 08700 603 777, www.seetickets.com.

This year’s intimate dates mark Rundgren’s first UK shows since 2010’s sold-out London Hammersmith Apollo concert where he performed the entirety of his 1973 milestone album
A Wizard, A True Star. These will be Todd’s only UK concerts in 2011.

Todd will be performing “An Evening with Todd Rundgren”, universally described by the US press as “The greatest hits tour his fans have been waiting to see for years”.

ROCK’S ORIGINAL RENAISSANCE MAN

An acclaimed record producer, composer, songwriter, and recording artist, Rundgren is widely regarded as the acknowledged godfather of the marriage of music and multimedia. Having founded and fronted The Nazz, the quintessential `60′s power-pop psychedelic band, in 1969 he left that band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the classic Runt.

It was 1972′s seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight. Among Rundgren’s impressive 50+ production projects are albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, Hall & Oates, and Meat Loaf’s perennially multi-platinum debut “Bat Out Of Hell.”

A Wizard, A True Star. The title of Todd Rundgren’s 1973 solo album aptly sums up the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60′s cult group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the legendary Runt. But it was 1972′s seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him ‘Rock’s New Wunderkind’.

It was followed by the landmark albums Hermit of Mink Hollow,  A Wizard, A True Star, and the hit singles – I Saw The Light, Hello It’s Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum.

In 1974, Todd formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship, and embarked on an extensive round of touring and recording. Standout Utopia offerings included Oops! Wrong Planet, Adventures in Utopia, and Oblivion. Utopia combined technical virtuosity and creative passion to create music that, for millions, defined the term "progressive rock."

Rundgren’s myriad production projects include albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick, Psychedelic Furs, Meatloaf, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, and Hall and Oates. Rounding out his reputation as rock’s Renaissance Man, Rundgren composed all the music and lyrics for Joe Papp’s 1989 Off-Broadway production of Joe Orton’s Up Against It (the screenplay commissioned by The Beatles for what was meant to have been their third motion picture). He also has composed the music for a number of television series, including Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Crime Story.

Early last year Rundgren performed his iconic 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star in concert in its entirety for the first time ever, and recently did the same with a double bill: Todd and Healing.  His latest studio album, Todd Rundgren’s Johnson, a collection of classic Robert Johnson songs, was released in America in April.

In 1998 Todd debuted his new PatroNet technology which for the first time allows fans of a musical artist to subscribe directly to the artist’s musical output via the Internet. This caps a long history of groundbreaking early multimedia "firsts", including:

• 1978: The first interactive television concert, broadcast live over the Warner/QUBE system in Columbus, Ohio (the home audience chose each song in real time during the concert by voting via QUBE’s 2-way operating system).
• 1978: The first live nationally broadcast stereo radio concert (by microwave), linking 40 cities across North America.
• 1979: The opening of Utopia Video Studios, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. The first project produced by Todd there is Gustav Holst’s The Planets, commissioned by RCA SelectaVision as the first demonstration software for their new videodisc format.
• 1980: Creation of the first color graphics tablet, which was licensed to Apple and released as The Utopia Graphics Tablet.
• 1981: Time Heals, the first music video to utilize state-of-the-art compositing of live action and computer graphics (produced and directed by Todd), becomes the second video to be played on MTV (after Video Killed the Radio Star).
• 1982: The first live national North American cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network), simulcast in stereo to over 120 radio stations.
• 1982: The first two commercially released music videos, one of which was nominated for the first-ever Grammy awarded for “Best Short Form Video” in 1983.
• 1992: The release of “No World Order”, the world’s first interactive record album on CD-i. Also the first commercially available music downloads via CompuServe.
• 1994: The release of “The Individualist”, the world’s first full-length Enhanced CD.
• 1995: The world’s first interactive concert tour. The London Forum shows were filmed and released on DVD.
• 1998: Launches PatroNet, the world’s first direct artist subscription service

Hailing from Scandinavia, XorigiN is the newest addition to the Frontiers Records ever expanding roster of artists and will release their debut album entitled “State of the Art” on August 23rd in North America and August 26th in Europe.

The band was originally named Orange Crush and was formed in Los Angeles in 1999, while the members where studying music at the Musicians Institute. The founding members Johannes Stole (vocals) and Daniel Palmqvist (guitar) later returned to their home countries of Norway and Sweden and continued collaborating on various projects in between their other engagements. Johannes is currently a sought after session singer/artist in Oslo, Norway and has released 2 critically acclaimed albums with progressive rock band Slaves To Fashion. Daniel has released a well received instrumental solo album, appeared as a session guitarist on a number of albums and is the former guitarist for the band The Murder Of My Sweet

Melodic hard rock with a modern edge would be a fitting description of XorigiN’s music. Musically they draw on influences such as Toto, Giant, Journey and Yes (“90125”/”Big Generator” era) to name a few, but still keeping their own personal sound and musical identity intact. Strong melodies, well crafted songs and catchy vocal arrangements are their trademark. “It is our version of what AOR should sound like, catchy melodic tunes with rocking guitars and big hooks!”, says Johannes, “Our musical influences definitely shine through, but there’s also something uniquely ours mixed in there as well” adds Daniel.

“State of the Art” was produced by Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye, The Murder of My Sweet) and promises to put the band on the radar of all the classic Melodic Rock fans! You will certainly hear more from these guys “We’re in this for the long run and are already writing for the next album” says Stole while Palmqvist adds “Hopefully the album will be well received and we certainly have a wish to take these songs to the stage”.

“State of the Art” includes the following songs

Can´t Keep Running; Crying For You; In The Blink Of An Eye; Too Late; Gina; This Is It; The One For Me; Said And Done; Matters To The Heart; What Love Is All About; Mend My Heart. Includes bonus videoclip Can’t Keep Running.

You can enjoy the album trailer following this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdGgf7DfEDw

“Can’t Keep Running” can be streamed and listened to in full on the Frontiers Records web radio: www.frontiers.it/webradio

Toby Hitchcock name and abilities came to the attention of Melodic Rock fans when former Survivor founding member Jim Peterik chose him as the lead singer for the band that would mark his return on the scene: Pride of Lions.

With Pride of Lions, Toby had the chance to sing on three studio albums which are considered as true classic among the fans. Toby also appeared live fronting the band and his performances at the Lokerse Feesten in Belgium and at the United Forces of Rock in Germany created a vast consensus about his amazing abilities. Often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor) or Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Hitchockc’s voice has the depth, the feeling and the extension of each of them, still keeping his own identity and trademark.

While Pride of Lions took a small hiatus (but they are already preparing their full comeback album for 2012), Toby took the chance to hook up, under suggestion from Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino, with the Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson (Eclipse), whose name came to prominence when he wrote and produced the very popular W.E.T. album which saw the return of singer Jeff Scott Soto to Melodic Rock.

Even before his birth, Toby Hitchcock was already hearing the music. Born in Kokomo, Indiana on September 19, 1977, the first child of Greg and Marcia Hitchcock was exposed to all types of music, especially southern gospel, through the talented voice and keyboards of his dad, plus his crooning paternal grandfather, Howard, who at 71 is still sounding very much like Sinatra.

Toby’s mom, keeper of the family scrapbooks, has a picture of him still in diapers, already holding a mic and singing. Through the years Toby learned to hear harmony, singing with his parents, and eventually his sister, Tori, an awesome vocalist in her own right.

From church musicals to "stealing the stage", and some girls’ hearts, at school variety shows Toby’s parents were always sitting in the crowd, smiling, knowing what road he was destined to follow. Working with his dad, an excellent musician who plays from his heart, he began to feel the music in a new way at the age of 12, putting it into the steady beat of the drums and becoming an excellent musician himself. In high school, he was in the top chorus, the Varsity Singers. At 17 he advanced to nationals in Fine Arts and was also a finalist in local and state competitions.

Though he struggled through the difficult teen years that many young men experience he came to find himself exactly where he started, in the middle of the music. Becoming a D.J., he first just played the music for others, engaging the guests with his easy charm and wit, loved by young and old alike. In 1999, he joined the team at H.Y.P.E. Productions, an entertainment company who has hit Chicago by storm in the last couple years, supplying interactive dancers, live bands and vocalists for various events. In addition to being the lead singer & musical director of the bands, Toby has held just about every job at the company, including roadie, dancer, deejay, emcee, p.r. and engineer of their digital recording studio.

Toby came to Jim Peterik’s attention when Jim’s talented niece, Kelly Moulik, brought him to Jim’s studio to sing a duet on a new song that Jim and Kelly had just written called “No Long Goodbyes”. The two of them met at a Dick Clark audition just a few days earlier. “The first moment I heard Toby on mic I knew I had come across someone really special.” When Jim’s band, The Ides of March played the Popcorn festival in Toby’s home town of Valparaiso, Indiana about a year later,Toby went up to say hello to Jim and the guys after the show.. This could not have come at a better time. Little did Toby know that Jim was in the beginning stages of planning his own album and was looking for a voice that could perform the powerful new songs that Jim loves to write. They exchanged numbers and rock and roll took it’s course.

With the unconditional love and support of his parents, sister, grandparents, great friends and his best bud through the years, Josh Hrapek, and the influence of the church and a musical family, Toby Hitchcock has come of age (or "to this point in his life"), where his childhood, love and family, the tough lessons of life, and the beauty of music has molded him into one of the most promising male vocalists of this decade.

Erik’s abilities impressed so much Toby that another marriage made in AOR Heaven could not be avoided! Consequently Erik started to write another bunch of amazing songs which have been sung with ability and passion by Toby. “I feel really great about this album release and I am looking forward to it. I can’t wait for people to listen and hopefully enjoy the music that Erik and I put our hearts into. I love every song on the album. Every song is filled with passion and emotion. They are all amazing!” says Toby.

Celebrated rock band "TOTO" will perform a rare concert at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Sunday 26th June, 2011.

In 1976, drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist David Paich, two seasoned Los Angeles-based session musicians, renowned for their work with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs, decided to trim back their session work and form a band of their own. Jeff and David brought in guitarist Steve Lukather and Keyboardist Steve Porcaro.  David Hungate joined as bass guitarist and Bobby Kimball, a singer from Louisiana, was brought in on lead vocals.

After 30 years of playing music together, TOTO released their 12th and most recent studio album, Falling In Between, which, subsequently, received rave reviews.  The album was a true representation of years of musical and life experiences unmatched by most of their colleagues and contemporaries in the music world.  What set Toto apart, was their steadfast adherence to their unique musical vision.

Tickets are available from the 24 hour ticket hotline: 0844 888 9991 or 0844 847 1642.

TOTO will also perform tracks and other noteworthy hits from their twelve studio albums including their eponymous debut album Toto (1978), plus Hydra (1979), Turn Back (1981), Toto IV (1982), Isolation (1984), Fahrenheit (1986), The Seventh One (1988), Kingdom of Desire (1992), Tambu (1995), Mindfields (1999), Through The Looking Glass (2002) and Falling In Between (2006).

In 1976, drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist David Paich, two seasoned Los Angeles-based session musicians, renowned for their work with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs, decided to trim back their session work and form a band of their own. Jeff and David brought in guitarist Steve Lukather and Keyboardist Steve Porcaro.  David Hungate joined as bass guitarist and Bobby Kimball, a singer from Louisiana, was brought in on lead vocals.

After 30 years of playing music together, TOTO released their 12th and most recent studio album, Falling In Between, which, subsequently, receivedrave reviews.  The album was a true representation of years of musical and life experiences unmatched by most of their colleagues and contemporaries in the music world.  What set Toto apart, was their steadfast adherence to their unique musical vision.

TOTO approach each project with an equal dose of seriousness and humor. Falling In Between was a tongue in cheek, self-deprecating view of their fate as a band that appears to never quite fit into your typical mold, falling in between genres of music, in between the cracks of conglomerate label mergers and takeovers, restrictive radio formats and in between the notice of many music critics who misunderstand what and who Toto are.

Who TOTO are, depends entirely on who you ask. Most are aware of TOTO’s history dating back to 1978 with their eponymous debut album, which spawned the hit Hold The Line.  Thanks to their fourth album, aptly titled IV, Toto enjoyed enormous worldwide success with four hit singles including Rosanna and Africa. Whereas the former reached No.2 in the American singles chart, Africa hit the top spot. The album also won the Grammy Award for "Best Album of the Year" and Rosanna won the coveted "Best Record of the Year" award in 1982. Additionally, many songs continue to be sampled by other artists inspiring additional hits such as Jay-Z’s use of “Africa” and Roger Sanchez’ #1 UK hit “Another Chance” which sampled “ I Wont Hold You Back.

TOTO had several hits thereafter selling over 30 million records worldwide and performing in sold out arenas. Nonetheless, many stateside critics panned their success chalking it up to their good musical genes, vast body of session work, and criticized TOTO for several personnel changes over the years.

Although the spotlight in the US may have faded, what remained strong was a very loyal fan base throughout Europe and the rest of the world that has lasted for nearly three decades and crossed generations of new fans.

On August 5, 1992, only a short time before the start of the tour for the Kingdom of Desire album tragedy struck. Jeff Porcaro, while spraying a pesticide in his garden at home, suffered a severe allergic reaction to the chemicals and died from a heart attack. The band, Jeff’s family, friends, fans, and the worldwide music community mourned the passing of a man, who was not only one of the greatest drummers of his generation, but was, as Lukather has consistently said, "a true soul brother" and an incredibly giving and selfless individual.
When Jeff Porcaro unexpectedly passed away, TOTO were confronted with whether or not the band should go on. With the Kingdom of Desire Tour just around the corner and their resolve shaken, TOTO decided to go ahead with the tour because they felt that Jeff would have wanted them to. In selecting a drummer to replace Jeff, the band decided that they wanted someone who would put their own signature to the TOTO sound rather than try to copy Jeff. Steve Lukather suggested Simon Phillips, whom he had remembered from the Beck / Santana Tour. Phillips bravely accepted the task of filling in for Jeff on the Kingdom of Desire Tour.

Flash forward to 1999, TOTO set new standards in tour production with their Mindfields tour. Toto built a strong touring presence year after year in just about every corner of the world. The band demonstrated a sincere love and respect for multiple styles and genres of music that enabled them to deftly cross over and play just about anything.

This led to TOTO being twice invited as headliners of the extremely popular Night of The Proms concert series in Europe, which combines popular with classical music. Visited by more than 600,000 people in 2003, the experience of the shows inspired TOTO to stretch out even further and play a series of shows with various symphonic orchestras. This is what makes them different and fascinating, and why TOTO has outlasted many of their fellow artists.

Despite many set-backs and obstacles TOTO persevered, and welcomed many other musicians to participate, collaborate, and fill in when it was needed or wanted over the years.

In the year 2000, the nucleus of TOTO reunified with the return of original lead singer, Bobby Kimball back into the fold with Steve Lukather (guitar, vocals), David Paich (keyboards, vocals), bassist Mike Porcaro (bass) and Simon Phillips (drums). Never shying away from a great addition to the team in favor of ego, Toto welcomed former Michael Jackson keyboardist and vocalist, Greg Phillinganes, into the fold.

Six years later, when TOTO released their last studio album, Falling In Between in 2006, Steve Lukather said, “From its inception, the album has been a labor of love and a team effort. Falling In Between is fresh, heavier, at times more progressive.  It features some great songs and melodies that embody the classic Toto imprint.”

Fans found more than a few surprises on the record such as former member Steve Porcaro, former singer Joseph Williams’ cameo on a duet with Steve Lukather and special guests including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), the Chicago horn section, Jason Scheff, L. Shenkar (Peter Gabriel), legendary percussionist Lenny Castro, saxophonist Tom Scott, and Roy Hargrove.

TOTO brought their personal best into this project and invited many friends to participate. The result was a record that was a team effort and a joy to make. “If this is the last record we make (and I hope it won’t be),” remarked Lukather, “at least we can walk away knowing we threw down the best we had.”

To commemorate the tour, TOTO released the double live album Falling In Between Live, which represented their fourth live album, following 1993′s Absolutely Live, 1999′s Livefields and 2003′s Live In Amsterdam.  A companion DVD of the concert, filmed in Paris in March 2007, was eventually released in 2008.

Later that same year, on June 5th, after 32 years playing together, Toto officially disbanded.  At that time, with Lukather being the only original member left (Bobby Kimball was also an original member, but was out of the band from 1984–1998 and with David Paich retiring from touring back in 2005), Lukather felt it was time to call it quits. 

TOTO sold over 30 million records, and toured the world ten times. The band and its individual members have recorded with and wrote for artists including Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Joe Satriani, Lionel Richie, Don Henley, Alice Cooper and many more.

In October 2009, the individual founding musicians of TOTO were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and David Hungate were present, with Mike Porcaro’s and Jeff Porcaro’s family members accepting their awards in absentia.

On February 26, 2010, TOTO reunited for a brief tour of Europe in the summer to benefit Mike Porcaro, who has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).  The lineup featured David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and special guest Nathan East.

“With Mike not being well,” said Lukather, “and some of us missing each other, the real high school friends decided to get back together for the right reason.”  Continues Lukather, “People wanted to hear the hits played the way they were recorded.  We thought it would be fun to perform a few gigs once in a while, and the fans would love it as well.”

Lukather also said that they went on with Joseph Williams because they wanted to try something different and that he didn’t have any bad feelings towards Bobby Kimball. TOTO will continue with the current line-up.

On Tuesday June 21st, Toto start their European tour at Forest National in Brussels, Belgium.

On Sunday July 17th, TOTO’s concert at Castello Scaligero Di Villafranca in Verona, Italy, will be filmed for an upcoming DVD and bonus CD, be released in October 2011.

Blue legend “B.B. King” will perform three UK concerts in Manchester, Edinburgh and London next week.  The concerts mark King’s first UK appearances in over 2 years.

With his London and Edinburgh concerts already sold out, tickets are still left for the opening night of his tour at the Manchester o2 Apollo on Saturday June 25th.  Dates include – Manchester O2 Apollo (Saturday 25th June), Edinburgh Playhouse (Sunday 26th June – SOLD OUT) and London Royal Albert Hall (Tuesday 28th June – SOLD OUT).

Manchester Apollo tickets are available from 0844 888 9991 , www.ticketline.co.uk, www.ticketmaster.com.  Special guest is singer/songwriter/pianist Avery Sunshine.

Throughout the 1990′s as well as the 1980′s, 1970′s, 1960′s and 1950′s, there has been only one King of the Blues – Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King.  Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940′s, he has released over 50 albums many of them considered blues classics, like 1965′s definitive live blues album "Live at the Regal", and 1976′s collaboration with Bobby "Blue" Bland, "Together for the First Time".

Over the years, B.B. has had two No.1 R&B hits, 1951′s "Three O’Clock Blues", and 1952′s "You Don’t Know Me", and four No.2 R & B hits, 1953′s "Please Love Me", and 1954′s "You Upset Me Baby", 1960′s "Sweet Sixteen, Part I", and 1966′s "Don’t Answer The Door, Part I".  B.B.’s most popular crossover hit, 1970′s "The Thrill Is Gone" went to #15 pop.

But B.B. King, as well as the entire blues genre, is not radio oriented.  His classic songs such as "Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss", "Caldonia", " How Blue Can You Get", "Everyday I Have The Blues", and "Why I Sing The Blues", are concert (and fan) staples.

Riley B. King was born on September 16, 1925, on a cotton plantation in Itta Bene, Mississippi, just outside the Mississippi delta town of Indianola.  He used to play on the corner of Church and Second Street for dimes and would sometimes play in as many as four towns on a Saturday night.  With his guitar and $2.50, he hitchhiked north to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1947 to pursue his musical career.  Memphis was the city where every important musician of the South gravitated and which supported a large, competitive musical community where virtually

every black musical style was heard.  B.B. stayed with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most renowned rural blues performers of his time, who schooled B.B. further in the art of the blues.

B.B.’s first big break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis.  This led to steady performance engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis and later to a ten minute spot on black staffed and managed radio station WDIA.  "King’s Spot", sponsored by Pepticon, a health tonic, became so popular that it was increased in length and became the "Sepia Swing Club".  Soon, B.B. needed a catchy radio name.  What started out as Beale Street Blues Boy was shortened to Blues Boy King, and eventually B.B. King.  Incidentally, King’s middle initial "B" is just that, it is not an abbreviation.

In the mid-1950′s while B.B. was performing at a dance in Twist, Arkansas, a few fans became unruly.  Two men got into a fight and knocked over a kerosene stove, setting fire to the hall.  B.B. raced outdoors to safety with everyone else, but then realized that he left his $30 guitar inside, so he rushed back inside to retrieve it, narrowly escaping death.  When he later found out that the fight had been over a woman named Lucille, he decided to give the name to his guitar.  Each one of B.B.’s guitars since that time have been called Lucille.

Soon after his number one hit, "Three O’Clock Blues", B.B. began touring nationally, and he has never stopped, performing an average of 275 concerts a year.  in 1956 B.B. and his band played an astonishing 342 one night stands.  From the chitlin circuit with its small town cafes, ghetto theatres, country dance halls, and roadside joints to jazz clubs, rock palaces, symphony concert halls, college concerts, resort hotels and prestigious concert halls nationally and internationally, B.B. has become the most renowned blues musician of the past 40 years.

B.B.’s technique is nonetheless complex; featuring delicate filigrees of single string runs punctuated by loud chords, subtle vibratos, and "bent" notes.  The technique of rock guitar playing is to a large degree derived from B.B.’s playing.

In the army, B.B. was introduced to the music of such guitarists as Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker.  "I heard an electric guitar that wasn’t playing spiritual", recalls B.B.  "It was T-Bone Walker doing "Stormy Monday", and that was the prettiest sound I think I ever heard in my life.  That’s what really started me to play the blues".

Over the years, B.B. has developed one of the world’s most readily identified guitar styles.  He borrowed from Lonnie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and others, integrating his precise vocal like string bends and his left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of rock guitarist’s vocabulary.  His economy, his every note counts phrasing, has been a model for thousands of players including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jeff Beck.

B.B. has mixed traditional blues, jazz, swing, mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound.  His singing is richly melodic, both vocally and in the "singing" that comes from his guitar.  In B.B’s words, "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille".

"I’m trying to get people to see that we are our brother’s keeper, I still work on it.  Red, white, black, brown, yellow, rich, poor, we all have the blues".

"From my own experience, I would say to all people but maybe to young people especially black, white or whatever colour, follow your own feelings and trust them; find out what you want to do and do it and then practice it every day of your life and keep becoming what you are despite any hardships and obstacles you meet".

"I’m me,” B.B. told Time Magazine in 1969, "blues is what I do best.  If Frank Sinatra can be the best in his field, Nat King Cole in his, Bach and Beethoven in theirs, why can’t I be great and known for it, in blues?"

Sidney A. Seidenberg, B.B.’s former manager, likens B.B. to Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.  "B.B.’s goals have always been to be like an American Ambassador of blues music to the world, like Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra are to the jazz world.  B.B. is still the King of the Blues".

In 1967, B.B. performed at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival, a portion of which was later aired over PBS TV.  In 1968, B.B. played at the Newport Folk Festival and at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West on bills with the hottest contemporary rock artists who idolised King and helped cross him over to young white audiences.

B.B. has influenced Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Rush, Johnny Winter, Albert King and many others while being influenced by Charles Brown, Lowell Fulsom, Elmore James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jimmy Rushing, T-Bone Walker, Bukka White and others.

In 1969, B.B. was chosen by the Rolling Stones to open 18 American concerts for them; Ike and Tina Turner also played on 18 shows.  B.B. also made the first of his numerous appearances on Johnny Carson’s "The Tonight Show".  In 1970, B.B. premiered in Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace and at the Royal Box in the American Hotel in New York City as well as on the Ed Sullivan Show.

In the early 1970′s, B.B. toured Ghana, Lagos, Chad and Liberia under the auspices of the United States State Department. 

In 1989, King toured Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, West Germany, Holland and Ireland for three months as a special guest of U2.  King is featured in "When Love Comes To Town" on U2′s album "Rattle and Hum".  Starting in 1992, King has headlined the Blues Music Festival of American amphitheatres.

On February 23, 1990 PBS started televising "All Day & All Night: Memories From Beale Street Musicians", which featured B.B. King and captured the lifestyles of musicians who performed on Beale Street (Memphis, TN) from the 1920′s to the 1950′s when being on Beale Street was like "living in paradise".  King recalled on the TV special that Beale Street was "a place to learn, to make friends.  It was a little world all of your own.  There were always musicians who were willing to help you if you wanted to learn".  And King and Rufus Thomas recalled Amateur Night at the Palace Theatre where "anyone who could carry a tune got a dollar for going on stage".

In 1990, King and Ray Charles co-headlined the Philip Morris Superband five continent world tour.  The final concert was recorded and "Live at the Apollo" became King’s first big band album.  In 1991, King headlined the Philip Morris Superband International Tour again with Diane Reeves featured.  And in 1991 King participated in the all-star Guitar Legends concert in Seville, Spain, where practically every guitar hero performed.

In 1990 King Received the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1991 the Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from Gibson Guitar Company.  In 1989, King’s imprint was added to the Amsterdam, Holland Walk of Fame and in 1991 to the Hollywood Walk of Fame (between Milton Berle and Vivian Leigh).  In 1973, King received the B’nai Brith Humanitarian Award from the Music and Performance Lodge of New York.

In 1990, King received the prestigious Presidential Medal of the Arts in Washington, D.C. with President Bush presiding.  In 1991, King received the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts.  In 1995, King received the Kennedy Centre Honours.

Over the years, B.B. has been bestowed eight Grammy Awards by his peers:  Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Male in 1970 for "The Thrill Is Gone", Best Ethnic or Traditional recording in 1981 for "There Must Be A Better World Somewhere", and Best Traditional Blues Recording in 1983 for "Blues ‘N Jazz" and in 1985 for "My Guitar Sings The Blues" from "Six Silver Strings". 

In 1970, King’s "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" won for Best Album Cover, an art director’s award.  In 1989 King received two more nominations:  Best Contemporary Blues Recording "King Of The Blues 1989", and Best Rock Performance by a duo or group with vocal for "When Love Comes To Town" with U2 from U2′s "Rattle And Hum".  In 1990 King received another Grammy for the album "Live at San Quentin" as Best Traditional Blues Recording.  In 1991, King was bestowed Best Traditional Blues Recording for "Live at the Apollo" and in 1993 the same award for "Blues Summit". 

In 1996, with Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughn, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Art Neville, King received the Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "SRV Shuffle" from A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

B.B. King was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, where Sting of the Police made the induction speech.  B.B. was the recipient of the 1986 National Association For Campus Activities Hall of Fame Award.  B.B. was Blues Act of the Year in 1985, 1987, and 1988 Performance Award Polls.  King is a founding member of the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Centre.  He received the Grammy "Lifetime Achievement Award" in Dec 1987 at the first televised awards in May 1990. 

He won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Blues Foundation in 1997.   B.B. has received four honorary doctorates:  Tougaloo (Mississippi) College (L.H.D.) in 1973; Yale University (D. Music) in 1977; Berklee College of Music (D. Music) in 1982; and Rhodes College of Memphis (D. Fine Arts) in 1990.  In 1992 he received the National Award of Distinction from the University of Mississippi.

On May 3, 1991, "B.B. King’s Blues Club" opened in Memphis, and also at the Universal City Walk in Los Angeles in 1994, and although King resides in Las Vegas, he plans to play at his clubs at least four times a year.  A B.B. King Blues Club will open in New York’s Times Square’s E-Walk in early 2000.

In 1996, the CD ROM "On the Road with B.B. King: An Interactive Autobiography" was released to rave reviews. Also in 1996, B.B. King’s autobiography "Blues All Around Me"  (written with David Ritz) (Avon) was published and won second prize in the prestigious Eighth Annual Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Awards.  The biography "The Arrival of B.B. King" by Charles Sawyer was published in 1980 by Doubleday.

In November 1997, MCA released B.B. King’s album Deuces Wild with B.B. in tandem with 13 legendary artists.  The line-up included Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Joe Cocker, Tracy Chapman, Mick Hucknall (Simply Red), Dr. John, Marty Stewart, D’Angelo, David Gilmore & Paul Carrick and Heavy D.  Deuces Wild became B.B. King’s second gold album.

In 1999, B.B. King released Let the Good Times Roll, his tribute to Louis Jordan.  "Louis Jordan was a great musician," says King, "and in my opinion, was way ahead of his time.  As people get to know him, they will realize what a great contribution he left to the music of today."

John Robb, music journalist and frontman of Goldblade and punk rock legends the Membranes, has teamed up with Labour MP Kerry McCarthy to lobby the Government for fair access to the USA for British musicians.

The pair are meeting with Culture Minister Ed Vaizey  next week to enlist the support of the Government in calling for a change to the US visa system, which has constrained the ability of UK musicians to travel and work in the USA.

John Robb said, “The special relationship between the UK and the USA has been the backbone of international post-war pop culture. The shared influences, pool of creativity and flow of ideas have been crucial to what is one of the biggest industries in the world.

“That flow is currently being hampered by the expensive and unworkable US visa situation for British bands. It’s a situation that is getting worse.”

The campaign is backed by organisations such as the Musicians’ Union, the Association of Independent Music and the Association of British Orchestras.  It has also had extensive input from UK Music, UKTI and the Traffic Control Group, as well as individual record labels, management companies and musicians.

Kerry McCarthy said, “Since I first raised this issue in Parliament in March, I was surprised by the responses from right across the UK music industry. They confirmed that this is a real difficulty for musicians and that it is becoming more and more critical.

“We hope the Government will speak  up on behalf of British musicians to  encourage USCIS (the US Citizenship and Immigration Services) and the US Embassy to address this issue.”

John Robb added: “In the past few years the American visa situation has tightened up and become far more expensive till we have a situation where getting a British group into America can cost up to £2700, and that’s not counting travel and accommodation expenses for bands outside London who have to travel for the 8 o’clock in the morning London American embassy interview."

"The forms that have to be filled in are very difficult to understand and lots of the money has to be spent on an American agency processing the forms. There have been endless examples of British bands, some very high profile, having to reschedule or cancel tours in the last year. And if a visa application fails, they don’t get any of the money back."

“American bands find it far cheaper and easier to travel and work in UK. What we need is a fairer and friendlier system that will break down the barriers, and let us do what we want to do, which is play music”.