Greetings! In celebration of Bill Withers’ recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the brilliant iconic song craftsman and soulful vocalist returns for a tribute concert in his honor Oct. 1 at the same hallowed venue at which he performed and recorded the seminal “Live at Carnegie Hall.”
The guest initial lineup includes Ed Sheeran, D’Angelo, Aloe Blacc, Sheryl Crow, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Gregory Porter, Kathy Mattea, Ledisi, Dr. John and more. Legendary musician and recent Emmy winner Greg Phillinganes is musical director.
The classic recording will be performed in its entirety with additional Withers classics. Withers himself will be in attendance and participating. The show benefits the Stuttering Association for the Young and is already sold out.
THEATER
The Gathering UPHI 2015, featuring Kelly Price, seven-time Grammy-nominated gospel and R&B singer and songwriter, Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. United Palace House of Inspiration, 4140 Broadway at 175th St. For information, call 212-568-6700 or visit unitedpalace.org.
“Hamilton: An American Musical” Lin-Manuel Miranda takes the stage as the unlikely Founding Father determined to make his mark on a new nation as hungry and ambitious as he is. An astonishing new musical exploration of a political mastermind, Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, NYC 10036. For information, call (800) 276-2392 or visit: boxoffice.broadway.com
“The Gin Game,” featuring James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson, at the John Golden Theater, 252 W. 45th St., Previews run Oct. 1 to 3, with the run ending Oct. 31. For information, call 800-BROADWAY or visit broadway.com.
Taye Diggs (“Private Practice,” “The Best Man,” “Rent”) returns to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning, gender-bending, fourth wall-smashing musical sensation “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” now through Oct. 11 at the Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. For information, visit www.hedwigbroadway.com.
MUSIC
City Parks Foundation and Capital One Bank have announced a private, free, exclusive concert for Capital One Bank customers only, featuring the Roots with special guests Thursday, Oct. 8 at SummerStage in Central Park. Visit www.summerstage.org for festival information.
The Whispers, Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For information, visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com or call 212-997-4144.
Smokey Robinson, Sunday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Stevie Wonder, in a historic, one-night-only event, presents “Songs in the Key of Life,” Sunday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m., XL Center, One Civic Center, Hartford, Conn. For information, call 8600249-6333 or email xlcenterinfo@xlcenter.com.
Stevie Wonder, in a historic, one-night-only event, presents “Songs in the Key of Life,” Wed, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit ticketmaster.com.
War, Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For information, visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com or call 212-997-4144.
The world famous Apollo Theater kicks off its 2015-2016 season with “Amateur Night,” “Apollo Music Cafe” and “and Breakin’ Convention,” an international festival of hip-hop theater and more. Visit www. apollotheater.org.
Patti LaBelle, Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. at the State Theater, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. For more information, call 732-246-7469 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Join Martha Wash, Linda Clifford and Evelyn Champagne King, the “First Ladies of Disco,” as they discuss their recent Billboard Top 10 hit “Show Some Love” and their debut appearance at Joe’s Pub, Oct. 16 and 17.Visit joespub.publictheater.org/en/tickets/calendar.
Musiq Soulchild, Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For information, visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com or call 212-997-4144.
Raheem DeVaughn and Leela James present “The Love & Soul Experience,” Friday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m., Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St. For information, call 212-531-5305 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Mint Condition, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For information, visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com or call 212-997-4144.
Mary J. Blige, Sunday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 NorwichWesterly Road, Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Tyler Perry’s “Madea on the Run,” Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21 at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464
or visit ticketmaster.com.
Stevie Wonder, in a historic, one-night-only event, presents “Songs in the Key of Life,” Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, Seventh Ave. and 32nd Street, New York City. For more information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMMUNITY
The 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, with the theme “Justice or Else!” is returning to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., Oct. 11.Visit justiceorelse.com for more information. Get on the bus!
The Harlem Harvest Festival, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is set for A. Phillip Randolph Square, located on St. Nicholas Ave., between 116th and 117th Streets, hosted by DJ Stormin’ Norman. It’ll be fun for the whole family, with food, music, a farmers’ market, arts and crafts, kid’s yoga class, adult yoga class, NYPD rock climbing wall, the Bubble Man, salsa, cook-off, bake-off and more!
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com.WLIB.com and iHeartRadio. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: “The Global Black Experience” and “The Global Beat Experience,” Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both shows are archived online at www.wbai.org. To contact us for bookings or to reach us about your event or for comments, email igbexp@gmail.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.