"Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin" Out February 26

Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin on Friday, February 26, 2016. Willie Nelson's new album of pop standards, penned Willie Nelson was honored in November 2015 with a two-day celebration in Washington, DC, culminating in a star-studded tribute concert (scheduled for broadcast on PBS on January 15, 2016).

by America's legendary songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin, follows the selection of Willie as the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The first country artist ever to receive the distinguished Gershwin Prize,

President Jimmy Carter, who was unable to attend the concert, wrote in a letter read by host Don Johnson to the crowd that Nelson's music has "enriched the lives of people far and wide for decades" and that the songwriter is truly worthy of this "prestigious and well-deserved award."

"To get a Gershwin award for anything is great but to get one for songwriting is especially great because Ira and George Gershwin were just fantastic writers. They wrote some of the greatest songs ever," said Willie Nelson in response to receiving the Gershwin Prize. "The Gershwin songs have been here for many many years. When I was just a small guy, I remember hearing all these great Gershwin songs and they'll be around forever because great music like that just does not go away."

Willie Nelson's distinctive down home delivery and heartfelt vocal stylings mesh perfectly with the exquisite construction, unforgettable melodies and sublime romance of the Gershwin brothers' songs especially selected for Summertime.

An American in Paris Original Cast Recording Announced for Album Release

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY proudly announces the signing of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of An American in Paris. Produced by Rob Fisher and Scott Lehrer, the album will be recorded on April 20 in anticipation of a June 2 release. 

 

The score of An American In Paris includes the songs “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not For Me,” “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise,” and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “Second Prelude,” “Second Rhapsody/Cuban Overture” and “An American In Paris.”

 

An American In Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning film and opens on Broadway on April 12, 2015.  An American In Paris brings this classic tale to Broadway for the first time with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Tony nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Craig Lucas.