Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs unite for tour

Distinguished readers, ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to be rolling out the red carpet for the royal sounds of “The Dukes”… GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriters Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs are uniting this summer and fall to tour as “The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue.” The three hit-making artists have assembled a stellar band for the occasion, and will bring the best of their mix of blue-eyed soul, rock, jazz and R&B to the stage in a series of collaborative concerts. “The Dukes of September” will launch their nationwide “Rhythm Revue” on August 19th at the Charles Ives Center in Danbury, CT, and will continue across the country throughout the fall, before wrapping on October 2nd at The Joint in Las Vegas, NV.

Donald Fagen explains the genesis of the tour, “Back in the early ‘90s, my wife (Libby Titus) was producing little shows in Manhattan restaurants featuring mostly friends - musicians, comedians and so on. This grew into ‘The New York Rock & Soul Revue’ which toured nationally for two years and produced an album, Live at the Beacon Theater. The 1993 show featured, among others, Mike McDonald, Boz Scaggs and myself. The shows were such a blast that we decided to tour together again this year as the mighty ‘Dukes of September.’ We'll be playing the kind of R&B tunes that made us want to be musicians way back when, as well as select numbers from our personal repertoires. We've enlisted a swell group of players and singers - in fact, I'm so excited that I just can't hide it. Be there or be square, chillin'.”

Boz Scaggs continues, “This time around, we're going a little farther afield with our trio, but the setlist in progress reflects the basic approach which is: out of the hundreds of songs we've picked out of the hat, what are the gems and how can we fit it all into a two hour show? How about Mike McDonald singing ‘Hurt So Bad’ by Little Anthony or doing Ray's ‘Tell the Truth’ or Donald Fagen doing David Ruffin's "My Whole World Ended"? And I might get to do Mink DeVille's ‘Cadillac Walk’ or some Curtis Mayfield. What I know for sure is that I'll have the best seat in the house.”

Michael McDonald states, “The music of Donald Fagen (with Walter Becker) and Boz Scaggs figures heavily in memories of my early years in California. Having the privilege to take the stage with them, two of my all time favorite artists, is one thing; but because they're guys that I've shared such an ongoing history with, this makes it all the more special for me. I only hope it's nearly as much fun for the audience.”

With this year’s “The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue,” Fagen, McDonald and Scaggs are giving fans an unprecedented opportunity to hear them delve deep into their individual classic catalogs of music, along with selected hits and tributes to their influences accompanied by a crack group of top players including Jon Herington (guitar); Freddie Washington (bass); Michael White (drums); Michael Leonhart, Walt Weiskopf and Jay Collins (horns); Jim Beard (organ); plus background singers Carolyn Escoffery and Catherine Russel.

Tickets go on sale to the public beginning June 18. Fans should check local listings for updated tour and ticketing information.


“The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue” 2010 Tour

August 19 Danbury, CT Charles Ives Center
August 20 Atlantic City, NJ The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
August 22 Loudon, VA Belmont Country Club
August 25 Charlotte, NC Roadrunner Mobile Amphitheatre
August 26 Atlanta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
August 28 Raleigh, NC Raleigh Amphitheatre
August 29 Richmond, VA Innsbrook Pavilion
August 31 Boston, MA Wang Theatre

September 2 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
September 3 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Theatre
September 6 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
September 8 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
September 10 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion
September 11 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
September 14 Council Bluffs, IA Mid-America Center
September 15 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
September 17 Tunica, MS Harrah’s Tunica
September 18 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
September 27 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
September 29 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

October 1 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Park
October 2 Las Vegas, NV The Joint

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