Humorist David Sedaris heads back to South Florida!

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David edaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today.

David Sedaris is the author “Barrel Fever” and “Holidays on Ice”, as well as collections of personal essays, “Naked”, “Me Talk Pretty One Da”, “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim”, and “When You Are Engulfed in Flames”, each of which became a bestseller. There are a total of seven million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages. He was the editor of “Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories”.

Sedaris' pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in 'The Best American Essays.' His newest book, a collection of fables entitled “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary” (with illustrations by Ian Falconer), was published in September 2010 and immediately hit the NYT Bestseller Fiction List.

He and his sister, Amy Sedaris, have collaborated under the name 'The Talent Family' and have written half-a-dozen plays which have been produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center, and The Drama Department in New York City. These plays include “Stump the Host, Stitches”, “One Woman Shoe”, which received an Obie Award, “Incident at Cobbler's Knob”, and” The Book of Liz”, which was published in book form by Dramatists Play Service.

David Sedaris' original radio pieces can often be heard on This American Life, distributed nationally by Public Radio International and produced by WBEZ. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His most recent 'live' album is "David Sedaris: Live For Your Listening Pleasure", which was released in November 2009.

David Sedaris will be at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida on Tuesday November 1, 2011.

Multi-award winning comedy legend Don Rickles heads to South Florida!

Don Rickles is one of comedy's most famous funnymen and is regarded among the world's top entertainers. For over 50 years, he has appeared in top showrooms in Atlantic City and Las Vegas as well as concert halls throughout the U.S. and abroad.

New York City native Rickles performed in high school plays and at neighborhood dances before starting to work in small nightclubs. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and served in the U.S. Navy. In 1946, he discovered his "calling" by talking directly to the audience and throwing "off the cuff" lines at them. The laughs came and "the rest," as they say, "is history."

A small step forward in Rickles' career occurred in 1957 at a Hollywood nightclub. One night, Frank Sinatra wandered in. The yet unknown Rickles eyed Sinatra and said, "I just saw your movie, 'THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION, and I want to tell you, the cannon was great." And, "Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody." Sinatra doubled up laughing and became one of Rickles' biggest boosters among Hollywood celebrities. Rickles soon became the "in" comic among the Hollywood stars, who flocked to his nightclub engagements to become the targets of his barbs.

He credits his October 7, 1965 appearance on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show as a key night in his rise to fame when his freewheeling performance became the talk of the show business industry and caused nationwide comment among the press and public. Two years later, he appeared on The Dean Martin Show and was so popular, he was invited back. Unbeknownst to him, celebrities also including Danny Thomas, Jackie Cooper, Bob Newhart, Lena Horne, Dean Martin, Ernest Borgnine, Don Adams, Ricardo Montalban, Pat Boone and Bob Hope.

Since that time, he has starred in prime time series for ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX and has appeared with such TV talk show hosts as David Letterman, Jay Leno, Regis Philbin, Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson. In 2008 he received an Emmy for his performance in the highly acclaimed, John Landis-directed documentary “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project”, which debuted on HBO in 2007. The documentary was also honored with an Emmy as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special and is now available on DVD.

Rickles also made his mark in films like CASINO, TOY STORY 1, 2 & 3 for Pixar/Walt Disney Pictures, and the now cult classic, KELLY’S HEROES, as well as early career roles in RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP, RAT RACE and several Annette Funicello/Frankie Avalon “beach movies”. Rickles was recently seen in the TNT television movie THE WOOL CAP, which stars William H. Macy. Additionally, he has starred in live stage productions and, along the way, has had two best-selling comedy albums.

Over the course of his career, Rickles has received numerous accolades and awards including Caesar's Palace's first-ever Laurel Award and the United States Comedy & Arts Festival's 2007 Pinnacle Award. In 2009, TV Land honored him with the "Legend Award."

Well known for his many charitable involvements, Rickles was instrumental in spearheading the Fundraising with Friends for the Barbara and Don Rickles Gymnasium at Sinai Temple in West Los Angeles, California.

Don Rickles will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Wednesday November 30, 2011.

Celebrated singer, songwriter and former teen idol Paul Anka brings in the New Year in South Florida!

Over the five decades, Paul Anka has forged a career that's unlike any other in the history of pop. He's seamlessly made the transition from '50s teen idol to celebrated songwriter to a contemporary torchbearer for all that swings. The multi-talented musician has had a song on Billboard's charts in every decade since 1957 when he was only 17. According to BMI, since the inception of his career, Anka's songs have been performed well over 90 million times worldwide and his LP and single sales collectively number more than 80 million. He's recorded over 126 albums in a wide variety of languages, selling close to 15 million albums, internationally. Anka also has been named the 21st most successful artist in Billboard's history, putting him alongside music greats Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

With well over 900 songs to his credit, Mr. Anka's most memorable are "Put Your Head On My Shoulder”, “Lonely Boy”, "My Way," and the now famous theme from "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."

Plenty of other artists have him to thank for some big hits, too. His impressive body of work includes such titles as "She's a Lady" (for Tom Jones), "Puppy Love" (Donny Osmond’s 1970s remake of Anka’s original), "It Doesn't Matter Any More" (for Buddy Holly) and "Teddy" (for Connie Francis). As for "My Way," which Anka famously turned from a little-known French song into a perennial showstopper for his late friend Frank Sinatra, it can be heard at any given moment in a karaoke bar somewhere on the planet.

Born in 1941 into a tight-knit Lebanese-Canadian family in Ottawa, Anka didn't waste much time getting his life in music started. He sang in the choir at St. Elijah Syrian Orthodox Church and briefly studied piano. He honed his writing skills with journalism courses, even working for a spell at the Ottawa Citizen. By 13, he had his own vocal group, The Bobbysoxers.

In 1956, he released his first single, "Blau-Wile Deverest Fontaine." While not his biggest hit, Anka kept plugging away, going so far to sneak into Fats Domino's dressing room to meet the legend. The following year, he released "Diana," which made him a star. He began penning hits for a variety of popular singers and found himself amongst the 'Cavalcade of Stars' surrounded by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Frankie Lyman, Chuck Berry and even future girlfriend Annette Funicello.

Becoming a junior associate of Sinatra and the Rat Pack had its privileges. By the '70s, the success of "My Way" and a string of hits like "(You're) Having My Baby" confirmed his status as an icon of popular music. His later achievements as a recording artist included "Hold Me 'Til the Morning Comes," a hit duet with Peter Cetera in 1983, the Spanish-language album “Amigos” in 1996, and “Body of Work”, a 1998 duets album that featured Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Tom Jones and daughter Anthea Anka (who is married to TV and film actor Jason Bateman). Anka even co-wrote Michael Jackson's posthumous #1 worldwide hit, "This Is It," which has further cemented his place upon the most prolific and versatile songwriters of any generation.

Anka's most recent albums “Classic Songs, My Way and Rock Swings” (2005) further reinforce his enduring popularity. “Rock Swings” which featured jazzed-up renditions of popular hits like Van Halen's "Jump," Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," Pet Shop Boys' "It's a Sin" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" hit #2 on Billboard's Jazz Chart, sold half-a-million albums worldwide and set a milestone for Anka as being the only artist in history to have a record on Billboard's Top 50 chart for six consecutive decades.

On November 15, Anka will release his newest album, “Songs of December”, on Universal Music.

Paul Anka will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday December 31, 2011

Broadway’s THE ADDAMS FAMILY is finally in South Florida!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. The new tour not only has added 3 new songs to the show but has also been reworked by the creative team making it even better than the Broadway production which is set to close on Broadway on December 31, 2011.

The brand-new 1st National Tour is headlined by Douglas Sills, a Tony Award nominee for THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, and Sara Gettelfinger, last seen on Broadway in A FREE MAN OF COLOR and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, as Gomez and Morticia.

Also on the tour are: Tony Award nominee Martin Vidnovic as Mal Beineke, two-time Tony Award nominee Crista Moore as Alice Beineke, Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester, Pippa Pearthree as Grandma, Tom Corbeil as Lurch, Patrick D. Kennedy as Pugsley, Brian Justin Crum as Lucas Beineke and Cortney Wolfson as Wednesday.

Portraying the ancestors are: Ted Ely, Karla Garcia, Steve Geary, Victoria Huston-Elem, Patrick Oliver Jones, Lizzie Klemperer, Alexandra Matteo, Christy Morton, Brad Nacht, Rebecca Riker, Jonathan Ritter, Roland Rusinek, Geo Seery, Samantha Shafer and Jason Eric Testa.

The tour started performances on September 15 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans and will continue on to over 30 additional major markets across North America.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch with creative consultation by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

The newly revamped touring production (with 3 new songs and polished plot) features lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by ACME Sound Partners and puppetry by Basil Twist. The production also features music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, dance arrangements by August Eriksmoen, hair design by Tom Watson, make-up design by Angelina Avallone and special effects design by Greg Meeh.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center in downtown Miami, Florida thru October 30, 2011 and then at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida from November 8 thru 13, 2011.

The global blockbuster musical MAMMA MIA! is back in South Florida!

Seen by over 45 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, is celebrating over 3,800 performances in its tenth smash hit year at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre and remains among Broadway’s top selling musicals.

The current North American Tour has played over 3,000 performances in over 130 cities with 125 repeat visits. The original West End production of MAMMA MIA! is now in its twelfth year and has celebrated over 4,800 performances in London and the international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities and been seen by 3.6 million people. The blockbuster 2008 feature film adaptation of MAMMA MIA! (starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper), produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide.

For those curious ones… the story concerns an independent, single mother, Donna, who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island and is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

MAMMA MIA! is currently at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida until Sunday October 30, 2011.

Josh Groban brings his STRAIGHT TO YOU Tour to South Florida!

This time Josh Groban isn't playing coy by releasing only two or three dates while talking up his world tour. He recently revealed the entire North American run, which launched in the Big Easy during the second week of May 2011.

Groban talked about his world tour while making a Valentine's Day appearance on NBC TV's TODAY SHOW several months ago.

Supporting his 2010 album, "Illuminations", Groban's STRAIGHT TO YOU Tour began in New Orleans at the Lakefront Arena on May 12; played Houston's Toyota Center on May 14 and stopped in Dallas at the American Airlines Center on May 16. Other cities included (and include) Tulsa (May 20), Kansas City (May 25), Raleigh (June 11), Minneapolis (July 8), Toronto (July 18), Pittsburgh (August 3), Milwaukee (August 9), Denver (August 12), Seattle (August 27), Edmonton (September 2), Tampa (October 28) and Providence (November 9). Last show on the itinerary is scheduled for November 14 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

The game plan calls for Groban to deliver an intimate theater fell despite playing arenas and will incorporate stage design, lighting and projection with spontaneous elements including soliciting feedback from fans regarding set-list selections, etc.

Josh Groban will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday October 26, 2011.

Don King brings his Cruiserweight World Championship Boxing back to South Florida!

Don King returns to Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with a fight card headlined by a Cruiserweight World Championship pitting World Boxing Association titleholder Guillermo "El Felino" Jones (37-3-2, 29 KOs) against WBA No. 14-ranked cruiserweight Mike Marrone (20-3, 15 KOs), from Vero Beach, Florida.

Don King, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, has stacked the card with South Florida favorites including Miami's Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez, the United States Boxing Organization junior middleweight champion, facing Elco "The Animal" Garcia (25-7, 12 KOs), from Guachochi, Mexico; undefeated Cuban prospect Angelo "La Cobra" Santana (11-0, 8 KOs)—now living in Miami—taking on southpaw Broderick Antone (11-11-1, 5 KOs), from Troy, N.Y.; and WBA No. 1-ranked cruiserweight (and mandatory challenger to the champion) Francisco "The Wizard" Palacios (20-1, 13 KOs), a Puerto Rican now living in Orlando, will face an opponent to be named.

"I promoted a big fight at Seminole Hard Rock back in 2007 and everyone had a great time," King, a South Florida resident, said. "It's been too long since I was there, so I'm happy to be bringing another world championship fight card back to this great entertainment venue."

The WBA cruiserweight champion Jones is looking forward to defending his title in the main event.

"I was on Don King's fight card at the Hard Rock in South Florida back in 2007 when Samuel Peter defeated James Toney," Jones said. "It was the year before I won the world title. It will be an honor to defend my belt at Hard Rock Live."

Jones has a great boxing backstory. He began his career at the 147-pound welterweight limit, but it took him adding an astonishing 53 pounds and fighting at the 200-pound cruiserweight limit before he won his first world championship, a 10th-round technical knockout over Firat Arslan in 2008. Jones is a gifted athlete who possesses an uncanny ability to find a way to win in almost every circumstance.

The Panamanian lost a disputed split decision in 2005 to future cruiserweight world champion Steve "USS" Cunningham, but he rebounded to defeat former world champions Kelvin "Concrete" Davis and Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite to earn the right to vie for a world title.

In his last appearance, Jones scored an 11th-round technical knockout over respected former interim WBA cruiserweight world champion Valery Brudov when the two met last year in Panama City, Panama.

His upcoming opponent, Mike Marrone, had a successful amateur career and reeled off 18 consecutive wins at heavyweight before being turned back earlier this year by seasoned professionals like New York State Champion Darrel "King David" Madison on December 17 and former top-ranked heavyweight DaVarryl "Touch of Sleep" Williamson on April 23.

Feeling his power and quick hands might be more effective at cruiserweight, Marrone has taken the risky but opportune move of fighting for a world championship in his first match at the 200-pound limit.

Joey Hernandez has developed a strong South Florida fan base that resulted in back-to-back sellouts in 2009 and 2010 against fellow South Floridian Ed Parades. Hernandez scored the most important win of his career on April 25, defeating the respected Angel Hernandez in that fighter's adopted hometown of Chicago.

Hernandez expects a tough challenge from Mexican Elco Garcia whose nickname is "The Animal." The match is set for 12 rounds.

Francisco Palacios, born in New York but raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and now living and fighting out of Orlando, has fought many times in South Florida. His last match took place in Poland on April 2 and ended in controversy.

Palacios had earned the right to appear in his first world title match against WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarzcyk, a Pole fighting in his home country. Palacios fell victim to what he and many others felt was a hometown split-decision loss. The WBC was concerned enough that they left Palacios as their No. 1-ranked cruiserweight and mandatory challenger to the champion, but they allowed Wlodarzczyk a voluntary defense. He will take on Danny Green on November 30, a respected former light heavyweight champion, but the WBC has ordered the winner of Wlodarzcyk vs. Green to next face Palacios.

Another emerging local fighter appearing on the card has been creating a national buzz among sportswriters and boxing aficionados. He is undefeated WBA FEDCARIBE super lightweight regional champion Angelo Santana. He washed up on the shores of Miami in a makeshift boat in 2007. A heralded Cuban amateur, he has advanced to 11-0 as a professional.

Santana made a statement in his last match by defeating a previously undefeated Russian fighter, Ramzan Adaev, when they met in Las Vegas on August 13. Santana raised admiring eyebrows at ringside after a flurry of combinations in the second round led referee Kenny Bayless to halt the match.

Santana will face a slick southpaw from Albany, N.Y., Broderick Antone, in a match scheduled for nine rounds.

Don King’s WBA Cruiserweight World Championship will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday Nov ember 5, 2011.

Enrique Iglesias brings Pitbull and Prince Royce with his EUPHORIA World Tour to South Florida!

After touring the globe with his EUPHORIA World Tour, Enrique Iglesias brings it back to North America with two special appetizing opening acts.

The new tour should more than make up for any disappointment fans might have felt when Iglesias backed out of Britney Spears’ summer tour.

In late March 2011 Spears announced on ABC TV’s “Good Morning America” that she was embarking on a tour with Iglesias. Later that day a representative for Iglesias explained that despite earlier reports, the bilingual singer would not be hitting the road with Britney. Nicki Minaj was brought in to fill his spot on the trek.

Iglesias’ fall U.S. tour kicked-off September 22 in Boston at TD Garden. The run closes out October 22 with a hometown concert in Miami at American Airlines Arena.

Pitbull and Prince Royce are hitting the road with Iglesias as his special guests.

“I’m so excited to go out in the states, and this time with my good friends Pitbull and Prince Royce,” Iglesias said. “It’s going to be a great show and we hope to see all of you out there. This tour will be unforgettable!”

Enrique Iglesias (with Pitbull & Prince Royce) will be at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami, Florida on Saturday October 22, 2011.

Todd Rundgren and Utopia head to South Florida!

As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist (re-designated TR-i), Todd Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music and joins his seminal band Utopia for the first time in more than 35 years.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60s 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 such landmark LPs as “The Hermit of Mink Hollow and A Wizard”, “A True Star”, as well as such hit singles as "I Saw The Light," "Hello It's Me," "Can We Still Be Friends" and "Bang the Drum."

In 1974, he formed Utopia, an entirely new approach to the concept of interactive musicianship. Standout Utopia offerings included “Oops! Wrong Planet”, “Adventures in Utopia”, and “Oblivion”. Along the way, 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 It 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.

His technological innovations include orchestrating the first live nationally broadcast stereo radio concert (by microwave), linking 40 cities around the country (1978), the creation of the first color graphics tablet, licensed to Apple and released as The Utopia Graphics Tablet (1980), the stereo simulcast of the first live national cablecast of a rock concert (on the USA Network) to over 120 radio stations (1981) and the launching of PatroNet, the world's first direct artist subscription service (1998).

His latest 2011 releases are Todd Rundgren's Johnson, a collection of classic Robert Johnson songs and (Re)Production, electronic reworkings of songs he produced for other artists.

Todd Rundgren will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Wednesday November 2, 2011.

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper brings his NO MR. NICE GUY TOUR to South Florida!

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper heads across the U.S. with his new NO MR. NICE GUY TOUR.

The tour coincides with the release of his new “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” album, produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin (who also produced the original “Welcome to My Nightmare” album in 1975). The release features a host of special guests (including the three other surviving members of the original band, "Nightmare" guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner, Alice's touring band, Vince Gill, Rob Zombie, and, most shockingly, Ke$ha) as Alice revisits his legendary nightmares. The original release is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and certified Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence persists today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theatre, television, film and much more.

Without Alice Cooper, there might never have been the New York Dolls, KISS, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Motley Crüe, Slipknot or Rob Zombie ... maybe not even David Bowie, or at least not Ziggy Stardust. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Alice Cooper has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where CNN can present real life shocking images.

Alice Cooper actually began as a band led by its stage-namesake Vincent Furnier. According to band legend, the name came to Furnier during a Ouija board session, where he was told he was the reincarnation of a 17th century witch of the same name. Under Furnier's direction, the band Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical and violent brand of heavy metal that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood, and huge boa constrictors, all coordinated by the heavily made-up Furnier. By that time, Furnier had adopted the name for his androgynous on-stage personality.

In 1971, the band gained notoriety with the gold “Love It to Death”, which featured the #21 hit single "Eighteen"; the album peaked at number 35 and went gold. “Killer”, released late in 1971, was another gold album. “School's Out” was Alice Cooper's breakthrough record, peaking at #2 and selling over a million copies. The title song became a Top Ten hit in the U.S. and a number one single in the U.K. “Billion Dollar Babies”, released the following year, was the group's biggest hit, reaching #1 in both America and Britain; the album's first single, "No More Mr. Nice Guy," became a Top Ten hit in Britain, peaking at #25 in the U.S.

Having officially changed his name to Alice Cooper, Furnier embarked on a similarly theatrical solo career releasing “Welcome to My Nightmare” in 1975. A Top Ten hit, it launched the hit acoustic ballad "Only Women Bleed." “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell” (1976) was another hit, going gold in the U.S.

Personal troubles plagues Cooper, though he persevered making a successful comeback in the late '80s sparked by his appearances in horror films and a series of pop-metal bands that paid musical homage to his classic early records and concerts. “Constrictor” (1986) and “Trash” (1989) returned Cooper to the spotlight with the platinum "Poison." Other releases followed keeping Cooper in the spotlight as did a syndicated radio show, "Nights with Alice Cooper." “Along Came a Spider” (2008) a concept album that told the story of a spider-obsessed serial killer was followed by the live album “Theatre of Death” (2010) along with a download-only EP of redone Cooper classics titled “Alice Does Alice”.

With his influence on rock and roll long since acknowledged, there is little that Alice Cooper hasn't achieved in his remarkable career, including platinum albums, sold-out tours and any number of honors and career achievement awards.

Alice Cooper will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Broadway legends Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen head to South Florida!

Legendary Broadway icon, actress/singer/dancer Chita Rivera, will treat fans to an intimate evening of music, performing songs from her illustrious career including numbers from her most celebrated musicals including WEST SIDEY STORY, CHICAGO, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE RINK and more.

The accomplished performer has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received seven additional Tony nominations.

She recently starred in the Broadway and touring productions of Chita Rivera: A DANCER’S LIFE, a dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele. She recreated her starring role in THE VISIT, the new Kander/Ebb/McNally musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (originally done at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago in 2001). She also starred in the revival of the 2003 Broadway musical NINE with Antonio Banderas.

She trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the American School of Ballet from legendary George Balanchine. Rivera's first appearance (age 17) was in the chorus of Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of WEST SIDE STORY (1957) brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE RINK (Tony Award), Bob Fosse’s original CHICAGO, JERRY’S GIRLS, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of GUYS AND DOLLS, CAN-CAN, SEVENTH HEAVEN and MR. WONDERFUL. She has toured in BORN YESTERDAY, THE ROSE TATTOO, THREEPENNY OPERA, SWEET CHARITY, KISS ME KATE, ZORBA and CAN-CAN with The Rockettes.

Ms. Rivera was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC in December 2002 and is the first Hispanic ever chosen to receive this award. Rivera recently recorded and released a new solo CD entitled “And Now I Swing”.

Few entertainers today are as talented as Ben Vereen. For over 40 years, Ben has showcased his versatility and creativity with legendary performances that transcend time and have been woven into the fabric of this country's artistic legacy.

On Broadway, Ben Vereen has appeared in WICKED, FOSSE, I’M NOT RAPPAPORT, HAIR, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, PIPPIN, GRIND, JELLY’S LAST JAM and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. His role in Bob Fosse’s original 1972 Broadway production of PIPPIN garnered him both the prestigious Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for "Best Actor in a Musical."

Worldwide, Vereen has received international acclaim for his portrayal of Chicken George in the legendary 1976 TV mini-series ROOTS and Louis Armstrong in LOUIS ARMSTRONG: Chicago Style. Ben's television guest appearances include Grey's Anatomy, for which he won the Prism Award, House of Payne, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ, Touched By An Angel, The Nanny, Star Trek - The Next Generation, The Jamie Fox Show and more.

Additional credits include Anne Rice's Feast of All Saints (Showtime), Intruders They Are Among Us (Emmy nomination), Faerie Tale Theatre's Puss N' Boots with Gregory Hines, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island (Golden Globe Nomination) and Lost in London. His own network television shows are Ben Vereen: His Roots (Seven Emmy Awards), Tenspeed and Brownshoe and You Write the Songs. Vereen was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award for his performance in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship. His silver screen credits include Sweet Charity, All That Jazz, Funny Lady (Golden Globe nomination), Why Do Fools Fall in Love and And Then Came Love starring Vanessa William. In the early 90s, he released a number of well-received children's sing-along musical videos.

Vereen's gift of time has benefited many organizations including Ballet Florida, the American Red Cross, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association and the American Heart Association. In 1989, he spearheaded his own organization, Celebrities for a Drug Free America, which raised more than $300,000 for drug rehabilitation centers, educational programs and inner city community-based projects. For his humanitarian contributions, he has received a number of awards including Israel's Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award and a Victory Award. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. In 2001, Medgar Evers College created the Ben Vereen Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts.

Presently, Vereen has a recurring role on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother. Earlier this year, he released his solo CD “Steppin' Out Live with Ben Vereen” and staged a triumphant return to Broadway with his concert Ben Vereen on Broadway at Town Hall.

Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Thursday October 27, 2011.

Toby Keith brings his BULLETS IN THE GUN 2011 Tour to South Florida!

Country music crooner Toby Keith is bringing his BULLETS IN THE GUN 2011 Tour up some of the nation's most popular festivals like the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, the Country Thunder, Summerfest, Jamboree, Frontier Days and the Big Valley Jamboree. Keith has made a big splash in the industry and just recently released his 14th studio album titled “Bullets in the Gun”. The record held onto the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

The singer was recently quoted talking about his new work. He said, "We write the song first. You never know when you write a song if you're going to record." He also noted that as a musician he wants to be seen "drinkin' and raisin' hell and having fun and laughing at me and everybody around me." The video for his Top 20 hit "Trailerhood" is an example of just how much joy Keith draws from his career as a musician. He also mentioned, "… the video we shot in a trailer park outside of Nashville”.

Keith has released thirteen studio albums, two Christmas albums, and multiple compilation albums. He has also charted more than forty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including nineteen Number One hits and sixteen additional Top Ten hits. His longest-lasting Number One hits are "Beer for My Horses" and "As Good as I Once Was” -- at six weeks each.

Toby Keith released his self-titled debut album in 1993 and almost immediately became a sensation on the music scene with the hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy." Several other singles followed immediately in its path, as did a number of studio albums, including "Boomtown", "Dream Walkin'" and "How Do You Like Me Now?!" In fact, the latter album won the honor for Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music.

One of Keith's most popular and also most controversial recordings arrived in the summer of 2002. "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" was made in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks and really hit a note with his fiercely patriotic listeners, while also alienating others who thought it was rough and distasteful. Nevertheless it continued to bring Keith to the forefront and he released a steady string of hit CDs over a short period of time including “That Don't Make Me a Bad Buy” in 2008, and then “American Ride” in 2009.

“Bullets in the Gun” hit the shelves in 2010 and once again show's Keith's determined aggressiveness. Just take a listen to ballads like the title track, "Somewhere Else," "Think About You All of the Time" and "Drive It on Home." Fans of Mr. Keith will no doubt be pleased with this latest release and you will want to see him perform live on stage at one of his upcoming gigs.

Toby Keith will be at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday October 15, 2011.

Jason Bonham brings his LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE to South Florida!

Jason Bonham's LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE will celebrate the life and music of his father - the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. This limited engagement tour will commemorate the 30th anniversary of his father's passing in true epic fashion.

Bonham has partnered with Annerin Productions, the critically acclaimed producers of THE PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE and RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, to create a stunning multimedia concert experience.

As Bonham and his band rock through Led Zeppelin's hallowed catalog, a state-of-the-art sound system and light show enhance the live performance onstage. Giant screens will display futuristic art and mood-setting historical video footage and photos. The stunning atmosphere and powerful live performance take concert-goers through a personal journey into Bonham's past and put them at the center of this spectacular event.
Jason Bonham's LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE features Bonham on drums, Tony Catania on guitar and theremin, Stephen Leblanc on keyboards/pedal steel guitar, Dorian Heartsong on bass and James Dylan on lead vocals.

The band's powerful live performance of Led Zeppelin's classics takes concert-goers through a mesmerizing visual and aural journey as giant backdrops display iconic art, and Bonham's own historical video footage and photos give the show an intimate feel. Show highlights include a heartfelt duet with Jason Bonham performing "Moby Dick" off of Led Zeppelin II alongside his father.

Bonham is honored to perform 20 hand-picked favorites encompassing the band's albums including their 1969 debut Led Zeppelin ("Your Time Is Gonna Come," "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"); 1969's Led Zeppelin II ("Thank You," "Lemon Song"); 1970's Led Zeppelin III ("Celebration Day"); 1970's Led Zeppelin IV ("When The Levee Breaks" and "Rock and Roll"); 1975's Physical Graffiti ("Kashmir") and many more Led Zeppelin favorites.

Jason Bonham's LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Thursday November 17, 2011.

Broadway’s Beatles Tribute show RAIN returns to South Florida!

Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert/show, RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, returns to South Florida.

RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience.

RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting.

From the early hits to later classics (“I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “Hard Day’s Night”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Let It Be”, “Come Together”, “Hey Jude” and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

RAIN is currently at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts thru October 16, 2011.

Irish singing sensation Celtic Thunder brings their HERITAGE Tour to South Florida!

Celtic Thunder is made up of individual vocalist and musicians Ryan Kelly, George Donaldson, Keith Harkin, Damian McGinty, Neil Byrne and Emmet Cahill. From rousing ensemble numbers to solos showcasing each member's vocal style and personality, Celtic Thunder performs powerful ballads popular hits and heartwarming songs of love and loss from across the Celtic music spectrum.

The group debuted in August 2007 at The Helix in Dublin. Accompanied by the Celtic Concert Orchestra under the musical direction of the legendary Phil Coulter, Celtic Thunder has become a household name around the world. Since the group's formation, Celtic Thunder has released six albums and five accompanying live DVD performances including “The Show”, “Act II”, “Take Me Home”, “It's Entertainment”, “Celtic Thunder Christmas” and “Heritage”.

Hailed as Billboard's Top World Music Artist and Top World Imprint of 2009, the phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has achieved sales of over one million units to date. Their mass appeal and devoted fan base continues to grow with impressive statistics to prove it. Celtic Thunder's Official YouTube channel, "Thunder Tube" has seen over 20 million upload views and 920,000 channels.

Their live shows incorporate the use of dramatic lighting, stage settings and choreography set to the theme of the show. Celtic Thunder has performed on the CBS Saturday Show's Second Cup Café, the Today Show, Fox Network, as well as at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama at their St. Patrick's Day celebration. They have also performed for Irish Premier Brian Cowen, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, UN Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, the US troops of the 69th Regiment, and at the opening of a Boston Celtics in TD North Bank Garden game by singing the American national anthem.

Celtic Thunder will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Wednesday October 12, 2011.

Duran Duran bring their ALL YOU NEED IS NOW Tour to South Florida!

Music video pioneers and current worldwide hitmakers Duran Duran are taking their ALL YOU NEED IS NOW Tour along with special guest alternative pop rockers Neon Trees across North America.

One of the most celebrated albums of the band's storied three-decade career, the nine-track, digital-only version of “All You Need is Now” hit #1 on the iTunes Albums Charts in 15 countries before the release of the 14-track LP earlier this year. Produced by Mark Ronson, this 13th studio album coincides with a visual rendition of "Girl Panic!" that reunites supermodels Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen and Yasmin Le Bon.

For the band named after a character in Roger Vadim's 1968 sci-fi classic movie BARBARELLA, the stats are remarkable. Duran Duran has a total of over 80 million records sold, 18 American hit singles, 30 UK Top 30 tunes and a global presence which guarantees them huge concert audiences on five continents. Fusing pop music, art and fashion with a unique sense of style and confidence, Duran Duran single-handedly transformed music video from a gimmicky marketing tool into one of the music industry's most valued assets. With exotic locations, beautiful girls and stunning special-effects, Duran Duran took the visual imperatives of the New Romantic movement to another level.

Formed in Birmingham, England in 1978, Duran Duran's early style incorporated the soul music of their youth, the vibrant New York underground music scene of the 1970s spearheaded by the New York Dolls and Velvet Underground, the iconic art pop of David Bowie and glam bands such as Roxy Music.

Their eponymous debut album sold more than 2.5 million copies in 1981, staying on the charts for an astonishing 118 weeks and spawning the hit single "Planet Earth" and the controversial Godley and Crème directed video, "Girls on Film."

Since then, the band has continuously turned out multi-platinum chart-toppers such as "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Rio" and "Save A Prayer" (from Duran's second album “Rio”), "Is There Something I Should Know" and "The Reflex" (from band's third album, “Seven and the Ragged Tiger”) and "A View to a Kill," (the only James Bond theme tune to make it to #1, an accomplishment that is still unrivaled, today).

Other smash hits and firsts include the title track from “Notorious”, "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone" (from “Duran Duran 2” better known as the “Wedding Album”) and "Electric Barbarella," the first song ever to be sold in a download format across the web.

To date, Duran Duran's extraordinary longevity has been recognized by the MTV Video Music Awards, the BRITS, the Ivor Novellos, the Spanish music industry Ondas and Q magazine's annual Q Awards. Recently, they have been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. They also played a very special one-night-only show for the American Express: Unstaged series, streamed live and directed by iconic filmmaker David Lynch.

Duran Duran will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Tuesday October 11, 2011.

Peter Frampton brings his FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! 35th ANNIVERSARY TOUR to South Florida!

Grammy winning celebrated Peter Frampton has long been a mainstay on the rock scene since his first foray into the studio at 16 with a band called The Herd. Scoring a handful of hits, Frampton was dubbed "The Face of 1968" by the UK press. Just one year later, he formed Humble Pie with ex-Small Faces guitarist Steve Marriott. Five albums and a few hits in – with songs like "30 Days in the Hole," and "I Don't Need No Doctor," Frampton went solo in 1971. He released three studio albums – “Wind of Change” (1971), Frampton's “Camel” (1973) and “Somethin's Happening” (1974) while simultaneously performing live and building a solid fan base.

Frampton achieved a rarefied tier of success with his multi-platinum 1976 album, “Frampton Comes Alive!”, arguably the most successful live recording of all time. In addition to "Baby, I Love Your Way" and "Show Me the Way", the album yielded the smash "Do You Feel Like We Do." To date, it has sold more than 16 million copies and remains an essential staple to any rock and roll collection.

He has also appeared in television shows such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, and The Colbert Report, all with particular mentions of the "talking guitar" effect he made famous in live shows. He served as a technical advisor for Cameron Crowe's autobiographical film, ALMOST FAMOUS, where he also appears briefly as a road manager for Humble Pie, Frampton's real-life former band.

His latest album is the critically acclaimed “Thank You Mr. Churchill”.

The FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! 35^th ANNIVERSARY TOUR is a three hour-plus show that features a complete performance of “Frampton Comes Alive!” along with highlights from Frampton's catalog, including his Grammy Award-winning instrumental album, 2006's “Fingerprints”.

Peter Frampton will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Sunday October 9, 2011.