Yo-Yo Ma, Kathryn Stott Debut ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ Cover

Courtesy: Sony Masterworks/Masterworks Music

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott debuted the latest single from their latest album this week.

The duo unveiled its take on the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone‘ Friday. The song was originally featured in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel. The duo’s cover is featured in its 2020 album Songs of Comfort & Hope.

Ma discussed the pair’s cover in a prepared statement.

“As alienating and isolating as life has felt this past year, the day will come when communities can join together once more: in celebration, in grief, in hope, in music,” said Ma. “The refrain ‘Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone’ is truly an anthem for this time.”

Stott expanded on Ma’s comments with her own statements.

“When Yo-Yo and I got together a few months ago,” said Stott, “we were determined to find a way to help support our colleagues in what is essentially the bleakest of times for the musical profession. ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has always been such an iconic song, but during the pandemic has taken on even greater significance.”

Ma and Stott’s take on the song stays largely true to its source material, which itself was a very mournful song sung after Billy Bigelow died near the story’s end. The pairing of Ma’s work on cello and Stott’s performance on the piano is powerful in its own right.

More information on Songs of Comfort & Hope and other titles from Masterworks Music is available along with all of the label’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.sonymasterworks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonyMasterworks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonymasterworks

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Raffi Debuts ‘Baby Beluga’ Video Featuring Fan Art

Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR

As the 40th anniversary celebration of Raffi’s beloved song ‘Baby Beluga’ continues this year, the famed family entertainer is marking the occasion in yet another new way.

Raffi debuted a video featuring fan art inspired by the song on Monday set against the song.  The artwork came from more than 40 fans and features images of the little whale in a variety of situations, such as carrying a guitar, swimming beneath the waves as the moon and stars shine above, and with what is assumed to be its mother in others.

The rendition of the song featured in the new video is the original take of the song, complete with saxophone, muted trumpet and light brush against snare.

Raffi partnered with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma in July to craft an updated take on ‘Baby Beluga.’  The duo recorded the song separately due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic..  the contest for the new artwork-driven video was announced in July when the duo debuted their performance of the song.

Proceeds from sales of the single are benefitting the grassroots organization The Climate Mobilization.  The agency works daily to address climate change on a global level.

In other news, Raffi has opened his first official store.  The store offers audiences, a variety of ‘Baby Beluga’ bundles.  One of the bundles features the Baby Beluga book — from Knopf/Random House Children’s Books — which was recently re-issued with updated cover, along with two other books, Wheels on the Bus and Down By The Bay.

A Baby Beluga board game is also available through the store.  The game teaches social-emotional learning for young players.  Raffi’s albums are also available through the store.

More information on Raffi’s new store and ‘Baby Beluga’ performance is available online now along with all of his latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.raffinews.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Raffi.Cavoukian

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Raffi_RC

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Raffi, Yo-Yo Ma Release ‘Baby Beluga’ Audio Recording

Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR

Family entertainer Raffi and cellist Yo-Yo Ma have partnered to address climate change.

The duo officially released today, the audio recording of its performance of Raffi’s timeless song ‘Baby Beluga.’  The song’s debut comes less than a month after the pair debuted the video for its performance of the classic kids’ tune.

The audio recording is available to stream and download here.  All proceeds from downloads will benefit The Climate Mobilization.  The agency works daily to address climate change on a global level.

In related news, Raffi has launched a contest for audiences of all ages to submit their own drawings for his upcoming video for the new ‘Baby Beluga’ update.  Audiences can submit sketches of Beluga whales or anything that inspires them for possible inclusion in the video.  Fans can submit their artwork here.

In other news, Raffi has opened his first official store.  The store offers audiences, a variety of ‘Baby Beluga’ bundles.  One of the bundles features the Baby Beluga book — from Knopf/Random House Children’s Books — which was recently re-issued with updated cover, along with two other books, Wheels on the Bus and Down By The Bay.

A Baby Beluga board game is also available through the store.  The game teaches social-emotional learning for young players.  Raffi’s albums are also available through the store.

More information on Raffi’s new store and ‘Baby Beluga’ performance is available online now along with all of his latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.raffinews.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Raffi.Cavoukian

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Raffi_RC

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Yo-Yo Ma Joins Raffi To Celebrate Song’s 40th Anniversary

Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR

World-renowned entertainers Raffi and Yo-Yo Ma have partnered to present a new take of Raffi’s timeless song ‘Baby Beluga‘ to celebrate the song’s 40th anniversary.

Originally premiered in 1980, the new updated performance features the legendary musicians performing the song in their homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Where the original song was mainly a focus on environmentalism, this updated take featured Raffi adding a focus on social justice, peace and diversity.

The video of the performance is streaming through Raffi’s official YouTube Channel.  The song will be available to download by itself later this month.  Proceeds from sales of the single will benefit the grassroots organization The Climate Mobilization.  The agency works daily to address climate change on a global level.

In related news, Raffi has launched a contest for audiences of all ages to submit their own drawings for his upcoming video for the new ‘Baby Beluga’ update.  Audiences can submit sketches of Beluga whales or anything that inspires them for possible inclusion in the video.  Fans can submit their artwork here.

In other news, Raffi has opened his first official store.  The store offers audiences, a variety of ‘Baby Beluga’ bundles.  One of the bundles features the Baby Beluga book — from Knopf/Random House Children’s Books — which was recently re-issued with updated cover, along with two other books, Wheels on the Bus and Down By The Bay.

A Baby Beluga board game is also available through the store.  The game teaches social-emotional learning for young players.  Raffi’s albums are also available through the store.

More information on Raffi’s new store and ‘Baby Beluga’ performance is available online now along with all of his latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.raffinews.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Raffi.Cavoukian

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Raffi_RC

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

Yo-Yo Ma Debuts New Video

Courtesy: Sony Classical

Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma premiered a new video this week.

Ma debuted the video for his performance of Bach’s ‘Cello Suite No.1 in G Major‘ this week via Apple Music.  The performance is taken from Ma’s latest album, 2018’s Six Evolutions — Bach: Cello Suites, which was released Sept. 14 via Sony Classical.

Ma’s new video combines footage from audiences responding to the prompt: “Show the world how you express yourself and what brings your community together.”  The prompt is another forward step in answering the questions posted by the Bach Project, “How does culture connect us, and help us to imagine a better future?”

In accompaniment with the video’s premiere, Ma has also curated a playlist of Bach recordings that shows how Bach’s music transcends generations and cultures. Additionally, a video featuring Ma discussing “Why Bach Matters” is streaming now.

More information on Ma’s new video is available online now along with all of his latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.yo-yoma.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/YoYoMa

Twitter: http://twitter.com/yoyo_ma

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.como/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

PBS Announces Release Date For New Fred Rogers Doc

Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution

Public Media Distribution will release to DVD next month another documentary focused on Fred Rogers and his beloved series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like was released digitally Sept. 3 and is currently scheduled to be released on DVD Oct. 2. The hour-long documentary, which originally aired on PBS and not to be confused with the other Fred Rogers documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, is a retrospective on Fred Rogers and his beloved series.

Veteran actor Michael Keaton (Batman, Baman Returns, Spiderman: Homecoming) serves as host for the heartwarming documentary.  It also features interviews from other well-known figures, such as Yo-Yo Ma, John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, The World According to Garp, Interstellar), Whoopi Goldberg (The View, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ghost) and others.

Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like was produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of my Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, A Raising in the Sun Revisited).  Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions executive produced.

Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like will retail for MSRP of $19.99 and can be pre-ordered now at a reduced price of $14.99 at PBS’ online store.  More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.pbs.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pbs

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pbs

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” It.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.