1980 DIANA ROSS ALBUM, DIANA ORIGINAL CHIC MIX NOW ON VINYL!

LEGENDARY 1980 DIANA ROSS ALBUM, DIANA – 

THE ORIGINAL CHIC MIX, 

GETS ITS FIRST-EVER VINYL RELEASE, 

ON TWO-45rpm DISCS, AVAILABLE NOW

Rare Tracks Previously Appeared On 2003 diana: deluxe edition CD release

Los Angeles, CA – April 21, 2017 – Sought after by collectors and considered the rarest of Motown’s rare grooves, Diana Ross’ diana – the original CHIC mix, will make its long-awaited debut on vinyl on April 21, on Motown/UMe/UMGI, with a twist: it will be a double-LP set on pink vinyl at 45rpm for maximum fidelity. This edition of diana includes alternate-mix versions of such classics as “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out,” as envisioned by Chic’s Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards.

Following 1979’s collaboration with Ashford & Simpson, which produced her hit “The Boss,” Diana Ross sought a new sound and hired the hot Chic team of Rodgers and Edwards to compose, play on and produce her next release. But she and Motown were dissatisfied with the too-Chic-like results, a feeling supported by influential disc jockey Frankie Crocker, who warned Ross the record might fall prey to the disco backlash at the time. Ross turned to Motown’s house engineer, Russ Terrana, the man behind her Supremes and solo hits and much more, and he proceeded to remix the entire album, using alternate vocals or placing her vocals more upfront, creating overall a smoother, “commercial” mix. “Our concept was to make it more avant-garde,” Nile Rodgers later told writer Brian Chin, “and their concept was to make it a little bit more accessible.” The revised diana, her tenth studio album, was released – with a striking, now iconic cover image – on May 22, 1980.

Rodgers and Edwards were not informed and, protesting publicly, wished to take their names off the record. But they cooled off and saw “Upside Down” – Ross’ own description to Rodgers and Edwards as to what she wanted to do to her career – emerge a #1 smash hit.

Subsequent singles included “I’m Coming Out,” which went to #5 in the U.S. and became a LGBTQ anthem, while “My Old Piano,” was a Top 5 hit in the U.K. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling nine million albums worldwide. Soon after Ross moved on to RCA Records in a then-record $20 million deal before returning to Motown in 1989.

Fans now get to hear for the first time on vinyl those original Chic mixes of diana, one of four albums the duo of Rodgers and Edwards produced that year, including Sister Sledge’s Love Somebody Today, Sheila and B. Devotion’s King of the World and their own studio album, Real People. Available on two pink vinyl 45rpm discs, diana – the original CHIC mix, incorporates tracks first heard on diana: deluxe edition, originally issued July 29, 2003.

diana – the original CHIC mix vinyl track listing

Side One

1. “Upside Down”

2. “Tenderness”

Side Two

1. “Friend to Friend”

2. “I’m Coming Out”

Side Three

1. “Have Fun (Again)”

2. “My Old Piano”

Side Four

1. “Now That You’re Gone”

2. “Give Up”

Diana: The Original Chic Mix [2 LP]

SOUL SINGING LEGEND ALFA ANDERSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO LUTHER VANDROSS!

Former Chic Member Alfa Anderson Celebrates the Life of Music Legend Luther Vandross with
New Single to be Released on the Late Icon’s Birthday

When Luther Sings Available Nationwide April 20

New York, NY (April 18, 2017) – Alfa Anderson, former member of the iconic funk soul band Chic (Le Freak, Good Times, Everybody Dance), will release a new single, "When Luther Sings," in honor of her longtime friend Luther Vandross 66th birthday. The rousing, heartfelt tribute is written by Anderson and co-produced by multi-talented Bert Price. Available nationwide on April 20, When Luther Sings is the first single from Anderson’s long-awaited debut solo album, From My Heart (set for release summer 2017).

“When Luther Sings is my homage to good friend and musical mentor Luther Vandross; the song is autobiographical in many ways,” said Anderson. “As our professional relationship grew, he taught me so much about vocal technique and stage presence. As a matter of fact, Luther is one of the co-creators of the Chic vocal sound. I am forever grateful for the doors he opened for me and for the golden friendship we shared.”

For years, Anderson was an integral member of Vandross' touring band and performed at Wembley Stadium, among many other prestigious venues around the world. Her vocals can be heard on popular Vandross albums such as Give Me the Reason and The Night I Fell in Love, which Rolling Stone Magazine voted as one of the 100 Best Albums of the Eighties.

A chance meeting at a rehearsal studio in NYC led to her introduction to Vandross while rehearsing for a Lou Courtney gig with Ednah Holt. After being introduced to Vandross, a musical bond was formed and Anderson became part of a cadre of in-demand New York session singers. It was Vandross who invited Anderson to a vocal session for Chic with Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Tony Thompson and Norma Jean Wright.



Chic went on to see commercial success with disco songs that include "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (1977), "Everybody Dance" (1977), "Le Freak" (1978), "I Want Your Love" (1978), "Good Times" (1979), and "My Forbidden Lover" (1979).

Throughout the '80s and '90s, Alfa sang on albums by Bryan Adams, Gregory Hines, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Squier, Sheena Easton, Jody Watley, Bryan Ferry, and Jonathan Butler.

This full-length album is not Anderson’s first foray as a published musician. In the late-'90s, Anderson and her husband Tinkr Barfield formed and produced Voice of Shalom, a group that explored spiritual themes through uplifting original compositions.

They released two full-length albums, Messages (1999) and Daily Bread (2002), as well as a single called "What A Spirit" (2005), which featured guest vocals by Lisa Fischer and Keith Anthony Fluitt. Meanwhile, she continued introducing the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-nominated group Chic’s music to younger audiences through feature films like Shrek 2, Toy Story 3, Up in the Air, 54, Roll Bounce, Spike Lee's Summer of Sam and The New Edition Bio-Pic.

For more on Ms. Anderson and her upcoming musical endeavors, visit www.officialalfaanderson.com. Also keep up with her on Twitter @alfakanderson and FB: https://www.facebook.com/alfa. anderson.7.

CHAKA KAHN HONORED & NILE RODGERS WITH CHIC AT CELEBRATION GALA

Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Performing with Chaka Khan
HOSTED BY
Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly

HONORING...

Caryl M. Stern MATTIE J.T STEPANEK PEACEMAKER AWARD

Bill McDermott VISIONARY AWARD

Chaka Khan HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Host Committee

*Megan Delaney* Tommy Hilfiger* Matthew Hunt* Jauretsi* Kelly Florio Kasouf* Sade Lythcott* Nicole Mellon*Crystal Moselle* Spencer Sweeney* Inez + Vinoodh*

On Thursday, April 23, 2015, the We Are Family Foundation® (WAFF), a not-for-profit organization founded by legendary GRAMMY® Award winning musician, Nile Rodgers, will honor U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s President & CEO, Caryl M. Stern, SAP’s CEO, Bill McDermott and multiple GRAMMY® Award winning music icon Chaka Khan, at Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

The evening will be hosted by Fox 5 News anchors Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly, and will include a concert featuring Nile Rodgers & CHIC, performing with Chaka Khan for the first time on stage together. This year’s host committee includes Megan Delaney, Tommy Hilfiger, Matthew Hunt, Jauretsi, Kelly Florio Kasouf, Sade Lythcott, Nicole Mellon, Crystal Moselle, Spencer Sweeney and Inez + Vinoodh

The highly-anticipated event will celebrate three extraordinary global citizens: President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Caryl M. Stern will receive the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award which honors the person who has made a significant contribution toward promoting a peaceful society.

Since joining the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in 2006, Stern has traveled to more than 30 countries in support of UNICEF’s work to save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children, and spearheaded the organization’s efforts to aid children affected by disasters. Previous recipients of this award include, Dr. Maya Angelou, Paul Simon, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Quincy Jones, Dr. Jeni Stepanek and Deepak Chopra.

Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer of SAP, the world’s business software market leader, will receive the Visionary Award, which recognizes a corporation or a person in the corporate world whose philanthropic efforts have made a meaningful difference in our world. McDermott leads SAP’s 74,400 employees and a two million person plus ecosystem in executing SAP’s vision and strategy to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. Previous recipients of this award include, Susan and David Rockefeller, Jr., Tommy Hilfiger and Nicole and Matthew Mellon.

International music icon and ten-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Chaka Khan, will receive the Humanitarian Award, which honors a person in the public eye who has made tremendous efforts and inroads into making the human condition better throughout the world. Since she burst onto the music scene in the 1970s as the 18-year-lead singer of the multiracial band Rufus,

Chaka Khan has since released 22 albums, racked up ten #1 Billboard Magazine charted songs, developed a vast international fan base and performed on six continents, during an illustrious career spanning 40 years to date. In 1999, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, a project of Community Partners, which includes a variety of programs and initiatives that assist women and children at risk. Previous recipients of the Humanitarian Award have included Sting & Trudie Styler, Sir Elton John, Steven Van Zandt, Nile Rodgers and Jackson Browne.

“We are inspired by each of our 2015 honorees who show passion to their individual mission and continuous dedication to solving some of the biggest global issues facing our world,” says Nile Rodgers, Founder & Chairman of the We Are Family Foundation. “My song, ‘We Are Family,’ embodies the spirit of our honorees and the We Are Family Foundation, which brings people together to celebrate our differences and share important ideas across borders to make a difference and inspire peace.”

The funds raised will support WAFF’s mission and programs including WAFF’s signature program, Three Dot Dash, which identifies, supports and mentors Global Teen Leaders actively working on programs that address basic human needs and promoting a more peaceful world; and TEDxTeen, a global educational platform for extraordinary teenagers to share their stories and inspire millions.

To purchase tickets, or to make a contribution to the We Are Family Foundation, please visit wearefamilyfoundation.org. Contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.