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The Luminato Festival honoured Joni Mitchell this week with a 90-minute on-stage interview with the veteran folk singer and a tribute concert that celebrated her upcoming 70th Birthday.

The tribute show, “Joni: A Portrait in Song – A Birthday Happening Live,” took place at Massey Hall in Toronto on Tuesday night. There were performances from Herbie Hancock, Kathleen Edwards, Glen Hansard, Rufus Wainwright, Esperanza Spalding, Cold Specks, Liam Titcomb, and Lizz Wright. Mitchell was present to recite a new poem, “This Rain, This Rain,” with musical accompaniment by her long-time drummer and collaborator, singer-songwriter Brian Blade, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. She also surprised the audience by singing “Furry Sings the Blues,” “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” and joining the cast on a rendition of “Woodstock”.

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One Day Music has released a great value collection of 42 songs that Dusty Springfield recorded during her time with The Springfields and The Lana Sisters between 1958 and 1963.

The 2-CD collection provides a great insight into Springfield’s early career, before she became one of the most successful female solo artists of the 1960s.

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The New Releases page has been updated to include music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for June.

Highlights for June include:

• Dave Davies’ new album “I Will Be Me” (4 June)
• Paul McCartney & Wings’ “Rockshow” on DVD and Blu-ray (11 June)
• Black Sabbath’s new album “13” in standard and deluxe editions (11 June)
• “Scott Walker – The Collection 1967-1970” 5-CD/5 LP box sets (11 June)
• “ZZ Top – The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1990” 10-CD collection (11 June)
• Hawkwind’s “Warrior On The Edge Of Time” reissue in standard and expanded editions (18 June)
• “Moody Blues – Timeless Flight” deluxe and super deluxe box set (25 June)
• Allman Brothers Band’s “Brothers & Sisters” 40th anniversary deluxe and super deluxe editions (25 June)
• The Beatles’ “Help!” on Blu-ray (25 June)
• A new range of 5-CD “Original Album Classics” titles from artists such as Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Santana, Johnny Cash, and more (25 June).

The New Releases page has been updated to include music CD, DVD and Blu-ray releases for May.

Highlights for May include:

• Rod Stewart’s “Time” (14 May US, 7 May UK)
• Huey Lewis and the News’ “Sports 30th Anniversary” deluxe edition (14 May)
• David Bowie’s “Zeit 77-79” box set (14 May)
• “The Beach Boys Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour” double album (21 May)
• Burt Bacharach’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart: Art of the Songwriter” 6-CD box set (21 May)
• North American debut for the Rolling Stones’ “Crossfire Hurricane” on DVD/Blu-ray (21 May)
• Wings’ reissue of “Wings Over America” in standard and deluxe editions (28 May)
• John Fogerty’s new duets album “Wrote a Song For Everyone” (28 May).

American folk singer Richie Havens sadly died of a heart attack at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey earlier today. He was 72.

Havens was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 21, 1941. He moved to Greenwich Village at the age of 20 to perform poetry and learn how to play folk music. His first album, “A Richie Havens Record,” was released in 1965 and he remained an active live and studio performer for the next four decades.

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