The Pulse of Entertainment: Bluegrass
‘Entertainers of the Year,' The Kody Norris Show, to Release ‘Spirit of America' Album, Singles ‘Declaration
of Independence' and ‘Good Ol' USA' Lead The Way
"It's one of the songs off our ‘Spirit
of America' album," said Bluegrass, "Entertainer of the Year" Kody Norris about the single release
by his band, The Kody Norris Show, titled "Declaration of Independence: An Instrumental"
(Rebel Records). "We never recorded an instrumental before. My wife Mary Rachel plays the fiddle (in the band), she wrote
this instrumental and the crowd went wild. They asked us what's its name? I said I don't know. They said it's like a declaration
of independence and the name stayed."
My
interview with Kody was about The Kody Norris Show's instrumental but at the same time they were releasing a new single titled
"Good Ol' USA." With the Bluegrass vocals, grassroots instruments and their vibe (how they dress)
The Kody Norris Show offers in the purest form what "good old America" is all about - freedom, pride in country
and grassroots music played with grassroots instruments. The new album, "Spirit of America," is to be released this
summer, and these singles lead the way. They also provide the tone of what we can expect from The Kody Norris Show's new project.
The "Spirit of America" album celebrates America's 250-year anniversary of its independence and that is what you
will get.
‘The ‘Spirit of America'
is our first concept album in celebration of America's 250. To honor our great country that we live in," he explained.
"There are... <Read the full May 12, 2026 column here...>
The Pulse of Entertainment: The Hits of Nat King Cole, a Multi-Grammy, Oscar and Emmy Winner, to Be Performed
at the Catalina Jazz Club June 18, 2026, by Award Winning Aaron Akins
"It's called ‘Into the Cole' as
in Nat King Cole - ‘A Tribute to Nat King Cole'," said entertainer Aaron Atkins, a Golden Star
Halo Award winner, about his upcoming "Into the Cole: A Tribute to Nat King Cole" show at the Catalina
Jazz Club in Hollywood on June 18, 2026. "It will be an evening of timeless classics...of Nat King Cole. I will
sneak in a few original songs in the same classic style."
I went to review one of his shows several years ago and he sang Grammy Award winning Nat King Cole's hit "Mona
Lisa." He didn't sing it - he "performed" it, and he delivered it with that Smooth Jazz influence. I remember
saying no wonder this show was on Broadway. In fact, the "Into the Cole" show was nominated by BroadwayWorld.com
for the "Best Male Cabaret Concert Artist" Award.
Attendees
on June 18th at the Catalina Jazz Club will also be treated to a musical experience with the Aaron Akins Band.
"Yes, I have an amazing band," he said when I asked
if the band that was there a couple years ago will be back. "There is... Read the full May 8, 2026 column here...>
The Pulse of Entertainment
Broadcasting Vol1
NEWS
'Floetry Presents: Say Yes The Tour,' Featuring
Floetry, Raheem DeVaughn, and Teedra Moses, Ends May 17, 2026 in Oakland
(Houston, Texas) - After nearly ten years away from the touring stage, Floetry
- the celebrated duo of Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart - continues their 'Floetry Presents
Say Yes The Tour,' featuring Raheem DeVaughn and Teedra Moses, ends May 17, 2026 in Oakland, California.
The Jonathan Foundation's 12th Annual Spring
Fundraiser to Be Held May 16, 2026 at the Universal Sheraton Hosted by Emmy Award Winning Fritz Coleman
(Los Angeles, CA) - The Jonathan Foundation's 12th Annual
Spring Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel (333 Universal Hollywood
Drive, Los Angeles, CA 91608, starting at 5:00pmPST. The Jonathan Foundation Fundraiser will be hosted by popular five-time Emmy Award winner Fritz Coleman,
a retired weathercaster who works for NBC Channel 4 in Los Angeles.
This year's honorees include Mona Patel, MD, FAAP, who is the Chief Integrated Delivery Systems Officer
at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and President of CHLA Medical Group, and Dr. Connie Kasari, a distinguished Professor
of Human Development and Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a joint appointment in the Department
of Psychiatry.
www.UpliftingMinds2.com
"Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference - (562)-424-3836
(Atlanta, GA) - Grammy Award nominated artist
Johnny Venus, best known as one half of the acclaimed duo EarthGang, continues his journey into a new musical chapter with
the solo release of "I Want You Back" (Sincethe80s/Epic Records) the first single from his forthcoming debut set
to release later this year.
This track
offers listeners a glimpse into the deeply personal body of work Johnny has been building as he steps forward out on his own.
Produced by Grammy Award nominated producer Dominique Sanders, "I Want You Back" also features songwriting by Grammy
Award nominated Baby Tate and Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer The-Dream, with mixing by Grammy Award winning
engineer Neal Pogue.
On the track, Johnny leans
into the vulnerability and emotional honesty that define this new era of his artistry, exploring love, reflection, and growth
through his signature blend of soul, R&B, and funk.
The
single is brought to life with the music video, a stunning visualizer, directed by TJ Sawyer and Salomé Gomise-Trezise.
Through a series of intimate moments, the piece traces the arc of a
romance between Johnny and a past lover, beginning with the promise of new connection, rising into intimacy, fracturing under
the weight of truth, and dissolving into solitude. Rather than presenting love as a straight path, the video shows the feeling
moves in circles.
"I Want You Back"
arrives as Johnny builds towards the release of his highly anticipated debut solo album later this year, following the August
2025 release of his EP Shooter. As he prepares to share more music and step onto stages around the world in the coming months,
2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Johnny, further solidifying his place as one of music's most thoughtful and dynamic
voices.
