Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe JOHN SINCLAIR ISSUES BOOK AND CD John Sinclair has had a rich career as a poet, musician, activist and radio personality. In the 1960s he was a key counterculture figure in Detroit who managed the legendary MC5. Sinclair's influence was so pervasive John Lennon even wrote a song about him. Advertisement In recent years Sinclair has been a popular disc jockey on New Orleans' WWOZ and a celebrated poet backed by his band, The Blues Scholars. This week Sinclair will celebrate the publication of his elongated blues work in verse, "Fattening Frogs For Snakes -- Delta Sound Suite," and the accompanying recording of "Volume One -- The Delta Sound." Rooster Blues and Surregional Press will kick off the festivities with a book and compact disc release party at Frenchy's Gallery on Thursday. The party feature a performance by Sinclair and His Blues Scholars, who also will appear that day at the D.J. Davis New Orleans Music Show on WWOZ for a "live" on-air performance. Advertisement The official CD release party will feature Sinclair's band and special guests Brother Tyrone and the Mindbenders at the House of Blues on Friday. The Blues Scholars will play an in-store concert at the Louisiana Music Factory on Saturday and will be featured that night at the Cutting Edge Music Business Conference showcase at the Blue Nile club. PANIC FINISHES SUMMER TOUR Widespread Panic completed its summer tour schedule over the weekend despite the tragic death earlier this month of founding member and lead guitarist Michael Houser. The band played the Seven Fiddlers Music Festival in Greenwood Village, Colo., along with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Steel Pulse, Keller Williams, Ben Harper, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Angelique Kidjo. Widespread Panic headlined each night with guitarist George McConnell, a longtime friend of the group, playing in Houser's place. Houser was laid to rest last Monday in Athens, Ga., with more than 100 family members and close friends in attendance at the private funeral. Singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt, who teamed with Panic on two albums under the name Brute, performed a heart-wrenching version of "Expiration Day" with the band's Jojo Hermann. Panic vocalist John Bell and gospel artist Dottie Peoples also performed during the ceremony. Widespread Panic is planning a fall tour, tentatively set to kick off around Halloween. It is unknown if McConnell will permanently replace Houser. Advertisement SPRINGSTEEN SETS EURO DATES Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band announced seven shows in seven European cities in October, continuing the barnstorming theme of "The Rising" tour. The European leg begins Oct. 14 in Paris, followed by shows in Barcelona on Oct. 16, Bologna Oct. 18, Berlin Oct. 20, Rotterdam Oct. 22, Stockholm Oct 24, and London Oct. 27. "The Rising" was released July 30 and has reached No. 1 on the pan-European Music and Media Album Chart, as well as album charts in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. RAY CHARLES SINGS FOR AMERICA Rhino Records has set a Sept. 3 release date for "Ray Charles Sings for America," which will include Charles' classic version of "America The Beautiful" and a new recording "God Bless America Again" with Charles backed by Slash and Billy Preston. Several of the 20 songs hail from Charles' now-out-of-print "A Message From The People" album, originally released in 1972, including "Lift Every Voice And Sing," "Abraham, Martin And John" and the definitive version of "America The Beautiful." After six decades in the recording industry, Charles has earned 12 Grammy Awards -- including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award -- countless gold records and numerous Billboard chart successes. He was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor and is an inductee of the Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, and Rock and Roll halls of fame, in addition to being recognized with a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame. Advertisement In July he was honored with the first-ever Grammy "Heroes" Award, and earlier this summer his hometown college, Albany State University in Georgia, named him "Dr." Ray Charles. NANCI GRIFFITH TO ISSUE LIVE SET "Winter Marquee," a live album from Nanci Griffith, will be released Sept. 24 by Rounder Records. The performances date from the spring of 2002 and include the Griffith classics "There's a Light Beyond These Woods," "Gulf Coast Highway" and "The Flyer," as well as four new compositions by the vocalist/songwriter. Featuring guest appearances by Emmylou Harris and Tom Russell, the 14-song live CD will also be released as an 18-song DVD.
