Tag: Richard Rodgers

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Podcast: Tony & Grammy Award Winner Billy Porter Talks “The Soul Of Richard Rodgers”

On the latest The Randy Report podcast, Tony and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter talks about his new album – Billy Porter presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

The collection features new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs from Broadway musicals including Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, Babes in Arms, South Pacific, and The King and I, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Lorenz Hart.

Billy is the very picture of a passionate Renaissance man – actor, recording artist, director, playwright and activist.

Broadway credits include Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease, and Smokey Joe’s Cafe. He won the Tony Award, as well as the Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his groundbreaking performance of “Lola” in Kinky Boots. That was followed by joining the all-star line up for Shuffle Along.

Film and television credits include Barry Levinson’s “The Humbling” opposite Al Pacino, Sundance Film Festival features “The Broken Hearts Club” and “Intern,” “Noel” (with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams), “Shake Rattle & Roll” as Little Richard, “Another World,” “Twisted,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Tonight Show” and more.

In 2014, Primary Stages presented the highly successful World Premiere of While I Yet Live, Porter’s autobiographical play at off Broadway’s Duke Theater.

Hit play below to listen as Billy explains the inspiration for the new album and much, much more 🙂

Billy Porter presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers is available now at all digital download outlets.

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Tony Award Winner Billy Porter Talks On “The Soul Of Richard Rodgers”

What better to get you over hump day than some great new music?

Check out Tony Award winner (and now record producer) Billy Porter as he chats on his latest project, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

The album drops April 17th.

I’ve known Billy for over 20 years, and this new album is easily the most eagerly awaited music project on my radar.

The album, which features new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs, includes solos and duets featuring some of today’s most compelling artists.

The complete track listing for Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers is as follows:

1. Oh, What a Beautiful Morning (Pentatonix & Billy Porter)

2. My Romance (Leslie Odom Jr.)

3. If I Loved You (Renée Elise Goldsberry & Christopher Jackson)

4. With a Song in My Heart (Brandon Victor Dixon & Joshua Henry)

5. I Have Dreamed (Patina Miller)

6. My Funny Valentine (Cynthia Erivo)

7. I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair (Todrick Hall & Billy Porter)

8. This Nearly was Mine (Deborah Cox)

9. Bewitched (Ledisi featuring Zaire Park)

10. Carefully Taught (India.Arie & Billy Porter)

11. Lady is a Tramp (Billy Porter featuring Zaire Park)

12. Edelweiss (Billy Porter)

“I like to think of this as the Richard Rodgers version of the Hamilton Mixtapes,” Porter said. “These are classic songs that everybody knows and loves, and I’m so excited for people to hear them in a brand new way.”

Billy’s solo albums include his first CD, Untitled, on A&M records, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul – LIVE on Sh-K-Boom Records, and Billy’s Back on Broadway, on Concord Records

As regular Randy Report readers know, Billy originated the role of ‘Lola’ in the Broadway hit Kinky Boots, which won him 2013 Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Other theatre appearances include Shuffle Along, Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Mo, Grease, Smokey Joe’s Cafe all on Broadway; plus Dreamgirls, Angels in America, The Merchant of Venice, Radiant Baby, Birdie Blue, Songs for a New World, Ghetto Superstar (one-man show), Topdog/Underdog, King Lear.

Check out a few tracks from Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers below, including Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo’s luscious take on “My Funny Valentine” and Billy dueting with 4-time Grammy Award winner India.Arie on “Carefully Taught.”