A Train Entertainment

John Legend & The Roots have covered the classic title track from Mike James Kirkland’s Essential LP, “Hang In There”. The cover will be featured on the upcoming album Wake Up! which also features some re-touched versions of tracks by Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Bill Withers as well as new original material. Listen to John Legend and The Roots’ version here via NPR. Ubiquity’s sister label, Luv N’ Haight re-released “Hang On In There” in 1996.

Icon Records, home of the legendary Hugh Masakela, has just signed an exclusive digital distribution contract with A Train for the Americas. Icon is co-owned by Lazarus Serobe, Managing Director of Gallo Records and CEO of Warner Music Gallo Africa,  and along with recordings by Hugh Maskakela (Including dvds) the catalog contains releases from The Bala Family, Khaya Mahlangu, Tsepo Tshola and more.

Hugh Masakela comes to the US for tour dates starting Oct 8 in Philadelphia and including a Carnegie Hall appearance.

A  Train’s diverse catalog of music has been heating up the charts this summer. We’re happy to report that several of our artists have reached the top five in their respective genres and we’ve currently got the number one dance song in the US! Check out the full run-down after the jump: Continue reading →

A Train signs a new deal with Oyez! representing the publishers Ratatan and Melodica and including the writers Mario Fargetta and Salvatore De Paola. Get Far’s “The Radio” featuring H-Boogie has been tearing up the dance charts – released in over 20 countries including the US, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Czech, etc; “The Radio” has over six million  collective hits on YouTube and the video has been requested by various music channels in the UK due to it’s international success and support from key bloggers and press.

We are extremely excited about this new deal with Oyez! and are looking forward to building a successful relationship with them.

The A Train family grew this week with the additions of Q-Rious Music, Marc Antoine, and Chops Not Chaps to our digital distribution catalog. Germany’s Q-Rious has been publishing great music since 2002 including work from Dominic Miller, Dieter Ilg, Charlie Mariano and Susan Weinert. Continue reading →

A Train congratulates Six Degrees Records artist Vieux Farka Touré on tonight’s performance with Alicia Keys as a part of the kick off celebration for this year’s FIFA World Cup. The three-hour concert, considered the biggest entertainment event to date in South Africa, celebrates the arrival of the first-ever FIFA World Cup on the African continent and will take place at 30,000-seat Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg. Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Shakira and Juanes will perform alongside, and in collaboration with, popular African artists. The concert will be aired on ABC on Friday, June 11 at 8 PM.

For more information please visit abc.com

A big congratulations to Oscar winning composer Rachel Portman who has made history once again after becoming the first female composer to be honoured with the Richard Kirk Award at the annual BMI Film & Television Awards in Los Angeles on May 19th. The Richard Kirk Award is bestowed on composers who have made significant contributions to the realm of film and television music. Continue reading →

A Train Entertainment is proud to announce that several of our artists have been nominated for this years Smooth Jazz Awards to be held on October 29th 2010 in Michigan City, Indiana. The following artists are nominated for awards in each of their respective categories – Richard Elliot “Entertainer Of The Year,” Rick Braun and Richard Elliot “Brass / Woodwind Player Of The Year,” Peter White and Jeff Golub “Guitarist Of The Year,” Greg Karukas “Keyboardist Of The Year,” Down To The Bone and Incognito “International Group Of The Year,” and Marc Antoine “International Artist Of The Year.” Continue reading →

A-Train is pleased to announce the release of several Qnote titles by the late John Dankworth. Jazz Matters features two suites of new music written by Dankworth with lyrics by Duncan Lamont. Recorded in 2007 at The Stables Theatre on the grounds of Dankworth and Lain’s home in Wavendon, “The Blues Ain’t” and “World Jazz” were individually premiered at the BBC Proms and The London Jazz Festival and have been described as worthy companions that explore unusual facets of the blues and what can be done in the space of twelve bars. Continue reading →