Soundstage (TV program)

Infobox Television
show_name = SoundStage


caption = Soundstage Logo
format = live concert series television series
runtime = 60 minutes
country = USA
network = PBS
first_aired = 1974
last_aired = 1985

"Soundstage" is an American live concert television series produced by WTTW Chicago and HD Ready and distributed by PBS. The original series aired for 13 seasons between 1974 and 1985; a new series of seasons began in 2003, with the latest (Season 6) running through summer 2008, each presented in high definition with surround sound. Some performances have been made available on DVD. The performances are usually taped on stage at the WTTW television studio in Chicago, but occasionally major concerts are instead taped for broadcast at large venues throughout the United States.

Between the broadcast runs of the two incarnations of the series, "Soundstage" was echoed by "Centerstage", which debuted in 1993, a WTTW and VH-1 Network co-production. [ [http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=7,2 WTTW - Our History] ]

Initial Series

The series originated in 1972 as "Made in Chicago," also taped at and broadcast by WTTW. It presented a dramatic contrast to the way music had been televised until that point; variety shows (such as the Ed Sullivan Show) and lip-synched cabaret shows (such as "The Andy Williams Show") were the norm. "Made in Chicago" (originated by Ken Ehrlich, who had previously produced "The Marty Faye Show") foregrounded the music and emphasized live performance and, at times, improvisation.

In 1974, the show's name was changed to "Soundstage," and it became more widely distributed by PBS. [personal interview with Ken Ehrlich, January 2008] Artists who appeared in the early years of the show included figures from rock (Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and the Bee Gees), blues (Bonnie Raitt and Muddy Waters), jazz (Professor Longhair, Dizzy Gillespie, and Benny Goodman, as well as specials dedicated to the Down Beat Readers Poll Award winners) folk (Jim Croce, Janis Ian, Arlo Guthrie), and gospel/soul/R&B (Al Green and Aretha Franklin). The 1980 appearance by John Prine is "the only archival concert of Prine available on DVD" [Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2007.] . One of the most unusual episodes, broadcast in 1983, was devoted to Andy Kaufman, who hosted it in a (somewhat bizarre) variety show format; it was his last major television appearance.

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Artists

eason 1: 2003

* Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, and Mark Isham, March 2003
* Chicago, live in concert, June 2003 [ [http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-soundstage-soundstage-presents-chicago-dvd--pi-1881525.html Soundstage Presents: Chicago DVD] , Shop PBS]
* Michael McDonald, July 2003
* Alison Krauss and Union Station, July 2003
* Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, July 2003
* Lucinda Williams and Kasey Chambers, July 2003
* Chris Isaak and Raul Malo, August 2003
* Trace Adkins and Travis Tritt, August 2003
* Tori Amos, August 2003
* Wilco and Sonic Youth, September 2003
* John Hiatt and the Goners, Dar Williams, Robinella and the CCString Band, September 2003
* Peter Cetera and Amy Grant, October 2003
* Farm Aid 2003 at Germain Amphitheater, Columbus, OH, featuring Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, Emmylou Harris, Los Lonely Boys, Hootie & the Blowfish, Billy Bob Thornton and Trick Pony, November 2003

eason 2: 2004

* Fleetwood Mac at the FleetCenter in West End Boston, June 2004 [ [http://www.fleetwoodmac-uk.com/articles/presskits/pr_liveinboston.html Press Release] , Sep. 10, 2005]
* Sheryl Crow, June 2004
* Ronald Isley and Burt Bacharach, July 2004
* Alanis Morissette, July 2004
* Lisa Marie Presley and Peter Wolf, July 2004
* Cyndi Lauper, August 2004
* Joan Baez, Gillian Welch, and Nickel Creek, August 2004
* Counting Crows and Shelby Lynne, August 2004
* Dan Fogelberg, September 2004
* Steve Winwood, September 2004
* 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and Kris Kristofferson, September 2004
* Yes at Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA, September 2004
* Chris Isaak Christmas album Special, with guests Michael Bublé, Brian McKnight and Stevie Nicks, September 2004
* George Jones 50 Years Special, with guests Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Wynonna, Martina McBride, Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr., Randy Travis, Lorrie Morgan, Vince Gill, Trick Pony, Amy Grant, Sammy Kershaw, Trace Adkins, Uncle Kracker, Connie Smith, Emmylou Harris, Joe Diffie, Kris Kristofferson, Shelby Lynne and Tanya Tucker, November 2004

eason 3: 2005

* Michael McDonald with guests Billy Preston, Toni Braxton, Take 6 and India.Arie in Tennessee, June 2005
* John Mayer with Buddy Guy, July 2005
* The Wallflowers, July 2005
* Heart, July 2005
* America with guest Christopher Cross, August 2005
* Ringo Starr & the Roundheads with guest Colin Hay at Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL, August 2005
* Lindsey Buckingham with Stevie Nicks, September 2005
* Chris Isaak, September 2005
* Trisha Yearwood with guests Billy Currington and Sugarland, September 2005
* Joss Stone with guest Mavis Staples, October 2005
* Martina McBride at Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL, October 2005
* Dave Matthews Band with guests Robert Randolph, Rashawn Ross and David Cast at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, November 2005

eason 4: 2006-2007

* Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, June 2006
* Garbage, July 2006
* Bill Laswell, AXIOM SOUND SYSTEM, and Musical Freezone featuring Tabla Beat Science, Pharoah Sanders backed by Material, and Praxis members Buckethead and Bootsy Collins, July 2006
* The All American Rejects and Fountains of Wayne, July 2006
* KT Tunstall, July 2006
* Train, August 2006
* Peter Frampton, January 2007
* New York Dolls, February 2007
* Lee Ann Womack with Julie Roberts, February 2007
* Jewel at Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, February 2007
* Rickie Lee Jones, February 2007
* Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris at Gibson Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, March 2007

eason 5: 2007

* Rob Thomas at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, June 2007
* Macy Gray, July 2007
* Dashboard Confessional at Madison Square Garden, July 2007
* Jewel at Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, July 2007

eason 6: 2008

* Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, January 2008
* Lifehouse, January 2008
* Daughtry, January 2008
* John Fogerty, February 2008
* Josh Groban at Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, June 2008
* REO Speedwagon, July 2008
* Bon Jovi, July 2008
* Stevie Nicks, July 2008
* Matchbox Twenty, July 2008
* Kenny Chesney, August 2008
* Counting Crows, October 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage "Soundstage"] – Homepage on PBS
* [http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=7,13 WTTW National Productions]