‘Greatest Living Guitarist’ Jose Feliciano Coming to Spotlight 29 Casino

Award winning, chart topping and inspiring are three ways to describe Jose Feliciano. “Greatest Living Guitarist” is how critics around the world have described him, and Guitar Player Magazine has named him “Best Pop Guitarist.” Now Feliciano is coming to Spotlight 29 Casino on February 23.

Over the course of his career, Feliciano has been awarded more than 45 Gold and Platinum records, has earned 16 Grammy nominations and won six Grammy Awards, in addition to countless prestigious awards the world over.

Born blind in Puerto Rico, his family immigrated to New York City when he was five. He learned to play the concertina at age six, using a handful of records as his teacher. At age eight, he performed for his classmates at PS 57, and at nine, performed at The Puerto Rican Theater in the Bronx. Venturing beyond the accordion, he taught himself to play the guitar, again with nothing but records as his teacher.

He has recorded countless songs that have topped charts in countries around the world, the most notable being “Light My Fire,” “Che Sara” and the Christmas song “Feliz Navidad.” ASCAP has named “Feliz Navidad” among the 25 Greatest Holiday Songs of the Century.

Other notable Feliciano hits include “Rain,” “Chico and the Man,” “California Dreamin’,” “Destiny,” “Affirmation,” “Ay Carino,” “Ponte A Cantar,” “Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar?” and “Cuando El Amor Se Acaba.”

Tickets for Jose Feliciano are $50, $45 and $35 and are on sale now at Spotlight29.com and at the Spotlight 29 Casino Gift Shop or by calling (800) 585-3737. Show time is 8 p.m.

Put the spotlight on headliner entertainment at Spotlight 29 Casino, the Coachella Valley’s most exciting place to play. Spotlight 29 Casino is a business venture of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. Turn it on at http://www.Spotlight29.com

Natasha Bedingfield’s ‘Pocketful of Sunshine’ Blazes Onto Billboard’s Top 200 at No 3

Here comes the sun! Pocketful Of Sunshine, the new release from British songstress, Natasha Bedingfield, rocketed onto Billboard’s Top 200 this week at No.3 making it the highest-charting album debut of the singer’s career and ties Sade for highest-ever debut in history for a UK signed female artist (beating out past debuts by Amy Winehouse and Dido.)

The album’s explosive arrival is amplified by news that Pocketful of Sunshine has over 1 Million transactions thus far, with over 160k digital downloads of her smash first single, ‘Love Like This’ sold in the first week alone.
In addition, the single has spent 9 weeks in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Top 100 Chart.

‘Love Like This’ was recently quoted by New York Magazine as ‘a song that is impossible to purge from your brain.’ The track – which is certified GOLD – features R&B/reggae singer Sean Kingston. Since its release to radio back in October the track generated serious buzz and blasted its way up the charts to become a Top 10 single at Pop Radio as well as Natasha’s third Top 10 track since the debut of Unwritten in 2005. The video for ‘Love Like This’ holds the No 1 spot at VH1, is in XXL rotation and is steadily climbing the charts at MTV.

Natasha is currently the No 1 artist at Rhapsody, holds a Top 5 album at iTunes, but that’s not all. Today, Natasha can celebrate the fact that she has four tracks in the Top 100 songs overall at iTunes (Love Like This, Pocketful of Sunshine, Unwritten, and Soulmate) which is truly a magnificent accomplishment. Follow-up tracks like ‘Pocketful Of Sunshine’ – which was featured in the season finale of MTV’s The Hills – are already garnering their own buzz – sales of the track have already placed it in the Top 20 at iTunes, securing the No 16 spot overall.

Natasha celebrated release week with performances and appearances on a slew of TV including, LIVE! With Regis & Kelly, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno and Ellen Degeneres. Natasha marks yet another milestone this week as hit track ‘Unwritten’ surpasses the 2 Million digital sales mark.

Upon hearing today’s news, Natasha had this to say, ‘I’m thrilled that my new record has had such a fantastic response on the first week. Writing songs is my favorite thing in the world so I’m grateful that my music is connecting with so many people, – I’m celebrating big time!’

Natasha conquered America last year with her No 1 single, ‘Unwritten’ which became the most played track at pop radio in 2006, and was the first No 1 pop single in the U.S. by a British Female Solo artist in 19 years. Look for Natasha to tour the U.S this spring.

Beanie Sigel’s Manager Denies Roc-A-Fella Records Dropping Entire Roster

Contrary to online rumors, Def Jam has not dropped the entire Roc-A-Fella Records roster, Billboard.com has learned. Roc-A-Fella artists include Kanye West, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Tru Life, DJ Clue, Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz and Hector Bambino.

“Beans and Freeway didn’t get dropped,” says Beanie Sigel’s manager, Mark Byers. “I just got off the phone with L.A. Reid talking about the next video for ‘Rain’ featuring Raheem DeVaughn that we’re about to release. We’re re-launching Beanie’s project and releasing a ‘Rain’ remix with State Property.”

Roc-A-Fella’s cohesiveness and brand strength waned after its leaders Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem Burke parted ways in 2004. Since then, Roc-A-Fella artists haven’t received the same attention as Def Jam stars like Ne-Yo and Rihanna, says an insider.

Jay-Z’s inner camp, including A&R SVP Jay Brown and A&R VP Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, tendered their resignations this month. However, the rest of Def Jam’s A&R department is intact. Still, things are tenuous for hip-hop at the company.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a Roc-A-Fella anymore,” says the insider. “I do think each artist will have to go to the new people in charge and have a meeting separately. But the Roc artists aren’t going to roll over and die.”

Sources say that it’s unclear whether Roc-A-Fella artist Peedi Peedi has been dropped but the word is that he hasn’t. Meanwhile, the entire State Property camp, including Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Oschino and Sparks, the Young Gunz and Peedi Peedi, are preparing a new group album to be released this summer. The State Property album will most likely be released via Def Jam.

Def Jam was unavailable for comment at deadline.

SOURCE: BILLBOARD.BIZ