February 2001

CHANNEL SURFING

with Sharon Pisinski

   There is a lot of music making it to television this month!
AND THE WINNER IS...

     On February 21, 2001, CBS will televise the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards live from The Staples Center in Los Angeles from 7-10pm. On Grammy night you will be joined by more than 1.5 billion people from more than 175 countries across the world. Scheduled to perform at press time were Madonna and U2.

A&E HIGHLIGHTS...

This month on A&E's acclaimed show, BIOGRAPHY will feature Rick Springfield, Patti LaBelle, and Ted Nugent.

    Rick Springfield is the story of the performer who has sold fifteen million records and after nearly thirty years in show business still performs with the reckless abandon of a twenty-something rock star. Concert footage, photos and interviews chronicle his early life in Australia and his career --
a path that has taken him from teen idol to TV soap star to serious rocker. This episode premieres on Feb. 19 at 7pm.

   She was born in 1944 in a black working-class neighborhood in
Philadelphia. This installment of BIOGRAPHY on Feb. 20 at 7pm, chronicles the life of a lonely child who grew up to be one of the most enduring artist of her time.

   Patti LaBelle tells how in 1962 Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles were introduced on American Bandstand. Soon they were playing The Apollo and opening in Los Angeles for none other than James Brown. In 1965, she recorded “A Groovy Kind Of Love” and was soon opening for the Rolling Stones.

   Today her career is still going strong. Her concerts continue to be sold out and her voice keeps getting stronger and better.

   Ted Nugent: Motorcity Madman: chronicles the life of a consummate showman, rock-and-roll survivor, political activist, and guitarist who has been making music for over thirty years. In that time, Ted has released twenty-nine albums which have sold over thirty-million copies.

     He was born in Detroit in 1948 and raised by a stern father who instilled discipline and a hard work ethic into the future rocker. After moving to Chicago he formed the Amboy Dukes who released their debut album in 1965 and scored several local hits.

     After signing a solo deal with Epic records in 1975 and released a series of multi-platinum albums during the 70's including Free For All featuring Meat Loaf on vocals.

    The hard rocker is also an activist for hunting rights and gun ownership. Ted has created “Kamp For Kids” for children to learn about the relationship of nature and man together. Giving kids and teens an alternative to the streets and shopping malls, the camp offers them a chance to learn about wildlife and habitat first hand. Tune in Feb. 21 at 7pm to meet this proud man.

CMT HIGHLIGHTS...

       CMT will present Steve Earle In Concert, a 60-minute special featuring Steve Earle performing songs from his latest E-Squared/Artemis album Transcendental Blues. The concert debuts on Feb. 4 at 10:30pm with repeats on Feb. 10 and 26.

    This is Earle's fifth album since coming back to the music scene in 1995 after a stretch in prison. He has been a cornerstone in the alternative country movement with his blend of outlaw country and renegade rock.

       It has been just over a decade since Travis Tritt debuted on CMT with “Country Club,” his first hit song and first No. 1 CMT video.

   This month CMT will premiere Travis Tritt’s Video Bio on Feb. 14 at 7pm Tune in as Travis discusses behind the scene stories about his video collection. In 1992 he was inducted as the youngest Grand Ole Opry member.