Photo by Jim Belmont
Front and Center, Public Television’s critically acclaimed concert series, will air the finale of its star studded eighth season on March 9th. The episode features highlights from Nile Rodgers’ 2016 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, performances of “We Are Family” and “Le Freak,” as well as insightful storytelling about his songwriting process from the McKittrick Hotel in New York City. View the trailer for this episode here.
"Nile is respected and admired by his fans and peers alike not only for his multi-/cross-genre music, but also for his curiosity and eagerness to discover the next new wave of music,” said SHOF President and CEO Linda Moran. "It is most fitting that Nile kick off our new partnership with Front and Center as there is no one better than Nile Rodgers to get the message across loud and clear, with unbridled passion and extreme eloquence, that it all begins with a song!”
“It’s an honor to partner with The Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nile Rodgers as part of the Front and Center series” said Executive Producer Don Maggi. “Nile’s show reinforces why he’s a musical pioneer and member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. His passion, talent and unique ability to tell a story is on full display in this episode. It was our pleasure to work with Nile, Linda Moran and her team at the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We look forward to additional shows in 2018.”
Among music legends, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nile Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music. As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak,” sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times”. His work in the CHIC Organization and his productions for artists like David Bowie, Diana Ross and Madonna have sold over 300 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music.
Season eight of Front and Center boasted an all new line-up of Grammy Award winners, Billboard chart toppers, CMA Awards winners, and emerging artists. The 10 new episodes included intimate performances from Liam Gallagher, Mike + the Mechanics, Beth Hart, Sheryl Crow, Seal, Jack Johnson, and Nile Rodgers as well as Miranda Lambert, Clint Black and a twin bill featuring Kane Brown and Luke Combs, as part of Front and Center’s ongoing partnership with the Country Music Association and the CMA Songwriters Series presented by U.S. Bank. All air dates and times are available here: http://www.pbs.org/show/front-and-center/
About Front and Center Entertainment:
Front and Center Entertainment, LLC produces the popular music performance television series Front and Center as well as the groundbreaking talk show Speakeasy and the monthly series MTV Live: Setlist. Since 2012 Front and Center has presented an eclectic mix of Grammy, Country Music Association, American Music and Academy of Country Music Award winners, rock icons and multi-platinum sellers including Keith Urban, Steven Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Counting Crows, Rob Thomas, and The Avett Brothers. Speakeasy, which began airing in January 2015, features an iconic talent chatting intimately with an interviewer of their choice. Included are conversations with Roger Waters and Bill Weir, David Crosby and Wynton Marsalis, Nile Rodgers and Valerie Simpson, and Robbie Robertson with Warren Zanes. MTV Live: Setlist spotlights rising artists spanning multiple genres including St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Dua Lipa, and Muna.