Daryl Hall and U.K. pop-soul sensation Rumer delve deep into their R&B roots on the 57th and latest edition of Live from Daryl’s House for a special six-song set that includes a Gil Scott-Heron cover and a performance of the ‘70s Philly soul hit, “Be Thankful for What You Got.” The new episode of the award-winning webcast and nationally syndicated program premieres August 15 at www.lfdh.com.
Daryl and the Atlantic Records singer/songwriter, whose soulful vocal style has been compared to Karen Carpenter, Laura Nyro, Dusty Springfield, Joni Mitchell and Carole King, perform versions of Daryl Hall and John Oates’ 1981 chart-topper, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” as well as “Sara Smile,” which she recorded for her new covers album, Boys Don’t Cry, set for release here in the U.S. on August 14th. The pair join forces on a version of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Lady Day and John Coltrane,” a song she often performs live, as well as “Be Thankful for What You Got,” a 1974 smash for William DeVaughn, recorded at Philly’s famed Sigma Sound Studios with members of MFSB, that U.K. group Massive Attack has also covered. In addition, the six-song set features two songs from Rumer’s acclaimed debut, Seasons of My Soul in “Slow” and “Take Me As I Am.” The collaboration was topped by a dinner which included a serving of homemade Thai shrimp and vegetable rolls from nearby aroi restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y.
Rumer was completely captivated by the experience. “When I met Daryl, I was literally stunned. I never really understood what ‘being in the presence of greatness’ actually meant until I was standing in a room, playing music with Daryl and his amazing band.
“His musical presence is so incredible, that l kept thinking, ‘How did I get in here?’ Daryl Hall is a genius, a living legend who continues to write and record amazing music. He told me at dinner that his aim in life was to ‘blow people away.’ Now I know what that feels like.”
Fueled by the much-admired hit singles, “Slow” and “Aretha,” Rumer’s debut Seasons of My Soul was certified platinum upon its U.K. release in 2010, reaching Top 5 in Belgium, Norway, Ireland, New Zealand and the Netherlands, eliciting critical acclaim along the way. The U.S. release of the album was followed by a number of high-profile TV appearances, including NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, E! News, and CBS Sunday Morning. The latter feature instantly established Rumer as a major star, catapulting the album to #1 on the iTunes Store as well as both Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s digital albums charts. She recently appeared on the all-star PBS music special Burt Bacharach & Hal Davis: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Performance at the White House, performing for President and Mrs. Obama with Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Michael Feinstein, Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett and Arturo Sandoval, among others. Her cover of “A House is Not a Home” can be seen here.
Daryl was suitably impressed with the U.K. singer/songwriter. “Since having her on the show, I have spent some time with Rumer, and we have quickly become friends. She is an interesting and impressive combination of spirituality and down-to-earth ‘centeredness’ that gives her a unique perspective on what we all do as musicians and communicators. I think her seemingly ‘smooth’ style frames a very passionate view toward life. More power to her.”
The past six years have marked a steady stream of superlatives and recognition for Live from Daryl’s House, with Hall receiving a Webby Award for Best Variety series from more than 10,000 entries at the 14th annual ceremony at N.Y.’s Cipriani Wall Street before garnering an O Music Award from MTV last year. A live version of Live from Daryl’s House, featuring Hall and previous show guests Sharon Jones and Allen Stone, just finished its own national tour dates.
Live from Daryl’s House is syndicated nationally by Good Cop Bad Cop Productions. Media. Executive producers for the show include Hall along with his manager Jonathan Wolfson. The Director of the show is Robin Davey.
Live from Daryl’s House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation’s top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York (WPIX), L.A. (KTLA), Chicago (WGN), Dallas (KDAF) and Houston (KIAH). The show has also cleared in such key markets as Philadelphia (CBS-owned KYW), Boston (KBIN) and Atlanta (WATL), as well as a number of NBC, Fox and CBS-owned affiliates across the country.
The 56 previous episodes of Live From Daryl’s House have featured a mix of well-known performers like Jason Mraz, The Voice’s Cee Lo Green, Booker T and the MGs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rob Thomas, Train, Smokey Robinson, The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Toots Hibbert, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Todd Rundgren, Keb Mo, Dave Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik and Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump along with newcomers such as Chiddy Bang, Allen Stone, Nikki Jean, The Dirty Heads, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Mayer Hawthorne, Eric Hutchinson, Chromeo, Matt Nathanson, Parachute, Plain White T’s, soul diva Sharon Jones, Diane Birch, L.A. neo-R&B party band Fitz & the Tantrums, hot new alternative band Neon Trees and veteran alternative mainstays Guster.