Grammy Award Winning and Multi Platinum Recording Artist Michael Bolton Set to Release a Brand New Album Gems - The Duets Collection in Stores June 21, 2011

SAN DIEGO, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Bolton, one of the music industry's most successful and accomplished recording artists, announced today he will release his 21st studio album titled Gems – The Duets Collection on June 21, 2011. The new album, to be released on Sony Music/Legacy Recordings, will feature productions by acclaimed songwriters, producers and musicians including David Foster, Dann Huff, Rudy Perez and A.R. Rahman.  The album will be available for pre-purchase on www.michaelbolton.com.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110506/NY96950 )

Gems – The Duets Collection includes exciting musical collaborations with Grammy Award®-Winning Country Super Group, Rascal Flatts, Oscar Award®-Winning Composer\Producer, A.R. Rahman, International Pop Superstar, Seal, Australian singing sensation, Delta Goodrem, and the famed late vocalist Eva Cassidy.  

"It was an incredibly rewarding experience recording this album," says Bolton.  "The opportunity to work with legendary talent like David Foster, Dan Huff, A.R. Rahman and some of the absolute greatest singers and recording artists in the entire world was inspiring.  I can't wait to share the special music we all created with the world."

"We heard that Michael wanted to write something with us.  We all kept telling ourselves, 'It's like, Michael Bolton! Come on - he's one of the greatest singers on the planet," say Rascal Flatts.  "He wanted to get the whole band involved and make this thing really fresh and new.  It was just so cool that we had a chance to get together and write this killer song called 'Love is Everything.'"  

David Foster cooked up a duet featuring Michael singing "When a Man Loves a Woman" and Seal joining in with James Brown's "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World."  Foster says, "I woke up at 6 AM one morning with the idea that these two songs could go together, with these two great voices from different genres, and they embraced it.  This is a powerful, powerful moment.  It's a real shootout, and it's impossible to say who wins, because they're both so amazing."

"When I first met Michael, we got to talking about music, philosophy, the universe, and many things that we had in common," shares A.R. Rahman.  "I wanted Michael to do a bit of singing that he's never done before, without compromising on his musicality."

"He's a very great human being and we had a lot of fun," Chris Botti says.  "There aren't singers like Michael anymore.  He can sing anything from classical music to jazz to something like ["You Are So Beautiful"], it's so unbelievably soulful."

A full track listing for Gems - The Duet Collection is below.

Michael Bolton has been touring extensively for the past year and performed to capacity crowds in countries around the world including China, France, England, Germany, Romania, Canada, Portugal, Spain and several dozen dates in the United States.  After a hugely successful Valentine's Day concert with fellow Grammy Award®-Winner, Kenny G, the two performers announced additional tour dates together including a show at the Beacon Theater in New York City.  

A list of Michael Bolton's upcoming tour dates, including several with Kenny G, is below.

Michael will also perform on ABC's Dancing With The Stars On May 10th with Delta Goodrem.

For the latest news and updates on Michael Bolton, please visit:  www.michaelbolton.com

About Michael Bolton:

Michael Bolton has sold more than 53 million records, released 20 studio albums, won multiple Grammys® for Best Male Vocalist and countless other honors, all while selling out arenas worldwide. In 2002 the singer-songwriter earned a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He has sung with legends like Luciano Pavarotti and Ray Charles, written songs with greats such as Bob Dylan and Lady Gaga, penned hits for a diverse range of artists, including Barbra Streisand and KISS, played guitar with B.B. King and had his music recorded on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West (featuring megastar Jay-Z).  Of all that he has accomplished, perhaps nothing is more important to Bolton than the foundation he founded in 1993, The Michael Bolton Charities, Inc. Based in his home state of Connecticut, the major focus of The MBC is the critical issue of violence against women. Since its inception, The MBC has dispersed over $6 million in grants to various organizations that support children and women at risk of poverty, abuse, neglect, homelessness and domestic violence.

SOURCE Legacy Recordings