Retirement Reinvention

There are many words to describe Michael J. Fox: Actor. Husband. Father. Activist. But readers of Always Looking Up will soon add another to the list: Optimist. Michael writes about the hard-won perspective that helped him see challenges as opportunities. Instead of building walls around himself, he developed a personal policy of engagement and discovery: an emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual outlook that has served him throughout his struggle with Parkinson's disease. Michael's exit from a very demanding, very public arena offered him the time-and the inspiration-to open up new doors leading to unexpected places. One door even led him to the center of his own family, the greatest destination of all.

Mack Avenue was honored to be Burton’s final home, releasing two critically acclaimed albums by his remarkable New Quartet featuring guitarist and protégé Julian Lage, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Antonio Sánchez. But Take Another Look encompasses the entirety of Burton’s 50+-year career, from his attention-grabbing early releases for industry powerhouse RCA Victor, through his wide-ranging sessions for Atlantic and his iconic ECM recordings, on to his fusion-era reinvention on GRP and his eclectic and generation-spanning efforts for Concord and Mack Avenue.

One of the most dynamic performers in the history of popular music, Tina Turner was a powerhouse vocalist who won and lost fame in the 1960s and 1970s before a spectacular comeback in the 1980s made her an enduring superstar. Tina first made her name as an R&B shouter performing with her first husband, Ike Turner, and on early hits like "A Fool in Love" and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," she displayed a passion and grit that easily stood up to one of America's tightest and powerful bands. Ike & Tina crossed over to the pop audience with their raucous cover of "Proud Mary," but their rising stardom came as Ike fell into drug addiction and violent spousal abuse. In 1976, Tina left Ike and went solo, and after years of struggle and reinvention, she struck gold with 1984's Private Dancer, which blended her fiery but versatile vocals with up-to-date production and became a multi-platinum success on the strength of the hit singles "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Better Be Good To Me," and the title track. Subsequent international touring reinforced her successful return to the spotlight and she would be a frequent visitor to the sales charts and a top live attraction through the rest of her career. Tina proved she was still a draw even after retirement, thanks to a successful jukebox musical based on her life and music.