Update: Monday, 1-22-18
Singer-songwriter James Taylor has apologized for the cancellation of Friday's gala at the Times-Union center that was also to have featured John Legend and Moriah Formica.
In a statement released this morning, the Berkshire County resident says he "hates" to cancel, and in fact, asked his manager to try to salvage the date.
"I told (my manager) that if the problem was financial, I'd forego my own fee so long as the band and crew got paid. I did, however, need my co-billed fellow performers to agree to show up assuming that the audience wanted to see them as much as they did me," Taylor said.
"(My manager) told me he had spoken to John Legend's management about saving the gig; I don't know what happened beyond that. We held it for as long as we could, but in the end, had to let it go."
Here is James Taylor's statement in its entirety:
I hate to cancel. It almost never happens. Maybe once or twice in the past 50 years.
So when we got the word on Friday that the Gala concert celebrating the re-opening of the Times Union Center in Albany, scheduled for next Friday, was off, I asked Sam, my manager, to try again to salvage the date. We had gone to great lengths to assemble the band and I was really looking forward to playing with them. Also, I didn’t want to disappoint the people who had bought tickets for the event.
I told Sam that, if the problem was financial, I’d forego my own fee so long as the band and crew got paid. I did, however, need my co-billed fellow performers to agree to show up assuming that the audience wanted to see them as much as they did me.
Sam told me he had spoken to John Legend’s management about saving the gig; I don’t know what happened beyond that...We held it for as long as we could but, in the end, had to let it go.
So disappointing. Not to overstate the importance of my performance to the people of Albany; “it’s only Rock & Roll” and, to be sure, this kind of snafu does happen from time to time, But, man, I hate to cancel.....
James
1/21/18
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The James Taylor and John Legend concert scheduled for Friday has been canceled.
Times Union Center management cites "unforeseen circumstances involving the promoter of the show."
The gala reopening concert was supposed to mark the completion of $19 million in renovations at the arena and proceeds were to benefit the pediatric emergency department at Albany Medical Center.
Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
TU Center General Manager Bob Belber is promising two new concert announcements this week.