FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2009
Contact:
Donald Patterson
Phone: 412-452-6062
Motown Records’ Artists and Former Alumnae Heading to Pittsburgh to Celebrate
Motown’s 50th Anniversary at the August Wilson Center Saturday October 31, 2009
Pittsburgh, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — On Saturday October 31, 2009 a sensational celebration will take place in Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh Tribute to Motown Records’ 50th Anniversary will take place at two locations. One at Atria’s Restaurant at PNC Park and the other at August Wilson Center.Several Motown recording artists and former alumnae will participate in the all day celebration. Katherine Anderson Schaffner, one of the former members of the Motown super girl groups The Marvelettes with hits such as Please Mr. Postman, Don’t Mess with Bill will be one of the participants.
Additional guests include Motown promotion guru Weldon A. McDougal III, who travelled extensively with Motown’s top artists on the road and is responsible for the Jackson Five being on the Motown record label by introducing them to Motown. Weldon also will facilitate a lively forum about the history of Motown Records along with Katherine Anderson Schaffner and Pittsburgh’s own Bob Babbitt, former bass player for the Motown Funk Brothers and one of the costars of the hit movie Standing in the Shadow of Motown, the story of the Funk Brothers Motown studio musicians.
The public will have an opportunity to participate in a jam session with Bob Babbit and Pittsburgh’s own Johnny Angel at a celebrity VIP reception at Atria’s Restaurant at the PNC Park hosted by Johnny Angel and Soul Pitt’s Donna Baxter.
A rare Motown photo exhibit will be on display along with other Motown memorabilia including the label’s first gold record, Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes that will be available for viewing starting October 27, 2009 at Atria’s Restaurant.
The celebration will end with A Pittsburgh Tribute to Motown Records’ 50th Anniversary on Saturday October 31, 2009 at the August Wilson Center @ 7:30 PM featuring a live concert by some of Pittsburgh top musicians performing Motown hits by such greats as Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes and lots more.
Pittsburgh’s musicians will include music divas Carolyn Perteete, Sandy Dowe, Jimmy Sapienza (Five Guys Names Moe), Dr. James Johnson Jr., Howie Alexander and lots more.
A special tribute to Michael Jackson will be performed by Pittsburgh’s Next Generation of Music Legends’ group the Billy Eckstine Youth Vocal All Star Ensemble.
Proceeds from A Pittsburgh Tribute to Motown Records’ 50th Anniversary will benefit the national tour for PNGML’s two youth music ensembles the Billy Eckstine Youth Vocal All Star Ensemble and the Billy Strayhorn Youth Jazz All Star Ensemble. Upcoming national music tours for the ensembles include a trip to the renowned Monterey Jazz Festival High School and College Jazz Battle in California and the House of Blues.
For more information on tickets for the tribute or donations and sponsorship opportunities for the ensembles, please call 412-452-6062 or 412-377-4681.
Pittsburgh’s Next Generation of Music Legends is funded by the Multicultural Arts Initiative.
