Actor Anthony Anderson Set To Host UNCF An Evening Of Stars® Presented By Target

UNCF and BET Networks Partner on Annual Special to Raise Awareness for Minority Education Excellence

Stars Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, Tyrese Gibson, Melanie Fiona, Eric Benet, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keenan Ivory Wayans and More Are

Set to Light Up the Stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Saturday, December 1

Tickets on Sale November 26, 2012

Los Angeles, CA (November 26, 2012) – UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and BET Networks have announced that actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, a star of the new NBC sit-com Guys With Kids, will emcee the 34^th edition of UNCF An Evening of Stars^® Educating our Future Presented by Target.  UNCF will partner with BET Networks to produce and air the nationally televised variety show that focuses public attention on America’s need for more African American college graduates and UNCF’s work getting students to and through college.  UNCF An Evening of Stars^® Educating our Future Presented by Target will be taped before a live audience on December 1, 2012 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and will air nationally in syndication and on the BET Network, Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27, 2013 respectively. 

Amazing performances and appearances are in store by some of the hottest names in entertainment including; Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, Tyrese Gibson, Melanie Fiona, Eric Benet, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keenan Ivory Wayans and many more.

“UNCF is delighted that Anthony Anderson has agreed to make our cause his cause, introducing the stars who will grace the UNCF An Evening of Stars® stage,” said UNCF president and CEO Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., “the music industry stars who will entertain the studio and TV audiences, and the ‘student stars’—the high achieving students who, thanks to UNCF, are getting the education they need to compete in the 21^st century economy.  The country is facing a crisis in African American education, and UNCF and BET are determined to do something about it.”

UNCF, the country’s largest and most effective minority education organization, supports the education of more than 60,000 students each year. A recent study by UNCF’s Patterson Research Institute showed that UNCF’s 38 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) out-perform many non-HBCUs at enrolling and graduating low-income students.  UNCF’s largest scholarship program, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, has a 90 percent graduation rate among its 13,000 low-income minority students, a significantly higher rate than the national college graduation rate.

"We are excited to again partner with UNCF on their annual show and we couldn’t ask for a more talented or better suited host than Anthony Anderson for UNCF An Evening Stars,” said Stephen Hill, President of Music and Specials Programming, BET Networks. “Education has always been important to BET and we love that we get to put our time and talent where our heart is to produce this show.” 

The UNCF-BET co-production is the second in a partnership that began last year and set the precedent for an exciting and informative show with show-stopping performances by entertainers and “student stars” alike.  Throughout the program, some of the biggest names in entertainment, education, politics and sports will help deliver the important message: Educating our future is our responsibility.  Students will take their own “star turns,” sharing their moving and inspiring stories about how the education support they have received from UNCF has changed their lives.  Together, stars and students will remind viewers that it is only with the assistance of UNCF and charitable donations that today’s students can become tomorrow’s leaders. 

Tickets for the live taping of UNCF An Evening of Stars^® Educating our Future Presented by Target will go on sale November 26 through Ticketmaster or online at ticketmaster.com.

This year's show is made possible by Target, Presenting Sponsor of UNCF An Evening of Stars^® ; National Sponsor McDonald's,  Official and Major Sponsors American Airlines, Wells Fargo, Buick, AT&T, the U.S Army and Anheuser-Busch; and weekend sponsor Caesars Entertainment.

About UNCF An Evening of Stars^®

UNCF An Evening of Stars^®, formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars^®, first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest-running and most successful televised events in U.S. history. Over its 34-year history, UNCF An Evening of Stars^® has raised more than $200 million that has helped hundreds of thousands of students attend college and graduate.  In recent years, UNCF An Evening Of Stars^® has featured a who's who of remarkable talent, including Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Nancy Wilson, Beyoncé, Anita Baker, Jill Scott, Whoopi Goldberg, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, and scores of others. UNCF An Evening of Stars^® received NAACP Image Awards for its 2006 tribute to Stevie Wonder, its 2008 tribute to Smokey Robinson and its 2010 tribute to Lionel Richie. Learn more about UNCF An Evening of Stars^® at www.UNCF.org.

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization.  To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. UNCF supports education through scholarships and other programs, by supporting its 38 member colleges and universities, and by advocating for the importance of minority education and college readiness.  UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs.  UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees.  The UNCF logo features the torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."^® Learn more at www.UNCF.org.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

'ANNA LUCASTA' SPARKLES AT LATC

 

The story of ‘Anna Lucasta’ is sad, tragic, romantic, amusing and even triumphant.

And, yet, those adjectives don’t even begin to describe this amazingly vibrant, emotional, highly-dramatic and occasionally comical and sexy saga.

The play was originally written in 1939, by Philip Yordan with a Polish family as the focus. Rumor has it that the Polish population wasn’t keen on the story.

When it debuted in 1944 on Broadway, the show opened with an all-Black cast.  Eartha Kitt and Sammy Davis starred in the 1958 film version.

CAST OF 'ANNA LUCASTA'
(standing l-r) Jennifer Sammons, Talmadge Talib, Kem Saunders, Tanya Lane, Carl Crudup, Alvina Carroll Saunders, Sammie Wayne IV and Kaylon Hunt; (seated l-r) Nick Gillie, Robert Clements, Ashlee Olivia, Cydney Wayne Davis and Dwain A. Perry

 

Fast forward and director Ben Guillory’s version is lighting up a stage at the Los Angeles Theater Center.

The story centers on a young woman named Anna Lucasta (Ashlee Olivia) whose family has cast her aside because of a sexual indiscretion – or two, or three.

When she is thrown out of her Pennsylvania home, Anna ends up as a prostitute in Brooklyn. 

KAYLON HUNT, NICK GILLIE & ASHLEE OLIVIA

       For reasons that can only be described as unethical, Anna’s brother and brother-in-law want her to come back so they can marry her off to a moderately wealthy young man, Rudolf Slocum (Dwain A. Perry), who also happens to be the son of one of her father’s oldest friends. 

DWAIN A. PERRY and ASHLEE OLIVIA

 

Anna’s greedy, scheming brother-in-law Frank, played aptly and convincingly by Sammie Wayne IV, wants to separate Rudolf from his bankroll.  Anna spoils his plans by actually falling in love with Rudolf and seeing to it that no one gets the money.

Only her mother, Theresa (Cydney Wayne Davis), and her sister-in-law, Katie (Tanya Lane), seem to actually care about what happens to Anna.

Additionally, one of Anna’s former ‘clients’ in Brooklyn wants to continue exploiting her sexually.

       There is a lot going on in this melodrama however, the upshot is a rough-around-the-edges story about love, family and redemption.

Ben Guillory has assembled an impressive cast to bring this story to life.

Ashlee Olivia, who plays the title role, is a breath of fresh air as she engulfs the character. Her flirtatious gait and expressive eyes gives the wayward Anna her enticing, yet insecure persona.  

 

SAMMIE WAYNE IV
 

Sammie Wayne IV has full command of his character and the stage in a supporting role that nearly steals the show. Frank is the scheming husband of Anna's sister, Stella (Alvina Carroll Saunders).

Cydney Wayne Davis gives a robust and genuine performance as Theresa, the mother of Anna. The duality of softness and determination she displays throughout the show, adds substance to the role.

Dwain A. Perry is a joy to watch as he gives an even performance in the role of Rudolf, a perceived hick from the sticks.  He shows a vulnerability and a strength that forgives Anna’s indiscretions.

Jennifer Sammons brings a gritty and earthy authenticity to her role as a mature, been-around-the-block-more-than-a-few-times streetwalker.  The juxtaposition of Sammon’s character’s grittiness and Anna’s arousing persona adds texture to their scenes together. 

 (l-r) SAMMIE WAYNE IV, ALVINA CARROLL, KEM SAUNDERS, TANYA LANE, CYDNEY WAYNE DAVIS, ROBERT CLEMENTS and ASHLEE OLIVIA

The remaining cast members shore up the engaging show. 

There are some unanswered questions in the production. For instance, why is Joe Lucasta’s anger toward his daughter so explosive? Is there a back story that the audience doesn’t know? His anger toward Anna is over the top and seems a bit extreme even for the time period, given her perceived dastardly deed. 
The show works because the Lucastas, in all their glory and dysfunction, feel like a real family.   Good acting, good direction, good costumes, good set, good timing, good lighting - all of the essentials come together to make this a good show.

 DIRECTOR BEN GUILLORY

Under Guillory’s fluid direction, ‘Anna Lucasta’ comes together quite nicely. He makes skillful use of the stage and allows the actors space to breathe.

Tom Meleck’s set gives the family’s home a warm, inviting feel, while also giving the waterfront bar a cold, clammy and even seedy quality.

The show, written by Philip Yordan and directed and produced by Ben Guillory, stars Alvina Carroll, Robert Clements, Carl Crudup, Cydney Wayne Davis, Nick Gillie, Kaylon Hunt, Tanya Lane, Ashlee Olivia, Dwain A. Perry, Larry Powell, Jennifer Sammons, Kem Saunders, Talmadge Talib, Sebastian Velmont and Sammie Wayne IV.

‘‘Anna Lucasta’ is presented by Robey Theatre Company in association with Latino Theater Company.

‘Anna Lucasta,’ Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre 4, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA; 8 p.m. Thur.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., through Dec. 9. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes with one intermission. Mature themes. Suggested for audiences age 14 to adult.  For information: www.thelatc.org or (866) 811-4111.

On the Donloe Scale, D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (OK) and E (exceptional), “Anna Lucasta” gets an E (exceptional).

'I'm Dop3!' Set To Open Dec. 7 In Hollywood

            The title “I’m Dop3!” is pronounced “I’m dope.” It’s hip-hop slang for “I’m great!” The 3 is a backwards E.

            The show, written and performed by Afia Fields and directed by Debra De Liso, is set to open Dec. 7, at the Elephant Studio Theatre in Hollywood.  

            At the age of 3, Afia Fields found herself engulfed in flames during a tragic fire in a basement playroom in her Baltimore home. The conflagration took the lives of her cousin and her baby brother. Two of her other cousins escaped. Afia herself sustained third-degree burns and emerged from a coma three months later.

            The damage done to her by the fire was the ultimate form of identity theft. She is not, as she would tell you, a burn victim, but rather a burn survivor.

            Possessed of limitless quantities of pluck and grit, she became a motivator, bringing healing and comfort to others dealing with challenge and adversity. The inspirational figure had dreams of her own, as well, as she pursued a career in the entertainment industry.

            A double medalist in the NAACP’s ACT-SO program (a competition for African American youths achieving in the arts, sciences, business and technology), Ms. Fields , now 22, went on to receive a degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her credits include roles in “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “High School Musical,” and “The Venus Hottentot.”

            Debra De Liso directs. She has directed over 300 solo performance pieces in a career spanning over thirty years as an actor, director, choreographer and writer. She wrote two solos shows, “Isadora’s Dream” and “The Nurse June Show.” Her recent stage credits as an actor include two shows at Los Angeles Theatre Center, the Ovation-nominated “1951-2006” and “The Einstein Plan,” in which she co-starred with James Cromwell.

            SAIPRO is the producing organization. The name is an abbreviation for Serving Artists In Process. It recently produced “Prison Is Where I Learned to Fly” at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre. SAIPRO is a project of the nonprofit Pasadena Arts Council’s EMERGE Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

            Ms. Fields states, “It’s my physical appearance you walk in seeing and my personality you take home with you.”

            The Elephant Studio Theater, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038; December 7, 2012- January 19, 2013; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Dark on December 28 and 29; Admission: $30.  Reservations: www.saiproarts.org   Information: (443) 928-5941. 

 

'DRIVING MISS DAISY' SET TO OPEN JAN. 18

            "Driving Miss Daisy" will open Jan. 18, 2013, at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA.  Christian Lebano is set to direct Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy-drama.

            “Driving Miss Daisy” is set mostly in Atlanta, Georgia  between 1948 (just before the dawn of the Civil Rights Era)  and 1973 and chronicles the relationship between fiercely independent Daisy Werthan, an affluent Jewish widow,  and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn,  hired by Daisy’s son when she can no longer drive herself. Their working relationship begins with difficulty. They eventually achieve a warm friendship.

             Concerns of both class and race leave their mark in the narrative. So do historical events, such as the bombing of Atlanta’s largest synagogue by the Confederate Underground in 1958 along with the Citizens of Atlanta dinner celebrating Martin Luther King’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

            The cast of the new production of “Driving Miss Daisy” includes Mary Lou Rosato (veteran of eleven shows on Broadway; Drama Desk Award winner for her performance in “The School For Scandal”) and Willie C. Carpenter (from the new TV series “1600 Penn”). Brad Reed and Mitch Ward round out the cast.

            Playwright Alfred Uhry says he based his characters on composites of a number of real people that he knew in his younger days. Uhry won the Pulitzer Prize for this play, and later won an Oscar ® for its screenplay adaptation. He won Tony Awards ® for his scripts for “Parade” and “The Last Night of Ballyhoo.”

            Recently at Sierra Madre Playhouse, Lebano directed the critically acclaimed production of “Woman in Mind” and appeared in leading roles in “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “Our Town.” He has directed shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee and San Diego. He will bring a depth of vision and imagination to “Driving Miss Daisy” as he did to “Woman in Mind.”

            Executive producer: Estelle Campbell. Associate producer: Sherrie Lofton. Production stage manager: Kristin Weber. Original music: Jonathan Beard. Set design: Gary Wissmann. Costume design: Kristen Kopp. Wig design: Cristina Waltz. Sound design: Barry Schwam. Graphic design: David Byrd.

              *                        *                        *                        *                        *                        *

 

WHEN: January 18- March 9, 2013. Fri. and Sat. at 8:00, Sun. at 2:30. The Gala opening night performance on Friday, January 18 will be followed by a Champagne reception and light buffet.

ADMISSION: $25. Seniors (65+) and students (13-17), $22. Children 12 and under, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (626) 355-4318.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org

"Anything Goes' Opens Nov. 28 At The Ahmanson

 

Performances of the Cole Porter Musical Run through Jan. 6, 2013

The new Broadway revival of “Anything Goes,” Cole Porter’s timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, opens at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on November 28, 2012 at 8 p.m., and continues through January 6, 2013.  A preview performance will take place on November 27.

Winner of the 2011 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical, Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Anything Goes” sails direct from Broadway under the direction of Kathleen Marshall, who won the 2011 Tony Award® for Best Choreography for “Anything Goes.”  The New York Times calls it “a zesty new revival with knockout numbers and white-hot dancing” while the AP exclaims that it’s “so delightful, so delicious, so de-lovely!”

“Anything Goes,” the 1934 musical comedy about the lovers, liars and clowns on a transatlantic cruise is “a daffy, shipshape romp!” (Variety). When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail.

Cole Porter’s roundup of nostalgic hits in the production include “You’re the Top,” “Friendship,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and, of course “Anything Goes.”

Rachel York will star as Reno Sweeney and will be joined by Fred Applegate as Moonface Martin, Erich Bergen as Billy Crocker, Jeff Brooks as Ship’s Purser, Joyce Chittick as Erma, Alex Finke as Hope Harcourt, Dennis Kelly as Elisha Whitney, Vincent Rodriguez III as Luke, Marcus Shane as John, Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt, Edward Staudenmayer as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh and Chuck Wagner as Captain.

The ensemble includes Jeremy Benton, Jacqueline Burtney, Jan Leigh Herndon, Kristie Kerwin, Gary Lindemann, Dionna Thomas Littleton, Michael Milton, Ashley Peacock, Bobby Pestka, Courtney Rottenberger, Vanessa Sonon, Ryan Steer, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden, Aaron Umsted, Mackenzie Warren, Sean Watkins, Audrey Cardwell, Alexandra Matteo, Sean McKnight, and Tony Neidenbach.

Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Anything Goes” features music and lyrics by Cole Porter; original book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse; and new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. The creative team includes music direction by Jay Alger with additional orchestrations by Bill Elliott, original scenic design by Derek McLane, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by Brian Ronan. The National Tour of Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Anything Goes” is dedicated to the memory of Martin Pakledinaz, a beloved member of the Roundabout Theatre Company family.  Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Anything Goes” will travel to more than 21 cities during the 2012-2013 season.

Tickets for “Anything Goes” are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $20 - $120 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Ahmanson Theatre is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

# # #

Cedric The Entertainer Hosts Soul Train Awards

STEVIE WONDER, JOHN LEGEND, CHARLIE WILSON,

NEW EDITION, JAMIE FOXX, NE-YO, 2 CHAINZ, MIGUEL,

KEYSHIA COLE, FANTASIA, ANTHONY HAMILTON,

EDDIE LEVERT, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, AND MORE BRING

 THE SOUL TO PLANET HOLLYWOOD LIVE

CENTRIC’S APOLLO LIVE! HOST TONY ROCK AND REALITY STAR TAMAR BRAXTON HOST THE SOUL TRAIN AWARDS RED CARPET PRE-SHOW PREMIERING NOVEMBER 25TH AT 7PM ET/PT ON CENTRIC & BET

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 19, 2012 – On Thursday, November 8, 2012, the Soul Train Awards celebrated its 25th Awards show by honoring the best in music and entertainment at Planet Hollywood Live in Las Vegas.  Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, and backed by the musical direction of Raphael Saadiq, Soul Train Awards 2012 featured meaningful tributes to this year’s loss of Don Cornelius, hilarious Awards presentations, not-to-be-missed musical performances, and much more. The network premiere of Soul Train Awards 2012 will be televised simultaneously on Centric and BET on Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 8pm ET/PT.

Today’s hottest artists and Soul Train Awards 2012 nominees took to the Planet Hollywood Live stage including: three-time 2012 nominee Miguel, who performed his hit “Adorn;” Ne-Yo, who wowed with his single “Let Me Love You;” 2012 Best R&B/Soul Female Artist nominee Keyshia Cole, who performed her single “Trust and Believe;” Tyrese, who performed his Song of the Year-nominated hit “Stay;” 2012 Best New Artist nominee Elle Varner, who sang a remix version of her single “Refill” with a human beatbox; and two-time 2012 nominee John Legend, performed his Song of the Year-nominated smash “Tonight (Best you Ever Had).”

Bringing southern hip-hop to the Soul Train Awards 2012 stage was two-time 2012 Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year nominee, 2 Chainz, who performed a crowd-pleasing medley of his hits “Birthday Song,” “I’m Different,” along with a special duet of “Ghetto Dreams” with Charlie Wilson.

Soul Train Awards 2012 couldn’t have been the year’s biggest night for R&B/soul without unforgettable, crowd-raising performances by legends like Stevie Wonder, Eddie Levert, and Charlie Wilson, as well as contemporary artists of today channeling classic soul icons of yesterday.  Epic Records recording artist Leah Labelle brought down the house with her flawless performance of Teena Marie’s “Square Biz,” Grammy Award-winner Fantasia embodied the Queen of Soul with her rendition of the Aretha Franklin classic “Don’t Play That Song For Me,” while Anthony Hamilton belted Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” and The Voice season 1 winner Marcus Canty tore up the stage with his take on Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much.”

New Edition—particularly Bobby Brown—gave a tear-inducing acceptance speech during the group’s much-anticipated and well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award presentation.  The sextet later returned to the stage for a very special medley performance of their hits like “Candy Girl,” “Telephone Man,” and “If It Isn’t Love” that drove the crowd wild.

Not to be outdone by the phenomenal music performances of the night, the caliber of star power the Soul Train Awards 2012 pulled together for the first-ever three-day Soul Train Awards experience in Las Vegas was legendary. Long-time Academy Awards host, actor, and comedian Billy Crystal, Donny and Marie Osmond, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx, Las Vegas comedic icon George Wallace, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, hit-making songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam, Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham, Tamar Braxton, 2012 Best New Artist nominee Luke James, radio personality Tom Joyner, and more came out to present Awards, introduce musical acts as well as provide hysterical advice, guidance, and encouragement to two-time So ul Train Awards host Cedric the Entertainer about moving the show to Las Vegas.

Additional memorable moments include: the consistent threading of memories and images of the late Don Cornelius throughout the show—particularly the words from his son, Tony Cornelius; Charlie Wilson showing Cedric the Entertainer how to romance a woman; Eddie Levert singing “Casanova”; Jamie Foxx introducing a trailer for his upcoming film directed by Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained; and the super group TGT—composed of Tank, Ginuwine, and Tyrese.

Fresh off the heels of the Presidential election and Barack Obama’s re-election, Cedric The Entertainer coined the phrase of the night—“2 Termz”—playing off the audience call-and-response of 2 Chainz’s name.

Closing out the show was none other than the “8th Wonder of the World,” Stevie Wonder, who delivered a roof-blowing medley of his hits including “Superstition” and President-Elect Barack Obama’s acceptance speech entrance song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” which was backed by projected photos of the “2 Termz” President.

Additional celebrity attendees and appearances by Estelle, Melanie Fiona, Jody Watley, Doug E. Fresh, Tony Rock, Mike Bivins, Gary Owen, Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, Kenny Lattimore, Lil Mama, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, and many more.

The Soul Train Awards is a presentation of Centric Network. Executive Producers of the telecast are: Paxton Baker, Tami Willis-Arasli, Derek Lewis, CENTRIC; Bart Phillips, Sunseeker Media; and Soul Train Holdings’ Kenard Gibbs, along with Cedric Kyles; Eric Rhone; Doug E. Fresh; and Damien Smith. The Soul Train Awards is directed by Tony McCuin and produced in cooperation with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Nevada.

The Soul Train Awards 2012 will premiere simultaneously on BET and Centric on Sunday, November 25th at 8pm ET/PT.  For more information, go to www.BETcom/SoulTrain and Tweet on Twitter using: #SoulTrainAwards.

About CENTRIC:

Centric is a 24-hour music and entertainment channel that reflects the lifestyle and sophistication of today's African-American and multicultural adult viewer.  With a finger on the pulse of an ever-changing beat, its compelling music content fuses Soul, R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, Reggae, Gospel, Jazz, Old School, New School and everything in between with today's hottest artists. It is a unique of mix of music, culture and lifestyle programming that embodies the lives, tastes and aspirations of the CENTRIC viewer: All you. All day. All night.

About BET Networks:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management an d production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

About Soul Train Holdings:

Soul Train is a registered trademark of Soul Train Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Soul Train is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history.  During its 37 year run, the show featured such staples as the Soul Train line and performers as important and diverse as: Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Janet Jackson and Beyonce, to name a few.  Soul Train Holdings was created following the acquisition of the iconic franchise and catalog of more than 1,100 hours of archival footage from Don Cornelius Productions in June 2008 by InterMedia Partners and Madvision entertainment and is part of Vibe Holdings LLC. Vibe Holdings is a leading multi-cultural media company consisting of treasured and celebrated brands including Vibe Magazine, Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine and Soul Train.   VIBE Holdings is owned by InterMedia Partners, Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Companies.

JOSH GROBAN RELEASES 'ALL THAT ECHOES'

 

 

ALL THAT ECHOES IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER THROUGH AMAZON BEGINNING NOVEMBER 20^TH AND ITUNES THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 27^TH

November 19^th, 2012 - Burbank, CA - Internationally renowned, multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban has announced that he will release his eagerly anticipated sixth studio album, entitled All That Echoes, on February 5^th, 2013, on Reprise Records. All That Echoes was produced by Warner Bros. Records Chairman Rob Cavallo, who has also worked with Green Day, Dave Matthews Band, and many others. Other producers include Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson) and Lester Mendez (Shakira, Nelly Furtado).

All That Echoes will be available for pre-order via Amazon beginning November 20^th and iTunes the week of November 27^th. A direct-to-fan version, containing bonus material, will also be available exclusively via Groban's website, joshgroban.com. More details about this special edition will made public in the coming weeks.

"From beginning to end, this project has blossomed with absolute joy and inspiration," Groban says. "Together with Rob Cavallo and all the incredible collaborators, we set out to create songs that could bridge the old and the new, the light and the dark of life and love ... all that echoes in our souls. This album makes me feel good, and I hope others feel the same way."

"Josh is a consummate musician," Cavallo says. "He is a true talent, an unbelievable singer, and a friend who has totally inspired me. We both took risks we wouldn't have taken without one another, and, as a result, the music flies higher than I ever thought possible. I love this album and am extremely proud of it. It's a sonic adventure that reaches deep into the soul and I can't wait to share it with the world."

Groban first broke through in 2001 with his self-titled double-platinum debut album, followed by 2003's multi-platinum Closer, featuring the smash hit "You Raise Me Up," and 2006's double-platinum Awake. In 2007, the Grammy-nominated star became the best-selling recording artist of the year thanks to sales of Awake and his blockbuster Grammy-nominated Christmas album, Noel - the best-selling album of 2007. Groban ranks as Billboard's 14th top-selling artist of the 2000s with more than 20 million units sold in the U.S. alone and 25 sold million worldwide. He is the only artist who has had two albums appear on the Top 20 Best-Selling Albums list of the past decade, according to Billboard. Over the last two years, Groban has completed a sold-out world tour in support of his fifth album, the platinum-selling Illuminations, appeared in the feature film Crazy, Stupid, Love, as well as on NBC's The Office, and launched the Find Your Light Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through quality arts education.