DETROIT, MI. (United Negro College Fund/ www.aaamich.com/ www.uncf.org) - Legendary songwriter, composer and producer,
Quincy Jones, will receive an all-star tribute for his lifetime achievements on the United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) annual televised fundraiser, "An Evening of Stars."
The four-hour special airs at 7 p.m. on WKBD UPN50, Saturday, January 8, 2005 sponsored in part locally by Motor City Casino and led by an impressive array of local radio hosts sure to please metro
Detroit audiences.
Hosts include John Mason, KISS 102.7; A.J. Parker, KISS 102.7; Reggie Reg, WJLB; CoCo, WJLB; Julie Kendrick, WRCJ; J. Sanford, WGPR; Alexander Zonjic, WVMV and Lloyd Jackson, WJR. The eight, 5-minute local segments highlight people committed to UNCF: students and alumni, church and corporate leaders and community organizations.
Performing for Jones at a gala celebration previously taped at Hollywood's Kodak Theater are music legends Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Lionel Richie and Chaka Khan; as well as some of the hottest entertainers, including Musiq, Joss Stone, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Savion Glover, Brian McKnight and Tamia. Scheduled gospel performances include top selling artists Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and Bebe Winans.
Mo'Nique, Salma Hayek and Debbie Allen, Bill Cosby and Whoopi Goldberg are just a few of the featured presenters to salute Jones. Longtime friend, Oprah Winfrey presents Jones with UNCF's "Award of Excellence."
"We're bringing the most exciting entertainers together to thank Quincy for his contributions to our community and commitment to helping others," said Tiffany Douglas, UNCF's Michigan development director. "An Evening of Stars plays a vital role in UNCF's mission, as it exemplifies the importance of higher education and creating opportunities for students seeking to achieve their full potential."
The first Lou Rawls Parade of Stars aired in 1979, and since has become one of the longest running and most successful televised events in U.S. history, raising over $200 million to supplement the cost of higher education for its scholarship recipients and member institutions. The event has featured a who's who of the most recognizable talent, including Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dick Clark, Reba McIntyre, Richard Pryor, Beyonce Knowles, Jill Scott, Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle, Ed McMahon, Michael Bolton, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley and scores of others.
Today, the show, now called An Evening of Stars, is broadcast nationally and supported by major corporations such as this year's national sponsors, American Airlines, Kodak, McDonald's, Prudential Financial, Target and Toyota.
AEOS provides UNCF with an opportunity to thank its local supporters such as Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Comerica Bank, Visteon, SBC, Motor City Casino, The Taubman Company, the Detroit Inter Alumni Council, Bank One, UAW Region 1A, as well as raise funds to support financially disadvantaged students. UNCF currently supports nearly 2,000 students both in and from Michigan.
Returning as executive producer and director is three-time Emmy Award winner Louis J. Horvitz whose credits include numerous years directing The Academy Awards, The Prime Time Emmy Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors and The People's Choice Awards as well as The 2003 MTV Movie Awards and The American Film Institute Life Achievement Tribute to Robert DeNiro. Producers are Cort Casady and Bill Urban.
Founded in 1944, The United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised $2.3 billion to support its 38 member institutions and has helped more than 350,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.
UNCF administers more than 450 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 65,000 students in over 850 colleges and universities across the country. For more information about UNCF, visit https://www.uncf.org.
