Grammy Jam Celebrates Stevie Wonder To Raise Funds For The Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts And Music Education Initiative

LOS ANGELES (Recording Academy) — The Recording Academy and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) announced the musical event, GRAMMY Jam, celebrating the music of 22-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Stevie Wonder. The event, to be presented by Mercedes-Benz USA, will take place Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Eric Benét, George Benson, Chris Brown, Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo (formerly of Stone Temple Pilots), George Duke, Josh Groban, Anthony Hamilton, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Hootie & The Blowfish, India.Arie, James Ingram, Randy Jackson, Keb' Mo', KEM, Aaron Neville, Raphael Saadiq, Slash, Angie Stone, Kirk Whalum, and Stevie Wonder are among the dozens of musical guests scheduled to perform in a jam-style fashion under the musical direction of Rickey Minor.

"Stevie Wonder is one of the most generous individuals, both musically and philanthropically, in our industry," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "Artists of all genres are lining up to honor this musical icon whose body of work spans generations, touching millions of fans around the world."

The Recording Academy and EIF are working together to raise much-needed funds and awareness for arts and music education through EIF's National Arts and Music Education Initiative (NAMEI), which provides funding for exemplary arts programs to assure the continuation of their work. Beneficiaries include: the GRAMMY Foundation, For The Arts, InnerSpark/California State Summer School for the Arts, Inner-City Arts, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

"Thanks to the generosity of Mercedes-Benz USA, 100 percent of the proceeds from GRAMMY Jam will benefit arts and music education nationally," stated EIF President and CEO Lisa Paulsen. "Music is a great way to express yourself and we want to be certain to give young people the necessary lifelong tools to help them succeed."