LAS VEGAS, NV. (Top40 Charts/ Las
Vegas Odyssey) -
Madame Tussauds Las
Vegas announced that they have chosen Jamie Foxx, one of the most notable performers of our time, to officially open
Black History Month in the attraction's
Spirit of
America Room, with the official unveiling of his life-like wax figure.
The Foxx unveiling kicks off the "Madame Tussauds Black History" month-long celebration. Foxx will join other famous notable African-American figures already on display as part of the exhibit. Figures included are Muhammad Ali, Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jordan, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. Every figure on display will be accompanied with a biography that acknowledges the significant contributions that each of these individuals has made to shape American history. The exhibit is ideal in educating not only adults, but also students - with the attraction already having confirmed a number of field trips as a direct response to the exhibit.
"Jamie Foxx was a natural choice for us. He not only embodies the upper echelon of celebrity that we look to celebrate, but what he represents to the Black community, and Americans as a whole, is the ability to take born-talent, drive and commitment and transform them into something magical. He has rated high with our customers for some time, and we are happy to deliver what our customers have asked for," commented Adrian Jones, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas.
Foxx participated in a 2-hour private sitting where Tussauds Studio artists from London took precise measurements, matched eye/skin/hair coloring and experienced his personality, which are paramount in the making of his $300,000 wax likeness. According to sculptor, David Sharpe, "Mr. Foxx was extremely gracious with his time and actually entertained us with his upbeat, positive and charming personality."
Foxx is the second male, and the first African American, in history to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year for two different movies, Collateral and Ray.
Foxx was born in Dallas, Texas December 13, 1967 as Eric Marlon Bishop. At his grandmother's urging, Foxx began piano lessons at age five and soon thereafter his many talents surfaced!
Foxx changed his name while doing stand-up comedy upon discovering that female comedians were often called first to perform on stage. He felt "Jamie" was an ambiguous enough name to disallow any biases. His last name was chosen as a tribute to Redd Foxx.
Foxx joined the cast of In Living Color in 1991, winning over viewers with many unusual characters and impressions. His music career went into high gear in 2004, when he was featured on rapper Kanye West's song, Slow Jamz. Foxx's numerous musical accomplishments have garnered him number one slots on both the "US Billboard Hot 100 Singles" and "Billboard Top 100" charts.
Foxx has made major contributions in the fight against poverty, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He supports non-profit organizations like One Campaign, Global Fund and Make Poverty History. He has also helped raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Madame Tussauds is an international wax attraction that offers the public the unique opportunity to "interact" with famous people. Madame Tussauds operates museums in London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Washington D.C., Shanghai, New York and The Venetian Resort - Hotel - Casino on "The Strip" in Las Vegas, NV. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is open seven days a week. For attraction hours and pricing, please call 702-862-7800 or visit online at https://www.mtvegas.com.
