New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Columbia Records) - Monster, a world leader in advanced audio/video accessories and high-performance headphones, today announced that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
Earth, Wind & Fire will headline its annual Monster Retailer Awards and Concert at January's upcoming CES 2011 convention in Las Vegas. Celebrating their 40th Anniversary in 2011,
Earth, Wind & Fire will perform a concert of its greatest hits with an orchestra. Group founder, Maurice White, will make a special appearance at the convention.
Thousands of CE professionals are expected to pack the house to enjoy the concert by the legendary 8-time Grammy Award winning group, and learn who will be honored with the coveted annual Monster Retailer Awards. Winners will be chosen in a variety of categories including the top award, the Gold, for 'Most Monsterous Retailer of the Year.' The Monster Retailer Awards and Concert will take place on Friday, January 7, 2011 at the Paris Hotel. Past Monster CES concerts have featured music greats like Diana Ross, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash and James Brown.
In the 1970s, Earth, Wind & Fire literally pioneered a brand new form of pop music, bringing together African and African-American styles, including jazz and R&B, to create a powerful style that reached a broad cross-section of listeners and captivated audiences around the world. Under the leadership of band founder Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire combines high-caliber musicianship, wide-ranging musical genre eclecticism, and multicultural spiritualism. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, the group performed at the White House on February 22, 2009 at the Governors' Dinner, which was the first formal White House dinner hosted by President Barack Obama. With a celebrated legacy of over four decades, co-founders, Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson continue to perform with the band to sold-out audiences around the world.
With countless hit songs, including 'Shining Star,' 'That's the Way of the World,' 'Sing a Song,' 'Fantasy,' Boogie Wonderland' and many more, Earth, Wind & Fire continues to influence and inspire musicians and artists everywhere.
Their songs have been covered by artists ranging from Jerry Garcia, Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan, Tito Puente, Wynonna Judd, Yoland Adams and even the Vienna Boys Choir, among many others. Their music has also been sampled heavily in today's digital world, and can be heard in songs from Jay Z, P. Diddy, Cee-Lo, Wyclef Jean, LL Cool J, A Tribute Called Quest and others.
Noel Lee, the Head Monster, noted: 'The importance of bringing legendary performers and powerful live music to CES for our awards show is something that everyone here at Monster feels very strongly about. In today's digital consumer electronics world, with such an emphasis on portable and mobile products, it can sometimes be easy to lose track of the fact that the emotion, impact and intense connection of great music all begins with live performance. That's why we're especially thrilled that for CES 2011 we will have a band that has been so incredibly influential and that literally defines great musicianship, passion, positivity and funk. As anyone who has ever been to an Earth, Wind & Fire concert can tell you, something very special happens when this group performs. We are looking forward to a truly uplifting and fun celebration of great music and great vibes!'
Attendance for the 2011 Monster Retailer Awards and Concert is by invitation only.
