CHICAGO, IL. (www.chicagomusicawards.com) - The 24th Annual
Chicago Music Awards will feature a star-studded line-up headlined by Disco/Dance Legend
Linda Clifford, Syleena Johnson,
Darius Brooks, and Maurice Mahon amongst others.
This years gala event will be held Saturday, February 5th, 2005 at the Museum of Science & Industry, 57th Street & South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL. VIP reception is 7:00PM and the Awards ceremony begins 8:00PM. Tickets are $45 general admission, $75 for VIP tickets (includes reception with special guests). Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Call (312) 559-1212.
For general information, call Martin's Inter-Culture at (312) 427-0266, email:
[email protected], or visit www.chicagomusicawards.com.
Disco diva and dance music icon, Linda Clifford is best known for her hits 'Runaway Love,' and 'If Friends Could See Me Know;' Darius Brook has emerged has one of the foremost Contemporary Gospel singers; for 20 years, he was a key part of the Chicago-based Thompson Community Singers, one of the most influential choirs in gospel music; Jive recording artist, singer and songwriter Syleena Johnson, is also the daughter of Syl Johnson, a noted blues singer who penned the hit, 'Take Me To The River.'
Recently signed to Blue Moon Records, Maurice Mahon, is one of Chicago's most popular homegrown talents, he is the original Chicago Idol Winner, whose song 'Closer' was written and produced by the Pied Piper himself, R. Kelly.
Also scheduled to perform are Rock sensation Punsapaya, Blues musician Lurie Bell, Reggae/Calypso/Soca Jamaican Oneman Band, Poet Malik Yusef, Mau, Lil Mann, the all female Jazz group KCR Ensemble, EarCandy, Loop Lab School Choir, and others. Awards are presented in a variety of categories including Pop, R&B, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country Western, Opera, Latin, Reggae, Classical, Hip Hop/Rap, Gospel, Comedy and Poetry. Also, last year, a children's segment was added.
Special awards of honor will be presented to select individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the music industry working mostly behind-the-scenes. They are Chicago natives Elroy Smith, program director, WGCI AM/FM & WVAZ/103 FM (Clear Channel), Harry Porterfield, WLS-TV/ABC7, Regina Daniels, Daniels Entertainment, Robert Pruter, Historian/Writer, Dr. Toni Marie Montgomery, Dean, Northwestern School of Music and Lifetime Achievement honoree Linda Clifford.
Since it's inception in 1983, The Chicago Music Awards (CMA) [produced by Martins Inter-Culture, Ltd., headed by Ephraim Martin, an entrepreneur and former photojournalist,] celebrates and recognizes the quality and diversity of music and artistry. Each year the Awards pay tribute to the best and brightest among Chicago area entertainers.
The Chicago Music Awards is sponsored in part, by Straight Talk-SPTV 25, Caribbean Shipping & Postal Services, Chicago Defender, African Spectrum, Kingston Mines, Loop Lab School, VIBE (Video is Best Edited), KL Entertainment, Remax Realtor Leroy Viamille, Herbert Witter Insurance Broker, Mario Uomo, Wild Hare Reggae Club, A Natural Harvest, Air Jamaica, Reggaesource.com, WVON 1450 AM and Rolling Out Urbanstyle 'Weekly.