In An Announcement Made Early This Afternoon (See Full Release Below),It Was Revealed That The King of Bachata Will Co-Headline
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” Alongside Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty And Willie Nelson
With The President & Mrs. Obama Hosting The Event on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 As Part Of The White House’s “Joining Forces” Initiative,
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House”
Will Premiere Friday, November 7 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS Stations Nationwide
ROMEO SANTOS’ Formula Vol. 2 Is The Best-Selling Latin Music Album Of 2014, And Has Reached The
FIVE x PLATINUM Level In The U.S. Latin Market
Already A Previous Winner, Romeo Just Received Another
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARD Nomination For ‘Favorite Latin Artist’
Romeo’s Latest Single “Eres Mía” Also Recently Reached #1 On Billboard’s “Latin Airplay” Chart – Becoming The Third #1 Single From “Formula Vol. 2” And Romeo’s NINTH #1 Single As A Solo Artist
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WILLIE NELSON, MARY J. BLIGE, JOHN FOGERTY,
COMMON, ROMEO SANTOS AND MORE
HEADLINE PBS MUSIC SPECIAL AT THE WHITE HOUSE
TO CELEBRATE THE U.S. MILITARY COMMUNITY
— Latest From WETA’s Emmy Award-Nominated “In Performance at the White House” Series
Also Features Active Duty Military Members and
A Special USO Performance by Daughtry from their USO Tour to Japan,
Airing November 7 as Part of PBS Arts Fall Festival on PBS Stations Nationwide —
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” is a PBS music special from the South Lawn of the White House. President and Mrs. Obama will host the event on Thursday, November 6, 2014 in advance of Veterans Day and as part of The White House “Joining Forces” initiative, with an all-star tribute to the men and women who serve the United States. The concert, which will have a live audience that will include hundreds of members of the military, will feature performances by Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Romeo Santos, and also active duty military members U.S. Army SGT. Christiana R. Ball, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matt Smith and Capt. John Ed Auer. Don Was will be the music director. The production is also working with the USO, for a performance by Daughtry via satellite of their USO concert at Yokota Air Base in Japan, as well as a live-viewing audience of troops from the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir in Virginia — both to be included in the White House concert and the broadcast. (Program subject to change.)
The program, part of the Emmy Award-nominated “In Performance at the White House” series, is the fifty-thirdproduction in the series’ thirty-six years. The sixty-minute television special is produced by WETA Washington, D.C., the flagship public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, in association with AEG Ehrlich Ventures and The GRAMMY Museum®. “A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” will premiere Friday, November 7 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide, as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival. (Check local listings.) The program will also be broadcast on November 11, Veterans Day, via the American Forces Network to American service men and women and civilians at U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world.
The broadcast has been made possible by a special collaboration with USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore and USO, Inc. A joint sponsorship by The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin provides major corporate funding for this event. Additional funders include the Anne Ray Charitable Trust, The Annenberg Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.
The November 6 White House concert, including President Obama’s remarks, will be available for press via the White House Press Corps pool feed and streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov and www.pbs.org/whitehousestarting at 7:25 p.m. ET.
“WETA is pleased to join the White House in celebrating the U.S. military community, who serve our country with tremendous dedication and service,” stated Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA. “Through the ‘In Performance at the White House’ series, public broadcasting and WETA continue to preserve and honor the history of our country, which music captures so beautifully, and bring it to the national stage.”
“Public media is committed to honoring our nation’s veterans, who have given so much to our country. We are proud to mark Veterans Day and celebrate the military community with this ‘In Performance at the White House’,” said Paula A. Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. ”This is part of our ongoing effort to recognize the contributions and achievements of the men and women of our armed services, and use the power of our airwaves to share their stories.”
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is proud to support programs that honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in the Armed Forces, our veterans and their families,” said Patricia S. Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. “‘A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House’, PBS’ Stories of Service, StoryCorps Military Voices, and CPB’s Veterans Coming Home initiative connects all Americans to these stories of courage and commitment.”
Educational Program with the White House
In addition to the evening concert, the morning of the concert taping First Lady Michelle Obama will host at the White House “The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military.” This educational workshop celebrating music’s rich history in the military will be held in the State Dining Room with 130 middle school, high school and college-level students from across the country. The event will be produced by The GRAMMY Museum® and led by Robert Santelli, executive director of The GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles. Santelli is a leading musicologist and music educator who will give the students an overview of the origins of music’s place in military life and explore the impact of music in times of war. Santelli will be joined by special musical guests from the evening concert, who will share their experiences as well as answer students’ questions. The White House “The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military” workshop will be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live.
“The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military” will be accompanied by a broader educational program, also developed by The GRAMMY Museum®, consisting of visits to Greater Washington-area institutions and a special student press conference where student journalists will be able to question production staff for articles in their school or local newspaper. In addition, The GRAMMY Museum® will offer downloadable curriculum and educational materials for middle and high school teachers, available at www.grammymuseum.org and www.pbs.org/whitehouse. This is the eighth educational workshop at the White House that The GRAMMY Museum® has organized, in cooperation with the “In Performance at the White House” concert series.
“In Performance at the White House” Series
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” will be the thirteenth “In Performance at the White House” program during President Barack Obama’s administration. From February 2009 to the most recent broadcast in April 2014, these latest “In Performance at the White House” events have honored the musical genius of Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Carole King; celebrated Hispanic musical heritage during Hispanic Heritage Month; marked Black History Month with events featuring the music of Motown, Memphis Soul, Women of Soul, the Blues, and from the Civil Rights Movement; explored the rich roots of Country music; and spotlighted Broadway and the unique spirit of the American musical. The star-studded line-ups have included Marc Anthony, Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge, José Feliciano, Jamie Foxx, Aretha Franklin, Dave Grohl, Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Mick Jagger, Jonas Brothers, B.B. King, Alison Krauss, Nathan Lane, John Legend, Eva Longoria, Lyle Lovett, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Janelle Monáe, Sam Moore, Mike Myers, Smokey Robinson, Darius Rucker, Seal, Jerry Seinfeld, Esperanza Spalding, Elaine Stritch, James Taylor, Justin Timberlake and Jack White.
“In Performance at the White House” has been produced by WETA since 1978 and spans every administration since President Carter’s. The series began with an East Room recital by the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Since then, “In Performance at the White House” has embraced virtually every genre of American performance: pop, country, gospel, jazz, theatre and dance among them. The series was created to showcase the rich fabric of American culture in the setting of the nation’s most famous home. Past programs have showcased such talent as cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, dancer/choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov, popular music singers Linda Ronstadt and Alison Krauss, the United States Marine Band, soul and jazz singers Natalie Cole and Anita Baker, leading Broadway performers, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” Production
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” is a production of WETA Washington, D.C., in association with AEG Ehrlich Ventures and The GRAMMY Museum®. The executive producers are Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson for WETA; and Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of The GRAMMY Awards®, and Robert Santelli, executive director of The GRAMMY Museum®, for AEG Ehrlich Ventures. The producer is the GRAMMY Awards® producer Renato Basile and the director is Leon Knoles. The music director is Don Was. The “In Performance at the White House” series was created by WETA Washington, D.C. The series producer is Jackson Frost. The broadcast has been made possible by a special collaboration with USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore and USO, Inc. A joint sponsorship by The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin provides major corporate funding for this event. Additional funders include the Anne Ray Charitable Trust, The Annenberg Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.
For more information about “A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House,” visit www.pbs.org/whitehouse. An electronic press kit, including downloadable talent photos for promotional use, is available at www.pressroom.pbs.org. To follow “In Performance at the White House” on Twitter, use hashtag #PBSipwh.
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The White House “Joining Forces” initiative was formed in 2012 by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, to show their appreciation for service members and their families across America and to engage all sectors of society to give them the opportunities and support they have earned. More information about “Joining Forces” is available at www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.
WETA Washington, D.C., is one of the largest producing stations of new content for public television in the United States. Other WETA productions and co-productions include “PBS NewsHour,” “Washington Week with Gwen Ifill,” “The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize,” “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize” and documentaries by filmmaker Ken Burns, including the upcoming six-hour series “The Story of Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies,” premiering Spring 2015. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.
The GRAMMY Museum® pays tribute to music’s rich cultural history. This one-of-a-kind, 21st-century Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the premier recognition of excellence in recorded music — the GRAMMY Award. The GRAMMY Museum® features 30,000 square feet of interactive and multimedia exhibits located within L.A. LIVE, the downtown Los Angeles sports, entertainment and residential district. Through thought-provoking and dynamic public and educational programs and exhibits, guests will experience music from a never-before-seen insider perspective that only The GRAMMY Museum® can deliver. More information is available at www.grammymuseum.org.
The GRAMMY Museum® “A Salute to Veterans” Program is a two session songwriting program for veterans, based in Los Angeles in October 2014. The program will help veterans use music as a means of storytelling as well as an outlet to express emotion. Workshops will take place on Saturday mornings and will be taught by both GRAMMY Museum® employees and industry professionals, helping participants learn about the history of music, basics of songwriting and challenging the group to create their own songs. This program will continue in Spring 2015 with a six-week session.
AEG Ehrlich Ventures is one of the leading television production companies in the field of award shows, live events and music related programming. For more than 25 years, no individual has produced more music related and non-traditional programming for television, as well as single and multi-artist and concept specials for network, cable, syndication and home video programming than Ken Ehrlich. With hundreds of hours of highly acclaimed specials to his credit, from the annual GRAMMY Awards®, which he has produced since 1980, to a yearly slate of award shows including his sixth and most recent Emmy Awards show in 2013, Ehrlich’s credits are unmatched. Ehrlich began his career with public broadcaster WTTW in Chicago, creating and producing the seminal music series “Soundstage.” More recently for public broadcasting, he co-produced “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” in 2010, which had the White House debut of Bob Dylan, “In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues” in 2012, “Memphis Soul: In Performance at the White House” in 2013, and most recently “Women of Soul: In Performance at the White House” in 2014. AEG Ehrlich Ventures is led by Ken Ehrlich, and is a division of AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. More information is available at www.aegworldwide.com.
The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. It provides a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. The USO also provides critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Its programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. More information is available at www.USO.org.
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 109 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, www.pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at www.pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
As America’s storyteller, PBS is bringing together multi-platform content and powerful conversations around U.S. military veterans under the banner of Stories of Service. The national programming content features compelling stories of those who have served and provides a deeper understanding of our nation’s military history. Through public television on air and on PBS.org, PBS member stations will create their own local content and provide community resources for returning veterans and their families. The initiative will educate the civilian population about our military history and highlight the contributions from the veteran community. The Stories of Service initiative was announced in May 2014 along with a community engagement campaign for select PBS member stations and their local veterans and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), called Veterans Coming Home. More information is available at www.pbs.org/veterans/stories-of-service/home.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services. More information about CPB is available at www.cpb.org.
Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and led by Wisconsin Public Television, Veterans Coming Home builds on public media’s strengths to address the needs of veterans in local communities. With compelling national content to focus attention and strong local services, public television and radio stations are conducting local efforts that: Communicate veterans’ stories through journalism, documentaries and online content; Convene local events such as job fairs and town hall meetings that recognize veterans for their service and directly connect veterans with resources, support and veterans service organizations; and Collaborate with local organizations to better coordinate and publicize local services, facilitate dialogue, and connect more veterans with a healthy path. Working with community-based partners, many local stations are recognizing veterans for their service, sharing their stories, opportunities and challenges, and increasing the number of veterans connecting with local resources to support their successful transition to civilian life. More information is available at www.veteranscominghome.org.