Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at 8 PM
Produced in cooperation with The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
WHAT:
Common, Alice Smith and Charlie Wilson have been added as special guests for The Academy Celebrates The Black Movie Soundtrack II at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, August 31, at 8 PM.
Back by popular demand, Grammy-winning musician Marcus Miller and acclaimed producer/director Reginald Hudlin reprise the Hollywood Bowl’s 2014 celebration of classic music from black cinema. The 2016 edition will feature new clips and music, as well as some favorites from the original show. The evening will once again be hosted by actor and comedian Craig Robinson. Special guests, including the previously announced Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as Full Force, will perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra led by Vince Mendoza. Additional special guests will be announced at a later date.
Academy Award - and Grammy-winning actor and musician - Common continues to break down barriers with a multitude of critically acclaimed, diverse roles and continued success at the box office. He was recently seen on the big screen in the Oscar-nominated film, Selma, a film centered around the civil rights marches that changed America. He won a 2015 Academy Award, alongside John Legend, for “Best Original Song In A Motion Picture” for “Glory” from the motion picture Selma. He recently wrapped production on Judy Greer’s directorial debut, A Happening of Monumental Proportions with Allison Janney. Up next, Common will be seen in David Ayer’s high profile comic book movie - Suicide Squad for Warner Bros., which will premiere in August 2017, and the much anticipated sequel John Wick 2 opposite Keanu Reeves out February 2017.
Alice Smith was raised between Washington, DC and Augusta, Georgia on a steady diet of gospel, pop, soul and a little go-go thrown in for good measure. Those influences remain on songs like “Be Easy” and “The One,” representing an evolution from her critically-acclaimed debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, released in 2006. Her fans across the globe have followed her remarkable live show to world famous venues like NYC’s Joe’s Pub, LA’s Wiltern Theater and Paris’ Le Zenith. Known for a four-octave vocal range, Alice has the kind of live performance that can coax goosebumps and tears from even the most jaded listener. She has honed her stage presence since cutting her teeth in NYC’s Afro-Punk scene alongside artists like Tamar Kali and Imani Coppola.
Nine-time Grammy nominee. Showman extraordinaire. Hit-making singer/songwriter whose second act is trumping his legendary first run. Not many contemporary artists can lay claim to such superlatives. Charlie Wilson can. Co-founder of iconic funk trio the Gap Band, Wilson has no intentions of slowing down. His last album, Forever Charlie, released in 2015, led to a national sold out arena tour. Grammy nods include: 2016 – two Grammy nominations – “Best Traditional R&B Performance” and “Best R&B Album”; 2015 – two nominations for his singing and songwriting contributions to Kanye West’s “Bound 2”; and yet another Grammy nomination for “If I Believe” in the “Best Gospel Song” category in 2014. Throughout his long-running career, Wilson has stayed true to who he is musically and creatively while simultaneously raising the bar each time. In addition to his nine Grammy nominations, the 2009 Soul Train Icon Award and the BET Awards’ 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award, Wilson is a 2005 BMI Icon Award honoree, was named Billboard’s No. 1 Adult Artist in 2009 and received the Trumpet Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
WHEN:
Wednesday, August 31, at 8 PM
WHO:
The Academy Celebrates The Black Movie Soundtrack II
Marcus Miller
Common, special guest
Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire, special guests
Full Force, special guest
Alice Smith, special guest
Charlie Wilson, special guest
Additional special guests to be announced
Craig Robinson, host
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Vince Mendoza, conductor
WHERE:
HOLLYWOOD BOWL
2301 N Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90068
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Subscriptions and single tickets for performances during the Hollywood Bowl 2016 summer season are available at HollywoodBowl.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000, and in person at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office.
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PR Office, 213.972.3034
Sophie Jefferies, 213.972.3422, sjefferies@laphil.org
Andrew Schwartz, 213.972.3406, aschwartz@laphil.org
Alisse Kingsley, Muse Media, 323.467.8508, alissethemuse@aol.com