The Urban League of Hudson County (ULOHC), New Jersey is pleased to announce a brand new celebrity-line up for the Urban Vibe 2010 benefit concert. Soulful Rhythm and Blues sirens Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michele will be joining Caribbean music icons Shaggy, and Machel Montano for the fundraiser, which will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, on a new date, Sunday, November 7th.
Hosted by Terrence and Rosci of BET’s 106 and Park, and WBLS on-air personality Dahved Levy, Urban Vibe 2010 will raise funds and awareness for the ULOHC, a community based organization dedicated to advocating, facilitating and promoting initiatives that allow local residents to participate in the development of urban neighborhoods. Annually serving about 50,000 low-income families and individuals, the organization provides a wide-range of youth, senior, and education services, and housing and community development programs.
Elnora Watson, President and CEO of the ULOHC is confident that they have the right group of artists to represent the vision and mission of the ULOHC and Urban Vibe 2010.
“Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michele are two strong young women with powerful voices and positive messages, who serve as role models to young urban women,” states Watson. “Shaggy is an ambassador for community service and involvement in his native Jamaica, and throughout the Caribbean and Caribbean-American communities. Machel Montano is Trinidad’s Soca King, who set out from a very young age to bring worldwide recognition to his country and its music. We are confident that this is the right mix of artists to represent the Urban League of Hudson County and to bring the right vibe to Urban Vibe 2010.”
Jamaican-American Reggae artist Shaggy, who hit #1 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2001 with the single “Angel” featuring Rayvon, and scored a #1 album on the Billboard 200 with Hot Shots, is a former US Marine who served during Operation Desert Storm. His Make a Difference Foundation presented over $350,000 in aid to Jamaica’s Bustamante Hospital for Children this year, proceeds from his annual Shaggy and Friends Concert. Last year, he partnered with a host of Caribbean artists, including Sean Paul, Sean Kingston, Etana, and Alison Hinds, for the Haitian relief anthem “Rise Again” after the country’s earthquake devastation.
Machel Montano has been a life-long cultural ambassador for his native country, Trinidad & Tobago. He began his career in elementary school with the single “Too Young to Soca,” and has gone on to have a 25-year career dominating Soca charts throughout the Caribbean and North America. He has collaborated with a host of notable musicians including Wyclef Jean, Doug E Fresh, Pitbull, Beenie Man, and Soca icon the Mighty Sparrow.
Jazmine Sullivan, noted for her powerful vocals and for infusing elements of Jazz, Soul, Doo-Wop, Dub, and Reggae with R&B, is currently #5 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart and #64 on the Billboard Top 100 with her latest single “Holding you Down (Going in Circles).” She is presently on the Music Saved My Life tour with music icons Mary J Blige and El Debarge.
Grammy award-winning songbird Chrisette Michele debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 with her latest album Epiphany, released in May 2009. Earlier this year, she launched the successful 22-city Epiphany Tour. “I’m a Star” was released October 5th, the first single from her highly anticipated third album Let Freedom Reign, due in stores on November 30th.
Urban Vibe 2010 Benefit Concert, featuring Machel Montano, Jazmine Sullivan, Shaggy, Chrisette Michele, Farmer Nappy, and Patrice Roberts, and hosted by Dahved Levy and Terrence and Rocsi, will be held on Sunday, November 7th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.