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Post by Motorcity on Jan 4, 2006 21:11:16 GMT -5
BET 7:00PM
UNCF: Telethon
Legendary songwriter, composer and singer Stevie Wonder receives an all-star tribute for his lifetime of career achievements as part of the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Evening of Stars annual televised fundraiser. Don’t miss performances and appearances by Vivica A. Fox, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Ruby Dee, Tyler Perry, Fantasia, India Arie, Smokey Robinson and last year’s UNCF honoree Quincy Jones highlight a mega-list of celebrities coming together to raise money for this worthy cause.
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Post by Diamond Girl on Jan 11, 2006 21:30:46 GMT -5
An Evening of Stars Continues in Memory of Lou Rawls Friday January 6, 3:41 pm ET Legendary Entertainer Will Perform in Recorded Segments
FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary singer Lou Rawls, who died Friday of lung cancer, can be seen this weekend in his final television performance on An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder. The four-hour concert tribute, which airs nationally this weekend on NBC in New York and Los Angeles, on WGN, BET and in more than 70 markets, was recorded in September 2005. It will also air in certain cities this Sunday, January 8th. An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder raises funds and awareness for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the organization Lou Rawls championed for more than 25 years as a spokesman and performer. Rawls is credited with having created the UNCF's annual television special, known for years as The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars. The program was re-named "An Evening of Stars" in 1998. Rawls was honored on the 2004 program for helping the UNCF raise more than $200 million since 1979 and was presented with the UNCF's first "Award of Excellence" on that program.
In 2005, An Evening of Stars paid tribute to composer-producer Quincy Jones. The 2006 tribute honors legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, who has won 21 Grammy Awards and become an American music icon. Among those appearing with Rawls on this weekend's broadcast salute to Wonder are Yolanda Adams, Toni Braxton, Fantasia, Fred Hammond, Maroon 5 and Smokey Robinson. Rawls performs two songs on the program, including "You Are The Sunshine of My Life," a Wonder song, and "It Was A Very Good Year."
Viewers can check local listings for the channel and time when "An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder" airs in their city this weekend.
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Post by Diamond Girl on Jan 11, 2006 21:35:46 GMT -5
Telethon postscript to Rawls' efforts
The Associated Press
Lou Rawls (left) points to the tote board along with his co-host, former Baywatch actor Greg Alan Williams, during the broadcast of the 16th annual Lou Rawls Evening of the Stars telethon. Rawls passed away Friday. LOS ANGELES — In a bittersweet coda to Lou Rawls' life and long dedication to the United Negro College Fund, the annual fund-raiser he took part in last September was broadcast shortly after his death.
An Evening of Stars, a syndicated telethon honoring Stevie Wonder, showed Rawls in typically smooth voice and engaging form as he performed twice and was heard narrating the stories of students helped by the UNCF.
The program aired nationally throughout the weekend. Rawls died of cancer Friday in Los Angeles, a loss the program acknowledged with an on-screen message.
"In memory of Lou and in celebration of his devotion to UNCF, please make a contribution to help deserving students earn a college degree," the message read, in part.
The telethon, which Rawls initiated nearly three decades ago, had raised more than $15 million in pledges, according to an on-screen tally shown Saturday night during the Los Angeles area broadcast. It was to air Sunday in other cities.
The evening included an exhortation by Rawls, who didn't attend college, for the cause he held dear.
"Year after year, the UNCF keeps fighting the good fight and creating opportunities for deserving young students to become tomorrow's leaders. And that's what it's all about," said Rawls, who looked thin but dapper wearing a pinstriped suit and relaxed smile.
He and other performers, including Smokey Robinson, Toni Braxton and Fantasia, offered their versions of Wonder hits.
Rawls, in his singular velvet tones, first performed You Are the Sunshine of My Life. In his second appearance on stage at the Kodak Theater, he turned to a song most closely identified with Frank Sinatra, with a special resonance.
It Was a Very Good Year was done in a swinging, big-band arrangement, with a nod to the evening's honoree.
"But now the days grow short. It is the autumn of the years," Rawls sang. "And now I think about life as vintage wine from fine old kegs. From the brim to the dregs, Stevie, it pours sweet and clear. Yes, it was a very good year. It was a very good year."
Sinatra once said that Rawls possessed the "silkiest chops in the singing game."
During his telethon appearance, Rawls perched briefly on a stool but otherwise stood and sang, giving no hint of the health crisis he was facing. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2004 and brain cancer in May 2005.
Last month, he was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
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Kay
Star
*~*Floever A Star*~*
Posts: 1,326
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Post by Kay on Jan 12, 2006 18:07:23 GMT -5
An Evening of Stars Continues in Memory of Lou Rawls Friday January 6, 3:41 pm ET Legendary Entertainer Will Perform in Recorded Segments
FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary singer Lou Rawls, who died Friday of lung cancer, can be seen this weekend in his final television performance on An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder. The four-hour concert tribute, which airs nationally this weekend on NBC in New York and Los Angeles, on WGN, BET and in more than 70 markets, was recorded in September 2005. It will also air in certain cities this Sunday, January 8th. An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder raises funds and awareness for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the organization Lou Rawls championed for more than 25 years as a spokesman and performer. Rawls is credited with having created the UNCF's annual television special, known for years as The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars. The program was re-named "An Evening of Stars" in 1998. Rawls was honored on the 2004 program for helping the UNCF raise more than $200 million since 1979 and was presented with the UNCF's first "Award of Excellence" on that program.
In 2005, An Evening of Stars paid tribute to composer-producer Quincy Jones. The 2006 tribute honors legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, who has won 21 Grammy Awards and become an American music icon. Among those appearing with Rawls on this weekend's broadcast salute to Wonder are Yolanda Adams, Toni Braxton, Fantasia, Fred Hammond, Maroon 5 and Smokey Robinson. Rawls performs two songs on the program, including "You Are The Sunshine of My Life," a Wonder song, and "It Was A Very Good Year."
Viewers can check local listings for the channel and time when "An Evening of Stars Tribute to Stevie Wonder" airs in their city this weekend. A four hour tribute?? - Amazing :woo:
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Post by fantagurl on Jan 15, 2006 7:33:04 GMT -5
The tribute was "Awesome"!!! It was good to see Lou Rawls do his final performance.Stevie deserved his props. :kingtheman:
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