On Monday, July 26, the 28th annuAl Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field in Crown Heights/Central Brooklyn, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will feature the soulful sounds of Musiq Soulchild and Crisette Michele. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series and the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Coney Island have entertained hundreds of thousands of residents over the past three decades and remain the largest free concert series in the New York metropolitan area.
"Brooklyn is proud home to everyone from everywhere, so there is no better place in the world to enjoy music-the universal language," said
BP Markowitz. "That's why I have been so proud to host free concerts at Coney Island for more than three decades, and in Central Brooklyn for 28 years. From Seaside's stellar lineup of
Neil Sedaka,
The Beach Boys and the B-52s, to MLK's
George Clinton,
Toni Braxton, and Sean Paul-not to mention a chance to catch the first lady of soul,
Aretha Franklin, at both concert series-Brooklyn is once again the place to be for hot fun in the summertime."
Musiq Soulchild's blockbuster 2000 debut, Aijuswanaseing, sold more than a million copies, garnering Musiq four Billboard Music Awards (including Best New Artist and Top R&B Artist), a Soul Train Music Award and an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award. His next album, Juslisen, entered the Billboard 200 and R&B charts at number one. His next two albums also proved to be critical and commercial successes. Musiq has worked with the Roots and Carlos Santana, contributed songs to
Tyler Perry film soundtracks and played himself on TV shows, including The Game, Soul Food and As the World Turns. His sixth studio album will be out later this year.
Sultry-voiced singer Crisette Michele was nominated for a BET Award (Best New Artist), as well as two Grammys for her gold-certified debut, I Am. Her song Be OK garnered a Best Urban/Alternative Performance Grammy. Her second album, Epiphany, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. She has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award, a Soul Train Award and an Urban Music Award. She has been featured on tracks by Jay-Z, The Game, Nas, Ghostface Killah and the Roots.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is celebrating its spectacular 28th season with a star-studded lineup of gospel, classic soul, contemporary, Caribbean and R&B artists. The free concerts begin 7:30 p.m. Monday nights at Wingate Field, entrances on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. Seating is limited so attendees should bring chairs.
The Seaside Summer Concert Series, now in its 32nd year, is the largest free outdoor music series in New York. Throughout the years, the Thursday night series has attracted top name classic rock, pop, oldies, contemporary and Latin performers to Asser Levy/Seaside Park, at West 5th Avenue and Surf Avenue in Coney Island. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Chair rentals will be available for $5, or concertgoers can bring their own chairs.
Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-222-0600, or visit
www.brooklynconcerts.com.
