Cast of MOTOWN to Perform at EBONY Power 100 Gala, 11/4; Berry Gordy to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

EBONY Magazine, the curator of the African American experience, past, present and future, today announced that it will host a gala event in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall on Monday evening, November 4, 2013 to celebrate the honorees on its annual EBONY Power 100 list. The event is presented by Nationwide Insurance, and this is the second year the company holds the presenting sponsor title.

The EBONY Power 100 list salutes the achievements of the most influential African-Americans in the country. Among the game changers honored this year are President Barack Obama, actress Kerry Washington, NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson, actor Michael B. Jordan, film director Lee Daniels, chefs Marcus Samuelsson and Roblé Ali and activists Harry Belafonte and Marian Wright Edelman.

Hosting the star-studded evening will be Power 100 List honoree Nick Cannon, the multi-faceted entertainer, actor, DJ, comedian and musician. For the past five seasons, Cannon has served as host of "America's Got Talent," NBC's top-rated summer reality competition series.

Berry Gordy, the legendary founder of Motown Records, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Gordy was influential in the careers of such extraordinary talents as the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, The Supremes and the Temptations. Under his direction, Motown became a model for black capitalism, pride and self-expression. A gifted songwriter, Gordy also penned and co-wrote hits for Smokey Robinson, Jackie Wilson and Etta James. In addition, he has produced several movies, including "Mahogany" and "Lady Sings the Blues."

The Motown themed evening will include a special performance by The Jacksons, one of the biggest acts in pop music history. The Jackson brothers-a preteen Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie-found their way to Berry Gordy's hit-making Motown Records in the late 1960s.

Also scheduled to appear is the cast of Berry Gordy's four-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL and famed American crossover jazz pianist ELEW.

DJ KISS, who has spun for many of the world's biggest celebrities and added her Signature Sound to the hottest fashion, music and charity events, will play throughout the evening and at the after-party along with Cannon.

Award-winning chef and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson, owner of Red Rooster Harlem in New York City, is designing the menu for the gala. The internationally acclaimed Samuelsson, who was also named to EBONY's Power 100 List, has cooked for President Obama and served as a judge for "Top Chef" and "Chopped." He is also the youngest chef ever to receive two three-star ratings from The New York Times.

In addition to Nationwide, EBONY Power 100 Gala sponsors include United Airlines and Chevrolet.

The 2013 Power 100 list will appear in the December/January issue of EBONY on newsstands the week of November 4. The full list of EBONY's POWER 100 can be found at www.ebony.com.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus