On Monday, July 25, the 29th annuAl Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will be welcoming R&B superstars Charlie Wilson and Eric Benét. Along with the Seaside Summer Concert Series on Coney Island, the MLK Series has been the largest free summer concert series in the New York Metropolitan area for the past three decades, entertaining tens of thousands of music lovers every year.
"The shows will go on at Coney Island this summer," said
BP Markowitz, "and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is still going strong after three decades of music. I am proud to host the two largest free outdoor concert series in the New York area, and of course, this year's performers-which also include
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts,
Queen Latifah, Cheap Trick, the Monkees, Jeffrey Osborne,
Peabo Bryson,
FrEddie Jackson, Shaggy and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly-have toured around the world but are really hitting the big time-and the big stage-in Brooklyn, USA!"
Charlie Wilson, the former lead singer of the Gap Band, received two 2010 Grammy Award nominations for his second solo album on Jive Records,
Uncle Charlie, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 200. The nominations were for Best Album and for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "There Goes My Baby," which spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B chart and remained on the charts for 52 weeks. He also received a 2010 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Male Artist and the 2009 Soul Train Icon Award. From classic Gap Band hits like "Yearning for Your Love" and "Outstanding" to collaborations with
Justin Timberlake,
Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams on the Grammy-nominated track "Beautiful," Wilson continues embracing contemporary music. And while Wilson may be an R&B icon, he is also known for his up-tempo party jams "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" and "Early in the Morning." Wilson, who is in remission for prostate cancer due to an early diagnosis, has also become a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Featuring duets with Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi and the O'Jays' Eddie Levert, Eric Benét's newest album Lost In Time is an homage to and expansion of the sweet soul of the 1970s. Benét made his solo debut with 1996's True To Myself. Three years later came A Day In The Life, which contained the single "Spend My Life with You" featuring Tamia. The song went to #1 on the R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a Grammy. In 2004, following a difficult time in his life, the singer released the pensive Hurricane. His next album, Love & Life, arrived in September 2008. The CD included the crowd favorite "Chocolate Legs" and the smash "You're The Only One," which spent 4 weeks straight at #1 on Urban AC radio. Love & Life garnered two Grammy nominations, including Best R&B Album.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is celebrating its spectacular 29th season with a star-studded lineup of gospel, classic soul, contemporary, Caribbean and R&B artists. The free concerts are Monday nights at Wingate Field, entrances on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs. A limited amount of general seating is available on a first come, first served basis. The program begins at 7:30pm.
Throughout the years, the Seaside Summer Concert Series has attracted top name classic rock, pop, oldies, contemporary and Latin performers to Coney Island. This summer, the shows will be held at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, next to the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. A limited number of $5 rental chairs in a specially designated area are available on a first come, first served basis. Shows begin at 7:30pm.
Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-222-0600 or visit
www.brooklynconcerts.com.
