Live Music Returns to 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, Airs 9/20

For the first time since 2004, the 61st PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS will feature a live band as part of the telecast, being broadcast live from the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 20 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The 17-piece band includes guitarists Dean Parks (America, Steely Dan), Ray Parker, Jr. (Raydio, "Ghostbusters"), keyboardist Michael Bearden (Michael Jackson's last music director), Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Tom Scott, bassist Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones) and percussionist Lenny Castro (Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton). The all-star ensemble will be on-stage throughout the show.

Primetime Emmy Award winner Steve Jordan ("Saturday Night Live," "Late Night with David Letterman") is music director for the three hour show, while six-time Grammy Award winner David Paich (Toto) will serve as co-music director.

Additional members of the band include jazz great Gene Cipriano ("Peter Gunn") on woodwinds, trumpet virtuoso Rick Baptist ("The Incredibles"), Grammy-winning jazz trombonist George Bohanon, Tom Rainer on keyboards, Gayle Levant ("The Bucket List") on the harp, violinists Alyssa Park and Endre Granat, Karen Elaine on the viola and cellist Cecilia Tsan.

In addition, multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan will perform live during the "In Memoriam" segment of the broadcast.

The 61ST PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS is being produced by Don Mischer Productions. Multiple Emmy Award-winner Don Mischer recently produced and directed "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial," and the Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show. For more information, please go to emmys.com

For more information, go to www.cbs.com/specials/emmys/ or http://www.emmys.com/.