Party Hearty Super Bowl The stars are descending on the Motor City this weekend for Super Bowl XL, where the
Pittsburg Steelers
go up against the
Seattle Seahawks.
.
Neo-soul wunderkind and Detroit native
Kem is one of the headliners for the ‘Motown Winter Blast,’ a three-day festival created as the backdrop for the big event, in which music acts perform on the Sprint Stage atop Premier Garage near Campus Martius. Country music star
Clint Black, blues and rock guitarist
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, neo-soul duo
Kindred The Family Soul, alternative rockers
Smash Mouth, R&B newcomer
Trey Songz, and classic rock pioneer
Mark Farner are also confirmed for the festivities.
“Having the ‘Super Bowl’ in Detroit is great,” Kem told Black Voices. “It’s a testament to the turnaround taking place in this wonderful city I call home. I'm looking forward to my concert… performing for a Detroit audience is like being at a family reunion.”
The Motown Records singer/songwriter, who was recently nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, said he doesn’t believe all of the celebratory reveling around big sporting events takes away from the game. And while admitting he isn’t an avid sports fan, he has love for his hometown teams. “I love the Pistons and continue to have hope in the Detroit Lions,” he added. “But I am rooting for the Steelers because there is a Detroiter on their team.”
Other Noteworthy Super Bowl EventsOn Saturday, ‘Ebony’ magazine will host the inaugural ‘EBONY Pathfinder Awards: A Tribute to Excellence’ at the Seldom Blues Supper Club with honorees including Pro football Hall of Famer and current NFL Senior Vice President,
Art Shell, New England Patriots Vice President
Rena Clark and Atlanta Falcons Running Back
Warrick Dunn. ‘Entertainment Tonight’s’ Kevin Frasier will serve as emcee for the invitation-only affair. According to a spokesperson, former NFL players
Doug Williams, Rodney Peete, Warren Moon, Otis Wilson and
Randall Cunningham are on the list, along with celebs
Vivica A. Fox,
Holly Robinson Peete, Freda Payne, Judge Greg Mathis and best selling author, Michael Eric Dyson.
"I am extremely pleased to present our first annual EBONY Pathfinder Awards," said Johnson Publishing Company President and CEO
Linda Johnson Rice. "My father,
John H. Johnson, was a trailblazer and a pathfinder in the fields of media and business. He inspired all of us and I am honored to uphold his legacy with this new event in our company history."
Kanye West,
John Legend
and
The Fugees are on board to host Sony/BMG’s ‘Jam Session,’ featuring performances by
Slum Village, Dwele and
Emelee at Detroit’s Clutch Cargo, tonight. Performances will be backed by a live band featuring
Keith Harris from the Black Eyed Peas. Sports icon turned entrepreneur Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson will present ‘An Evening of Magic, Music & Passion’ at the venue tomorrow, including a live Channel 955 radio broadcast accompanied by a live house band. Sunday night’s Post Game Party will be hosted by Usher. Invited guests include
Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Beyonce, Will Smith, Jazzy Jeff, Pamela Anderson, Eva Longoria, R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, Brian McKnight and players
Eddie George, Randy Moss, Jerome Bettis, Charles Woodson, Michael Vick, and
Donovan McNabb.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is making his ubiquitous presence felt in Detroit this weekend, with grand plans to throw “the biggest Celebrity Bash of the year:” A three-day event at Detroit’s Captain’s Bar & Grille, billed as the largest venue to host a Super Bowl event in the Motor City, outside of Ford Field. Set to accommodate 2,500 VIP fans, Captain’s Bar & Grille –re-christened ‘Diddy’s House’ for the weekend – will be the location for ‘A Black Affair’ hosted by
Young Jeezy tonight, featuring a live performance by
UGK’s
Bun B. On Saturday, ‘Diddy’s 5th Annual Players Ball’ will take place there, and so will ‘Diddy’s Diamonds & Furs,’ hosted by Atlanta Falcons quarterback,
Michael Vick. According to an event organizer, Vick will give a mink coat away to one deserving male and one female guest.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Detroit’s St. John’s Hospital and the Coalition of Temporary Shelter. In addition, a scholarship will to go to a student at Mackenzie High School.
Three-time Grammy Award winner
Nelly has designs to turn the Detroit Opera House into something new with a ‘Platinum Party’ hosted by his own Derrty Entertainment. It features
Murphy Lee, Ali and
Gipp.
'America's Next Top Model' winner
Eva Pigford, is confirmed to co-host the event, which is being coordinated by former NBA forward
Derrick Coleman’s Beyond The Arc Entertainment. “People all over the world are coming here to party, and I want to make sure that Detroiters have the opportunity to be a part of one of the most memorable parties in Super Bowl history,” said Coleman. “We're inviting folks from out of town too [to this] dance party that people will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Lastly, as
previously reported in ‘Black Voices,’ Patti LaBelle will headline ‘The 2006 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration’ today at Detroit’s Masonic Temple. Billed as ‘An Evening Of Inspiration’ the show also features
The Winans, Mary Mary, The Clark Sisters and Hezekiah Walker. And on Saturday,
Holly Robinson Peete and her husband
Rodney Peete, will present
'Gridiron Glamour,' the seventh annual charity fashion show and benefit brunch at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan .
