The 18th Annual Old School & Blues Festival Honors U.S. Military Service Members

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Oct. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- For over 17 years JD Entertainment Company has entertained a SOLD OUT crowd with its outdoor music concert(s) in Huntsville, Alabama. The "Old School & Blues Festival" has attracted tens of thousands for over 17 years from Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans, Florida and surrounding area(s) the event has become a tradition for locals and visitors.

JD Entertainment’s proactive efforts in reaching out to this community have enabled the company to forge strong, trusted connections; as a result JD Entertainment is excited about dedicating 2014 concert to supporting and honoring U.S. Military service members and veterans who protect our security and freedom.

To prepare for over 15,000 fans the 2014 Old School & Blues Festival will be held at a larger venue for 2014-- the Huntsville Dragway on May 24^th 2014-- located at 502 Quarter Mountain Road Harvest, Alabama.

Featuring National Recording Legends

The Manhattans

The Manhattans got together not in their namesake location, but in nearby Jersey City, NJ, in 1962. The group was centered around lead singer George "Smitty" Smith and bass (and sometime lead) vocalist Winfred "Blue" Lovett; the other original members were Kenny Kelley, Richard Taylor, and Edward "Sonny" Bivins, the latter of whom sometimes co-wrote material with accomplished songwriter Lovett. In 1964, The Manhattans signed with the Newark-based Carnival label and teamed up with producer Joe Evans; they scored their first hit in early 1965 with "I Wanna Be (Your Everything)," a number 12 R&B hit that established their way with a ballad right from the beginning. It was the first of eight singles for Carnival, a string that continued up through 1967. None were huge hits, but nearly all of them reached the Top 30 on the R&B charts, and are still prized by collectors of vocal-group soul for their aching harmonies, Smith's intense leads, and lack of concession to mainstream pop audiences.

Mel Waiters

R&B singer Mel Waiters was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, where in 1974 he began his performing career at local teen clubs; after a stint as a radio deejay, he was awarded a government contract to entertain at military bases across the southwest. Debuting with 1997's Suki-Suki Man, he quickly followed with the LP I'm Serious, notching a hit with the single "Hit It and Quit It." Upon signing with Malaco/Waldoxy, Waiters returned with Woman in Needin 1998; Material Things followed a year later, and in mid-2000 the singer resurfaced with I Want the Best.

Latimore

His first national hit was a cover of Gladys Knight’s “If You Were My Woman” (#70 R&B). His biggest success came in 1974, with “Let’s Straighten It Out”, an R&B chart #1 which also reached #31 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 charts. He followed it up with more hits including “Keep The Home Fire Burnin’” (#5 R& B, 1975) and “Somethin’ ‘Bout ‘Cha” (#7 R &B, 1976). However, the hits dried up in the late 1970s.

Latimore moved to Malaco Records in 1982, resulting in seven albums worth of modern soul music. He briefly left the label in 1994 and released a song for the J-Town label (“Turning Up The Mood”) before returning to Malaco in 2000 with “You’re Welcome To Ride”. Next he recorded one album with Mel Waiters’ label Brittney Records called “Latt is Back”.

http://youtu.be/wd3OYxoOOug



Shirley Brown

Shirley Brown Born January 6, 1947, in West Memphis, the Browns (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/browns-mn0000024527) moved to St. Louis, MO, when Shirley (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/shirley-mn0000024527) was very young. Cutting her teeth in church, at the age of ten, she earned a reputation in gospel circles throughout the city for delivering powerful solos. In her late teens, she concentrated on secular music and sung with many of the city's soul singers. Her first recordings, produced by Oliver Sain (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/oliver-sain-mn0000398838), did nothing nationally but made some noise locally. "I Ain't Gonna Tell" and "Love Is Built On a Strong Foundation" found their way to Memphis R&B stations, giving Brown (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brown-mn0000024527) the impetus, with the help of manager Albert King (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/albert-king-mn0000617844), to tryout and secured a deal with Stax Records. Brown (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brown-mn0000024527) had the last hit for Stax before the label folded. On November 14, 1974, "Woman to Woman" topped the R&B chart for two weeks.

To learn more about the event please visit www.OldSchoolFestival.com (http://www.OldSchoolFestival.com/) or contact Ms. Lawrence at (646) 820.9347 this is great opportunity to support a worthy cause in giving back to those who protect and serve this great country. If you'd like more information on how your company can sponsor, vend, or send a donation supporting our Military e-mail kathy@pressmediagenius.com for complete packet.