10-Time Grammy Award-Winning Vocalist George Benson Rocked The House
More than 500 were dancing in the aisles at the fourth annual GENERATIONS, a Nat King Cole Generation Hope Inc. concert that raised $103,000 for musical education.
Boca Raton, FL, May 15, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Taking stage at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, the evening featured a pre-concert reception showcasing performances by students from the Nat King Cole Generation Hope Summers Strings Camp and the Guitars Over Guns Operation After-School Program. Mesmerizing the audience, the opening act youth artist sensations Biana Pinchuk of America's Got Talent and DJ Violinist Timothee Lovelock segued into a memorable performance by headliner George Benson.
Longtime fans of both Nat King Cole Generation Hope and Benson -- who is recognized as one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history and a remarkably versatile musician and entertainer -- took to their feet as they heard ‘Benson’s best’ live. The crowd roared during his rhythm and blues instrumentals and sang along during vocal sets that included his Grammy winning “Give Me The Night” and “On Broadway”. Sponsors and other VIP ticket holders enjoyed chatting with Benson at a private post-concert meet-and-greet and dessert reception.
As a patron and ambassador in the Leadership Circle of the VH1 ‘Save The Music’ Keys + Kids Program, Nat King Cole Generation Hope will fund a grant from concert proceeds to provide an organization/school with $10,000 worth of equipment to support their music and arts program. A percentage of proceeds will also continue to underwrite the Nat and Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship that is given to a deserving high school senior who has chosen to major in music in college as well as the Nat King Cole Generation Hope Summer Strings program at Lynn University that provides intensive string instruction for up to 100 children with the ‘greatest need and fewest resources’ each year.
Twin daughters of music legend Nat King Cole Timolin and Casey Cole launched Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. in 2008 to honor the legacy, music and life of their father after learning of budget cuts in public schools directly affecting the arts. Since that time, donations in excess of $850,000 have benefited thousands of children with ‘the greatest need and fewest resources’ in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supplies instruments, underwrites after-care programs, supports mentoring programs, funds instruction and collects used instruments and refurbishes them. Funds from the 2014 GENERATIONS Concert emboldened the nonprofit to expand its reach to fund the needs of the Florida Youth Orchestra, New World Symphony and Art Culture Center of Hollywood, FL.
GENERATIONS Concert was sponsored by NCCI, CBM of America, Excel Services Corporation, Florida Power & Light, Florida Public Utilities and West Boca Medical Center; media sponsors include COX Media Group Miami, Life Publications and LivingFLA.com; partners include Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center, Dawn of Design Graphic Studio and Kaye Communications, Inc.
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