GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam, “The Love Groove” December 1, 2011

WHAT: GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam, “The Love Groove”

Introducing an all-star music line-up for the GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam “The Love Groove.” Musicians currently scheduled to perform include Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, Paula West, POPLYFE, Jaz Sawyer, Maze Daiko, the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band, plus surprise musical guests for live jams in tribute to Nick Ashford with a special guest appearance from his life-long partner, Valerie Simpson.

An honorary ‘jam’ committee is led by local music luminaries and co-chairs Joan Baez, Huey Lewis, Bobby McFerrin, Janice Mirikitani, Cindy & Carlos Santana, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCKtm, Paula West and Cecil Williams as well as local philanthropist Richard C. Blum. The Mistress of Ceremonies is San Francisco Giants announcer and radio personality, Renel Brooks-Moon. The GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam is a benefit concert for Mo’s Kitchen, the heart and soul behind GLIDE’s daily meals program which serves up more than a million free meals each year to San Francisco’s neediest residents.

“As always, we are overwhelmed with gratitude to the Bay Area entertainment community for supporting our efforts to give comfort and meet the basic needs of our poorest neighbors,” said Reverend Cecil Williams, Founder and Minister of Liberation for GLIDE. “Join us at the Warfield for an upbeat and lively evening of music, laughter, friendship and giving.”

The evening will also contain a heartfelt tribute to Nick Ashford of Ashford and Simpson, the powerhouse Motown songwriting/production team and performing duo. Mr. Ashford, who passed away in August of this year, was an enthusiastic supporter of GLIDE’s programs, and made a surprise appearance with Valerie Simpson at GLIDE’s 2009 Holiday Festival.

“We miss Nick greatly, and will always appreciate his commitment to our community,” said Janice Mirikitani, Founding President of the GLIDE Foundation. “We remember not only his legacy as a talented songwriter, but his legacy as a loving and generous human being.”

WHERE:
The San Francisco Warfield Theatre, 982 Market Street

WHEN:
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Doors open: 6pm
Stage program: 7 – 8:30pm
Reception: 8:30 – 10:00pm

TICKETS:
Tickets are available through the Warfield Theatre online at
TheWarfieldTheatre.com, via phone at (800) 745-3000 or (866) 448-7849 or at the Warfield Theatre Box Office (Sundays 10 am - 4 pm, and show nights). Tickets and information about sponsorship are also available and at www.glide.org.
Individual tickets range from $65-$250
VIP tickets and sponsorships range from $500 to $100,000

INFO:
For more information:
Visit www.glide.org
Call 415.674.6117 or
Email festival@glide.org

About the GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam, “The Love Groove”
“The Love Groove” will be held at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, and tickets sell out annually. Doors open at 6:00pm. Each artist will perform several songs, including an ensemble jam session at the end. The concert will be followed by a reception at 8:30pm with hors d’oeuvres and libations from some of the Bay Area’s finest restaurants and beverage companies. Individual tickets start at $65 and VIP Tickets and sponsorships start at $500. Tickets are available through the Warfield Theatre online at TheWarfieldTheatre.com, via phone at (800) 745-3000 or (866) 448-7849 or at the Warfield Theatre Box Office (Sundays 10 am - 4 pm, and show nights). Tickets and information about sponsorship are also available at www.glide.org.

Each year, the GLIDE Annual Holiday Festival/Jam raises funds for Mo’s Kitchen and GLIDE’s programs. Mo’s Kitchen serves up three meals a day to San Francisco’s poorest residents – over one million meals last year. For more information, visit www.glide.org; or call 415.674.6117; or email festival@glide.org

Additional Information:
Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson – Valerie Simpson was born in Bronx, New York. She met her song-writing and performing partner and husband Nick Ashford at Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church in 1963. They joined aspiring solo artist and former member of the Ikettes, Joshie Jo Armstead, at the Scepter/Wand label where their compositions were recorded by Ronnie Milsap ("Never Had It So Good"), Maxine Brown ("One Step At A Time"), as well as the Shirelles and Chuck Jackson. Another of the trio's songs, "Let's Go Get Stoned", gave Ray Charles a number one hit in 1966. That same year Ashford & Simpson joined Motown, where their best-known songs included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need To Get By", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing ", and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)". Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs including Chaka Khan "I'm Every Woman" (1978) and Teddy Pendergrass's "Is It Still Good to You". As performers, Ashford and Simpson's best-known duets are "Solid" (1984), and "Found A Cure" (1979). The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

Sheila E. – A Bay Area native, Sheila E. is the daughter of renowned Jazz musician Pete Escovedo (also performing at the GLIDE Holiday Jam). In 1983, Sheila E. made her big splash on the music scene with “A Glamorous Life,” an album she produced with help from Prince, a big early admirer of Sheila E.’s percussion and singing talents. The following year, she performed on Prince’s sold out “Purple Rain” tour and eventually joined his band in 1987 for his “Sign o’ the Times” tour. Over the last two decades, Sheila has played percussion for dozens of the world’s most notable musicians, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estafan, and Jennifer Lopez to name just a few. Her production company arranges, produces and performs music for events all over the world, including the ALMA Awards and the MTV Music Awards. A dedicated philanthropist, Sheila founded the Elevate Hope Foundation which helps abused and abandoned kids with music therapy.

Pete Escovedo – Bay Area native Pete Escovedo is a world-renowned sought-after percussionist who, with his brother Coke, toured for years with Carlos Santana and played on some of Santana’s most important albums, including “Moonflower.” Escovedo left Santana’s band to further his own musical career. His versatility as a percussionist has been featured in performances and recordings by the world’s best artists, including Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Stephen Stills, Anita Baker, George Duke, Boz Scaggs, Barry White, Chick Corea, Prince and, of course, with his own family, including daughter Sheila E.

Tom Johnston – Guitarist and vocalist Tom Johnston co-founded the Doobie Brothers in the 1970s, and went on to become one of the defining bands of that decade. Johnston helped co-write and perform the Doobie Brothers greatest hits, including “Listen to the Music,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “China Grove,” and “Long Train Running.” The Doobie Brothers have sold more than 30 million records in their long, successful career, and garnered numerous Grammy awards and nominations.

Paula West - Paula West is an American jazz and cabaret singer known for her rich, powerful contralto voice and for her sensitive interpretations of an extraordinarily eclectic selection of songs ranging far beyond jazz standards and cabaret chestnuts.

POPLYFE – The Oakland-based youth sensation that scored a 4th place on this summer’s “America’s Got Talent” is leading the next generation of gifted musicians and artists from the Bay Area. Comprised of six teen musicians ranging in age from 14 – 17 years of age, POPLYFE performs current pop titles as well as favorite R&B hits from the past decades. In the finale of America’s Got Talent, POPLYFE performed “Higher Ground” with Stevie Wonder.

GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band – For nearly 40 years, the internationally-renown GLIDE Ensemble and eight-piece Change Band has brought audiences to their feet with their powerful, unique and inspiring mix of spiritual, gospel, jazz, blues, pop and soul.

About GLIDE:
Located at Ellis and Taylor in the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's harshest urban environments, GLIDE is an oasis that has served the poor and disenfranchised for more than 45 years. GLIDE is unconditional in its love, support and commitment to the community it serves – providing a range of holistic services from serving over one million free meals a year, to providing affordable housing, free or low-cost state-of-the-art healthcare along with dozens of other programs that help to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization. With an unwavering commitment grounded in spirituality and emotional understanding, GLIDE is a leading organization for social justice – inspiring the larger community to celebrate humanity through compassion, generosity and acceptance. For more information, visit www.glide.org.

For more information about GLIDE, to donate or volunteer please call (415) 674-6000 or visit www.glide.org.

Official Website: http://www.glide.org/page.aspx?pid=523