Press Release
“New School Meets Old School “
Celebrity Concert Tribute to Isaac Hayes in Memphis
August 24th
Annual Concert Benefits The Isaac Hayes Foundation Literacy Programs for
Children
Memphis, TN August 19, 2002: Hip Hop, R&B and old school artists such
as, Doug E. Fresh, Melissa Morgan, Col. Abrahms, Melissa Morgan, Howard Hewitt
and others join together on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at Isaac’s Music
· Food · Passion Restaurant inside the Peabody Place Entertainment
Center overlooking famed Beale St., in his hometown of Memphis to pay tribute
to Isaac Hayes on his 60th birthday and raise funds for Isaac Hayes Foundation
(IHF) literacy projects. The concert and dinner dance benefit, is being held
in Memphis for the first time. A four-year tradition, the annual birthday
celebration fundraiser was previously held in New York.
Also in honor of the 60th birthday celebration for Isaac Hayes,
The Honorable Willie Herenton, Jerry Schilling-President of the Memphis and
Shelby County Music Commission, Linn Sitler with The Memphis and Shelby County
Film Commission and Pat Halloran- President of the Orpheum Theatre will present
Isaac Hayes a gold star on The Orpheum’s famous Sidewalk of Stars, Thursday,
August 22 at 3pm. Isaac’s star will appear alongside those of 64 brass
stars of artists who have performed at the Orpheum over the last 100 years,
which includes such great names as Cary Grant, Yul Brynner, Helen Keller, Louis
Armstrong, Carol Channing, Mae West and Memphis native sons B.B. King and Cybil
Shepard.
Composer, Legendary Soul Music icon, actor, humanitarian and entrepreneur Isaac
Hayes founded IHF a 501 c3 charity in 1999 to help realize his dream to provide
children living in poverty the tools they need to be successful adults. As a
young man growing up poor in Memphis, Tennessee, Hayes realized the
value of education and credits his teachers with inspiring him and saving his
life. IHF’s three-pronged mission is simple and dynamic- promote programs
that support the growth of the total person beginning in childhood through literacy,
health and music programs. Some ongoing programs include Neko Tech a computer
technology center in Ghana, the Crusaders a fundraising all star volunteer basketball
team who play exhibition games around the country, the IHF Literacy, Education
and Ability Program ( LEAP) in Memphis and along with the International World
Literacy Crusade, IHF has helped to fund projects in Florida and California.
Isaac in speaking about his mission states, “ Let’s turn crime, illiteracy, unhealthy, unproductive poverty lifestyles around from the ground up – let’s start in the schools, where we have kids from six to eight hours a day. We must change the way we think about schools and our communities and celebrate the good while collectively working to transform them. One child, one community at a time-we can change the world! Let’s give our children our best”.
“The Old School Meets New School” Tribute To Isaac
Hayes at Isaac’s Music · Food · Passion Restaurant inside
the Peabody Place Entertainment Center, begins at 7:30PM. Tickets are $150 per
person for the Platinum Circle and $75 per person for the Gold Circle and includes
the concert, dinner and dancing until 1:00AM. Tickets may be purchased at the
Studio Kitchen Box Office, 150 Peabody Place, and suite 227, Memphis, TN 38103.
By Telephone (901) 529 9222, By Fax (901) 525 4450. All checks should be made
payable to the Isaac Hayes Foundation. WRBO 103.5 FM in Memphis sponsors the
event.
Interviews with Isaac Hayes can be arranged by calling Toni Borrero at 973 760-9827
or Von Alexander at 202 225 8547.