TONI BRAXTON HEADS TO CENTRAL BROOKLYN

 R&B CHART TOPPER TONI BRAXTON TO GRACE STAGE AT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CONCERT SERIES IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN

28th year of FREE performances by some of the biggest names in hip hop, soul and R&B

On Monday, July 19, the 28^th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field in Crown Heights/Central Brooklyn, hosted by Borough President Marty Markowitz, will feature Grammy Award-winner Toni Braxton. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series and the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Coney Island have entertained hundreds of thousands of residents over the past three decades and remain the largest free concert series in the New York metropolitan area.  

"Brooklyn is proud home to everyone from everywhere, so there is no better place in the world to enjoy music--the universal language," said BP Markowitz. "That's why I have been so proud to host free concerts at Coney Island for more than three decades, and in Central Brooklyn for 28 years. From Seaside's stellar lineup of Neil Sedaka, the Beach Boys and the B-52s, to MLK's George Clinton, Toni Braxton, and Sean Paul--not to mention a chance to catch the first lady of soul, Aretha Franklin, at both concert series--Brooklyn is once again the place to be for hot fun in the summertime." 

With an impressive catalog of six albums (alongside 2003's best-selling Ultimate Collection), Toni Braxton has built a worldwide base of music lovers since she first burst onto the contemporary music scene in 1991 with Love Shoulda Brought You Home (from the soundtrack of the hit movie Boomerang).

As the "First Lady of LaFace Records," Toni's creative partnership with Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds yielded a nonstop run of multi-platinum albums with 1993's Toni Braxton, 1996's Secrets and the 2000 set The Heat through to the 2001 Snowflakes holiday album and 2003's highly personal and thought-provoking More Than A Woman CD, which featured a number of songs written by Toni herself as well as production from The Neptunes and Rodney Jerkins, among others.

Along the way, Toni distinguished herself with unforgettable hit singles such as Another Sad Love Song, Breathe Again, Un-Break My Heart, You're Makin' Me High and He Wasn't Man Enough, picking up six Grammy Awards in the process. Her sixth studio album, Pulse, was released last May.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is celebrating its spectacular 28^th season with a star-studded lineup of gospel, classic soul, contemporary, Caribbean and R&B artists. The free concerts begin at 7:30 P.M. Monday nights at Wingate Field, entrances on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. Seating is limited so attendees should bring chairs.

The Seaside Summer Concert Series, now in its 32^nd year, is the largest free outdoor music series in New York. Throughout the years, the Thursday night series has attracted top name classic rock, pop, oldies, contemporary and Latin performers to Asser Levy/Seaside Park, at West 5th Avenue and Surf Avenue in Coney Island. All shows begin at 7:30 P.M. Chair rentals will be available for $5, or concertgoers can bring their own chairs.

Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-222-0600, or visit www.brooklynconcerts.com .

CONTACTS:

Mark Zustovich, 718-802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Laura Sinagra, 718-802-3831; lsinagra@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

Seaside Summer Concert Series Lineup

Shows begin at 7:30 P.M.

July 15

Neil Sedaka, Brenda Lee

July 22

"Happy Together Tour": the Beach Boys; the Turtles (featuring Flo & Eddie); Mickey Dolenz (the Monkees); Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders)

July 29

George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes

August 5

An evening with John Legend

August 12

An evening with Aretha Franklin

August 19

The B-52s, Belinda Carlisle

August 26

Latino Music By the Sea (artist TBA)

Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series Lineup

Shows begin at 7:30 P.M.

July 12

George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, the Ohio Players

July 19

An evening with Toni Braxton

July 26

Musiq Soulchild, Crisette Michele

August 2

Old School Night: Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick

August 9

An Evening with Aretha Franklin

August 16

Gospel Night: BeBe & CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond

August 23

Caribbean Night: Sean Paul, Mighty Sparrow