LATIFAH!

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! QUEEN LATIFAH AND MARY, MARY PERFORM AT TONIGHT'S FREE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CONCERT SERIES IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN

On Monday, August 15, the 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will be welcoming the Queen of Hip-Hop for An Evening with Queen Latifah and special guest Mary Mary. Along with the Seaside Summer Concert Series on Coney Island, the MLK Series has been the largest free summer concert series in the New York Metropolitan area for the past three decades, entertaining tens of thousands of music lovers every year. 

"The shows go on at Coney Island this summer," said BP Markowitz, "and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is still going strong after three decades of music. I am proud to host the two largest free outdoor concert series in the New York area, and of course, this year's performers--which also include Aretha Franklin, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Mary Wilson, Cheap Trick, the Monkees, Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson, Shaggy and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly--have toured around the world but are really hitting the big time--and the big stage--in Brooklyn, USA!" 

Queen Latifah is a musician, a television and film actress, a label president, and an author and entrepreneur. She was the first hip hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal of Mama Morton in the movie Chicago. She also earned an Emmy nomination and won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for her role in the TV movie Life Support, which her production company Flavor Unit Entertainment produced. Flavor Unit also produced the films Bringing Down the House, Beauty Shop, The Perfect Holiday, Bad Girls, The Cookout and Just Wright. Queen Latifah is also one of music's most well respected rappers. From her ground breaking 1989 debut "All Hail the Queen" to her bold foray into R&B, Latifah continues to define what a woman in the music industry should be. She has earned six Grammy nominations as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994. In 2004, she was nominated for Best Female Rap Solo Performance for Go Head. In 2005, she was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her platinum-selling collection of timeless classics The Dana Owens Album and in 2008 she was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Trav'lin Light. In August 2009, Persona was released, bringing together the worlds of hip hop and pop and creating a new sound for the Queen. Queen Latifah has also written a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. Her book Put on Your Crown: Life Lessons from the Queen was released in May 2010.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series is celebrating its spectacular 29th season with a star-studded lineup of gospel, classic soul, contemporary, Caribbean and R&B artists. The free concerts are Monday nights at Wingate Field, entrances on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs. A limited amount of general seating is available on a first come, first served basis. The program begins at 7:30pm.

Throughout the years, the Seaside Summer Concert Series has attracted top name classic rock, pop, oldies, contemporary and Latin performers to Coney Island. This summer, the shows will be held at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, next to the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. A limited number of $5 rental chairs in a specially designated area are available on a first come, first served basis. Shows begin at 7:30pm.

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

Seaside Summer Concert Series Lineup

All shows begin at 7:30pm

August 18

Cheap Trick

Mickey Leigh's Newyorkestra

 Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series Lineup

All shows begin at 7:30pm

August 22

Annual Caribbean Night

Berres Hammond

Shaggy

The King of Calypso The Mighty Sparrow