Vanessa Williams To Guest At Listening Party For THE REAL THING 6/3 In NYC

Vanessa Williams will be guest of honor at a special listening party for her new CD "The Real Thing" benefiting LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS. The event, which includes an open bar, takes place Wednesday, June 3, from 8:30-11 PM at Greenhouse, 150 Varick Street (at Vandam). Advance tickets are $20 and may be purchased at www.lifebeat.org or by calling 212-352-3101 (ask for the Vanessa Williams Red Carpet Event); tickets at the door, if available, will be $25.

Currently appearing on ABC-TV's "Ugly Betty," Vanessa Williams is one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in entertainment today. She has conquered the musical charts, Broadway, music videos, television and motion pictures. She has sold over four million albums worldwide and her skills as an actress on stage, in film and on television have earned critical praise. Her new album, "The Real Thing," will be released on June 2.

In 1994, Vanessa realized a life-long dream, taking Broadway by storm when she replaced Chita Rivera in "Kiss of the Spider Woman." Her performance won critics over and was a box-office sensation, firmly establishing Vanessa as a multi-talented triple-threat. Vanessa also garnered rave reviews and was nominated for a Tony Award in the 2002 revival of Stephen "Into the Woods," taking a brief break from the production to headline a limited special engagement of the classic, "Carmen Jones," at the Kennedy Center.

LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS uses the power of the music industry to raise funds and enhance awareness of HIV/AIDS issues. The organization reaches over 80,000 teens and young adults directly each year with HIV/AIDS prevention materials and counselling referrals, and millions more through its public service media programs.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride