Star-Studded Lineup Hits The Stage For The 11th Annual Jazz In The Gardens

The City of Miami Gardens is proud to announce the complete lineup of the 11th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival (JITG) taking place on March 19 th 20 th, 2016, at Sun Life Stadium (347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens, FL 33056). Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.

This year's lineup features Usher, Aretha Franklin, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Janelle Monae, Brian Culbertson, Michael McDonald, Kool and The Gang, Fred Hammond, The Average White Band, and The Jazz in the Gardens All-Stars featuring Regina Belle, Najee & Alex Bugnon,along with localartists CriStyle Renae, April Raquel and Kouture Band, and LaVie. Returning to the stage as host is comedian and nationally-syndicated radio personality Rickey Smiley.

"This is our signature annual event that people from all over the world look forward to attending every year," saidCity of Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. "Last year's event took Jazz in the Gardens to the next level, and with this year's lineup of top-notch musical talent, we expect this year will continue the trend," he continued.

Last year's 10th Annual JITG broke box office records with more than 73,000 people attending. Approximately 42,000 festival-goers attended Saturday's show, the first sold-out day in the history of the event. Fans from all across the nation and abroad enjoyed performances from Maxwell,Erykah Badu,R. Kelly, Toni Braxton, Run D.M.C.,and Brian Culbertson,just to name a few. Comedians and nationally-syndicated radio personalities D.L. Hugley andRickey Smiley co-hosted the festival. Last year's JITG event also drew surprise celebrities including actorsBryshere Y. GrayandJussie Smollett, who star asHakeemandJamal, respectively, on the red-hot, Fox television series "Empire."

For more information about 2016's 11 th annual Jazz in the Gardens, visitwww.jazzinthegardens.com, www.facebook.com/jazzinthegardens, twitter.com/jazzgardens and http://instagram.com/jitg11.

Sponsorship requests should be directed to Roane Consulting Group at (804) 506-4020 or sponsorships@jazzinthegardens.com.

Media Contact: Suzan McDowell; Circle of One Marketing; suzan@circleofonemarketing.com; (305) 576-3790

About City of Miami Gardens

The City of Miami Gardens celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2013. Miami Gardens is the 33rd city in Miami-Dade County. With a population of approximately 110,000, it is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. Miami Gardens is a solid, working and middle class community of unique diversity. It is the largest predominantly African-American municipality in Florida and boasts many Caribbean and Hispanic residents. The City hosted the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl, the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XLIV, 2013 Orange Bowl and 2013 BCS National Championship game. The City has demonstrated steady growth in the areas of community and economic development, and has gained a reputation for being a hot destination in South Florida. www.miamigardens-fl.gov

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160222/335939

SOURCE Jazz in the Gardens