Million Dollar Quartet Hosts Grammy Foundation Benefit 1/29

Million Dollar Quartet will host an evening to benefit GRAMMY Foundation programs in the Chicago area with one-night-only extended encore featuring Chicago Blues' legendary harp player and singer Billy Branch on January 29, 2009, at The Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln. 

The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a pre-show reception with silent auction items, including tickets to the 2010 GRAMMY Awards; a Memphis vacation for two, including airfare, two nights at the Peabody Hotel, tickets to Sun Studios, Graceland, STAX Museum of American Soul Music, Gibson Guitar Factory tour, and passes to clubs on Beale Street; music memorabilia signed by past GRAMMY winners and unique opportunities with the Million Dollar Quartet cast. Following the performance there will be a reception with the Million Dollar Quartet cast members.

This exclusive performance and reception will benefit GRAMMY Foundation® programs in the Chicago area, which foster future generations of music professionals and helps preserve our nation's musical heritage. Organized under the banner of GRAMMY in the Schools®, the Foundation's education programs for young people include GRAMMY Camp®, the GRAMMY® Jazz Ensembles, GRAMMY Career Day, GRAMMY Signature Schools and GRAMMY SoundChecks.

The event is open to the public. Tickets to the benefit evening are $100. For tickets and information, contact La Shon Malone at 800.423.2017 ext. 8691 or foundationevents@grammy.com.

Million Dollar Quartet, the new musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock 'n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, is now playing at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

On Dec. 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Cash, Lewis, Perkins and Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "father of rock 'n' roll," who discovered these artists. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. Featuring a treasure trove of the greatest rock 'n' roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these music legends, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Ghost Riders," and "Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On," Million Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.

Directed by Floyd Mutrux and Eric Schaeffer, with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, Million Dollar Quartet is produced by John Cossette Productions and Dee Gee Theatricals. Million Dollar Quartet features a stellar group of performers, equally adept as musicians and actors. The Chicago production stars Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley, Lance Guest as Johnny Cash; Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis; and Rob Lyons as Carl Perkins. Chicago-based actress Kelly Lamont plays Elvis' girlfriend Dyanne and Chicago's own Brian McCaskill plays the "father of rock and roll" Sam Phillips. Billy Shaffer (drums) plays the role of Fluke and Chuck Zayas (bass) plays Jay Perkins.

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture - from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.

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