KEYSHIA COLE, LYFE JENNINGS TO KICK OFF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONCERT SERIES IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN ON MONDAY
27th year of free performances by some of the biggest names in hip hop, soul and R&B

On Monday, July 13, the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field in Crown Heights, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, will feature soulful performances by R&B and television reality show star Keyshia Cole and the platinum-selling Lyfe Jennings. The Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series and the Seaside Summer Concert Series in Brighton Beach-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.

“Music brings us together! In fact, the borough that rocks together flocks together, which is why I have looked forward to hosting free concerts every summer in Central Brooklyn for 27 years now, and in Brighton Beach-Coney Island for more than three decades,” said BP Markowitz. “From Seaside’s superstar lineup of Daryl Hall & John Oates Up Close & Personal Tour, Donna Summer, Blondie and Pat Benatar to MLK’s Keyshia Cole, Robin Thicke, Teena Marie, The O’Jays, Anita Baker and Sean Paul, stars that perform the world over are thrilled to take the stage in Brooklyn, USA. And even though I always promise that this year’s lineup is the most exciting ever, this summer will really be the best!”

Hugely successful Grammy-nominated R&B singer and songwriter Keyshia Cole burst on to the scene with her 2005 freshman album The Way It Is, followed by 2007’s Just Like You and A Different Me in 2008. The California native’s reality show, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, became the most-watched program in BET history. Cole was nominated for two Grammys in 2008 (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Let it Go and Best Contemporary R&B album for Just Like You) and two more nominations a year later (Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Heaven Sent). She has worked with some of the biggest names in music, from Kanye West, Missy Elliott and Nas to P. Diddy, Sean Paul and Lil’ Kim.

Ohio native Lyfe Jennings is a platinum-selling soul singer/songwriter/producer who transformed the music world in 2004 with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut CD Lyfe 268-192. Hailed as gritty and raw, the album created devoted fans everywhere and sold over one million copies. He captured an even broader audience in 2006 with his sophomore effort The Phoenix, which expanded on his life story, taking listeners through different phases of a man. Two years later, Jennings collaborated with Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg and T.I. for his third album Lyfe Change, and his latest CD, Sooner or Later, is due out this year.

Martin Luther King Jr. concerts will be held Monday nights at 7:30 pm at Wingate Field on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. Seating is limited so attendees should bring chairs. Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-222-0600, or visit www.brooklynconcerts.com.
Remaining Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series Schedule

July 20
Love Train The Sound of Philadelphia – The O’Jays, Russell Thompkins Jr. & the New Stylistics, Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes

July 27
An Evening with Anita Baker, Charlie Wilson

August 3
Robin Thicke, Jazmine Sullivan

August 10
Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Special Guest Ruben Studdard

August 17
Gospel Night – Dedicated to the memory of Reverend Timothy Wright
Yolanda Adams, Israel Houghton and the New Breed

August 24
Caribbean Night – Sean Paul, “King of Calypso” The Mighty Sparrow

Seaside Summer Concert Series Schedule

July 16
Salute to 40th anniversary of Woodstock: Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Mountain, John Sebastian

July 23
Gladys Knight, The O’Jays

July 30
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Connie Francis, Stewie Stone

August 6
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Up Close & Personal Tour

August 13
Blondie, Pat Benatar, with special guest The Donnas

August 20
Salsa by the Sea
Maria Torres Dancers