EURweb.com - AUDREY'S SOCIETY WHIRL: 2008 Essence Music Festival

*(New Orleans, LA) – The 14th annual Essence Music Festival held July 4, 5 and 6 was bigger than ever before with some 270,000 avid music lovers converging on New Orleans to enjoy fabulous marathon music from top artists; indescribably delicious Creole food; epic blues and jazz; and humble hospitality from a headstrong people who are still trying to hold their heads above water while restoring their nonesuch city back to the way it was – an enriched Creole culture combining elements from around the world.

Presented by Coca-Cola, the record-breaking attendance left the celebrated city financially better off than it was -- a fact that did not go unnoticed by the city’s much appreciative Mayor C. Ray Nagin who profusely thanked Essence, its stalwart sponsors and super supporters for bringing the Festival back home “where it belongs.”

What started out some fourteen years ago as a means in which to bring people together to live, learn and enjoy life while giving back to those less fortunate under the theme “party with a purpose” -- a phrase coined by Essence magazine’s then editor-in-chief, Susan L. Taylor -- has become the nation’s largest annual gathering of African American music and culture. The three-day cultural celebration featured unprecedented empowerment seminars during the day and three nights of exhilarating performances by some of the hottest African American artists.

The 2008 Essence Music Festival featured headline performances by Kanye West, Mary J, Blige, Chris Brown, Chris Rock, Rihanna, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Keyshia Cole, Jill Scott, J. Holiday, LL Cool J, Musiq, and Morris Day and the Time. The empowerment seminars featured some of the most influential orators of our time including Tyler Perry, Dr. Bill Cosby, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Hill Harper, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Juanita Bynum and Tom Joyner – just to name a few.

During a special salute to Essence icons, living legend Patti LaBelle was featured in an all-star concert co-starring LaBelle members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx; Angie Stone; Ledisi; Chrisette Michele; Ruby Amanfu; Irma Thomas and many more!

Retrospectively, it was more than 30 years ago in New Orleans when LaBelle (Patti, Sarah and Nona) recorded their famous hit, “Lady Marmalade,” produced by legendary musician Allan Touissant. And now the historic moment has come and LaBelle will reunite to record a new CD this fall. Their vibrant performance at the Festival gave their fans a taste of what they can expect from the fêted trio on tour in September.

Appearing nightly in one of the four sponsor lounges were Terence Blanchard, Mint Condition, Cupid, Ledisi, Nicholas Payton and Raheen DeVaughn (Coca-Cola Lounge); Big Stan’s Funky Nation and New Orleans Funk Soul Explosion, Grandmaster Flash, Bamboula 2000, Solange Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Gospel Revival and Estelle (Chevy Lounge); Rebirth Brass Band, Peabo Bryson, Kermit Ruffles tribute to Louis Armstrong, Lyle Jennings, Christian Scott and Gil Scott-Heron (McDonald’s Lounge); and Purple Disrespect, Angie Stone, Karina, Marva Wright, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Irma Thomas and Chrisette Michele (My Black is Beautiful Lounge).

And what would a Festival be without taking time out to thank God for our blessings. To that end, the Festival featured “Get Lifted: An Afternoon of Praise and Worship” on Sunday, July 6 hosted by ESSENCE beauty and cover editor Mikki Taylor and featuring spiritual selections from Trin-i-tee 5:7, Tye Tribbett and Greater Anointing, Regina Belle, and many more praiseworthy performers.

At the end of the Festival, the roar heard coming from the superdome was the result of a formal announcement that Grammy award winning superstar Beyoncé will return to the Festival for the third time as one of the star attractions for the historic 15th anniversary celebration of Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, LA on July 3, 4 and 5, 2009 by Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications, Inc. and Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief, ESSENCE magazine.

“We are so pleased with the turn-out for this year’s Essence Music Festival -- loyal attendees who joined us to experience the Festival’s unique combination of music, arts and empowerment,” said Ebanks. “And, of course, we are thrilled to have Beyoncé back next year for our 15th anniversary, which will absolutely ensure an extra special celebration!”

Sponsors of the 2008 Essence Music Festival included presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola; major sponsors Chevrolet, CoverGirl Queen Collection, McDonald’s, Pantene, U.S. Army, and Wal-Mart; and official sponsors Budweiser, My Black is Beautiful, Southwest Airlines, TBS, TVOne, Vaseline and VH1 Soul.

The Essence Music Festival started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. Now the Festival has been heralded as one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” in 2007 by Advertising Age; highlighted prominently among well-known consumer events such as NASCAR and Spring Break.

The 2008 Essence Music Festival was executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI). For 38 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.5 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. (Photo Credit: Monica Morgan)