Release #264-00

 

Contact:

Sunny Mindel / Michael Anton (212) 788-2958 Jennifer Bluestein (Rubenstein Associates, Inc.) (212) 843-8053

MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI, VH-1 PERSONALITY ROSHUMBA, AND MISS AMERICA 2000, HEATHER FRENCH, TO HOST PATRIOTIC TIMES SQUARE CONCERT ON GIANT "TALL SHIP" STAGE

Free Concert in Times Square Features Performances by The Go-Gos, Gloria Gaynor,
the Tito Puente Orchestra, and the Cast of Saturday Night Fever

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today will host a free summer concert in Times Square on the eve of Independence Day, July 3rd, NYC 2000 Salutes the American Hero, in honor of those who serve and have served in the military. The concert, which will run from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., will feature an all-star line-up of salsa, R&B, country, pop and rock performers. Mayor Giuliani will be joined by co-hosts Roshumba, the supermodel, actress, and popular VH-1 personality known to Americans through her many film, television, and magazine appearances, and by Miss America 2000 Heather French, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, who has made veteran's affairs, and raising awareness of hepatitis C the focus of her year of service.

The Mayor, Miss French, and Roshumba will present the City - and the thousands of veterans and uniformed Navy sailors who will surround the stage - with a program of live performances by: the Go-Gos, Mya, Eddie Money, the cast of "Saturday Night Fever", Gloria Gaynor, the New York Boys Choir and the NYCHA Youth Chorus, the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York, the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters, and the Daily News Caribbeat C.A.S.Y.M. Steel Orchestra. In addition, the Tito Puente Orchestra will perform in tribute to Mr. Puente, a US Navy veteran. Rising country sensation Craig Morgan, also a veteran, will perform two songs from his new album, including "Paradise," which begins with a familiar military cadence and evolves into a poignant, patriotic account of a young man in battle.

On the screens above the stage, taped greetings from personalities such as Joan Rivers, Yogi Berra, and John McCain will be shown. The Mayor will introduce a retrospective of baseball, "America's Pastime," which will pay homage to baseball players who also served in the armed forces. And SICO the robot will make a special guest appearance.

The stage will measure forty feet square and will rise 35 feet in the air, complete with "sails." It faces north between 43rd and 44th Streets. The concert is being staged with the help of sponsors Continental Airlines, Target, Times Square Studios, the New York Marriot Marquis, the WWF- NY Restaurant, the Riese Organization, and Detour Magazine. Visit the Official New York City website at www.nyc.gov for more information.

Also on hand will be the Veteran's Aimed Toward Awareness (VATA) HEPMobile, parked on the corner of West 44th Street and Broadway, where veterans interested in free and confidential hepatitis C screenings or information about the disease can visit.