Sheryl Crow, David Cook, Ginuwine, Sara Evans And Nikko Smith To Perform At 2009 All-Star Week In St. Louis
Missouri Native Crow to Perform U.S. National Anthem at All-Star Game on FOX
Following Free All-Star Charity Concert Earlier in Week
Missouri Native Sara Evans to Perform “God Bless America” During 7th Inning Stretch
David Cook and Nikko Smith to Perform Prior to State Farm® Home Run Derby;
Ginuwine to Perform Prior to XM All-Star Futures Game
Major League Baseball today announced the All-Star lineup of musicians that will perform during the MLB All-Star Game, the State Farm® Home Run Derby and other events during All-Star Week in St. Louis next week.
Nine-time Grammy award-winner and Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who will be fresh off headlining the free MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi under the Gateway Arch, will perform the U.S. National Anthem as part of the special pre-game ceremony prior to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 at Busch Stadium, which will be broadcast on FOX beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. United States President Barack Obama along with former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will appear in an unprecedented video address as part of the special pre-game ceremony honoring the 30 “All-Stars Among Us,” men and women who are being recognized by Major League Baseball and PEOPLE magazine for their selfless acts of giving and service to their communities. Following the video, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Later in the game, country music sensation Sara Evans — also a Missouri native — will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, with pre-game ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised in more than 200 countries and territories by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.
On Monday, July 13, rock singer/songwriter and 2008 America Idol season winner David Cook will perform two songs with his band prior to the start of the State Farm® Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. Prior to Cook’s performance, Nikko Smith — singer/songwriter and 2005 American Idol finalist, and son of St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith — will perform the U.S. National Anthem. Smith performed the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game 4 of the 2006 World Series at Busch Stadium. The State Farm® Home Run Derby will be televised live on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.
On Sunday, July 11, multi-Platinum selling R&B Artist Ginuwine will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175 in addition to its other comprehensive live coverage from St. Louis.
The All-Star musical performances will come on the heels of the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi featuring Sheryl Crow with special guest Elvis Costello under the iconic Gateway Arch on Saturday, July 12. The concert, which will be free to fans, is the culmination of a day-long celebration of baseball history and will feature a $1 million donation by Major League Baseball to Stand Up To Cancer. The concert will be streamed live on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and fans watching the live stream will be encouraged to donate to Stand Up To Cancer.
Free-spirited, fearless and fierce, Sheryl Crow has garnered nine Grammys, performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger, released seven studio albums which sold more than 35 million records worldwide, and launched her very own clothing line Bootheel Trading Co. is a cancer survivor and passionate humanitarian and has performed for President Obama. From humble beginnings as a jingle and back-up singer, Crow has reached the pinnacle of professional solo success. Crow explores both personal and global issues on her most recent LP, Detours (produced by Bill Bottrell, who last worked with Crow on her 1993 debut, the seven-times platinum Tuesday Night Music Club).
Millions of people around the country fell in love with rock belter David Cook while watching him make other people’s songs his own week after week on the seventh season of American Idol. Cook won the competition handily thanks to viewers connecting with his rich, unfettered voice and passionately intense performances, not to mention his down-to-earth Midwestern charm. David Cook has since made a name for himself in this industry. He has been on tour since the beginning of the year, performing the songs on his self-titled debut album. Gutsy and epic, but grounded in the personal, the songs are tailor-made for those magical moments when music, whether it be uplifting or heart-breaking, can transport you to another place – which is exactly the experience that Cook hopes to give his fans each night when he takes the stage. David Cook’s “Declaration Tour” continues to hit various venues around the country through October of this year.
Sara Evans is recognized as one of the most successful artists of her generation with accolades including the Academy of Country Music‘s Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly.” Evans has been celebrated as one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and was the first-ever country artist to join the celebrity cast of Dancing With The Stars. In 2007 she released Greatest Hits, celebrating a decade long career and over five million career sales featuring hits including “Born to Fly,” “I Could Not Ask For More,” “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” and “As If.” A member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet for three consecutive years, in 2008 she was honored with the prestigious ARC Crystal Cross Award for her charitable contributions. Listen for Sara’s first single from her sixth studio project, “Feels Just Like A Love Song” released this month. www.saraevans.com
Award winning singer Ginuwine just earned a #1 CD, A Man’s Thoughts on the Billboard Chart released by St. Louis’ own Notifi Records. The new disc features the Top 10 Single, “Last Chance.” No stranger to stardom, Ginuwine first emerged on the music scene in 1996 with the multi-platinum disc The Bachelor and the daring debut single, “Pony.” His second disc, 100% Ginuwine. Featuring the hits “So Anxious,” “What’s So Different,” “Same Ol’ G” (which was also showcased on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack in 1998) and “None of Ur Friends Business scored double platinum. 100% Ginuwine was awarded Best R&B/Soul Album at the 2000 Soul Train Awards. He’s a multiple American Music Award Nominee.
Nikko Smith, eldest son of Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and St. Louis native, skyrocketed to fame in 2005 when he cracked the TopTen on the hit reality show American Idol. It was here where he dazzled the judges and his fans with his signature modern-day renditions of classics by Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. The following summer he toured with his fellow finalists including Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice on what ultimately became one of the highest grossing tours of the year. His debut album REVOLUTION dropped in 2008 and features the destined to be hit singles “Revolution” and “3 AM”.
About 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 14th in St. Louis and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League. Major League Baseball has responded to United States of America President Barack Obama’s call for community service through “United We Serve,” a program which encourages Americans to engage in sustained and meaningful community service. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Busch Stadium. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 12th featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13th featuring the State Farm® Home Run Derby. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi benefiting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert for fans under The Gateway Arch featuring Sheryl Crow; the All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, a charity run on a baseball-themed route to benefit three cancer organizations; and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy, a free parade of All-Stars leading into Busch Stadium. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2009 All-Star Summer, visit www.allstargame.com.
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