The Phillies and Philadelphia International Records are teaming up to host the 7th annual Sound of Philadelphia Celebration on Friday, June 18, at Citizens Bank Park, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Minnesota Twins. Held in honor of Black Music Month, the evening pays tribute to the legendary music of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.
CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
5:00 p.m. PRE-GAME CONCERT (no game ticket needed), Citizens Bank Way: The celebration begins with a free pre-game concert, hosted by Patty Jackson of WDAS 105.3 FM. Performers include the Original Intruders, Russell Thompkins Jr. of the New Stylistics, Rheel Menn, Tiago, and performing a Latin Philly Sound medley, Cintron.
6:30 p.m. ON-FIELD PRESENTATIONS & PERFORMANCES:
Music pioneers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff will present the 2010 Phillies Gamble & Huff Community Partnership Award to:
- Kevin Eubanks, the Philadelphia native and award-winning jazz guitarist and composer was musical director of the Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno for 15 years before stepping down at the end of May to focus on his recording career. Eubanks will be honored in his hometown later this month with a bronze plaque on the Philadelphia Walk of Fame.
- Billy Paul, the Philadelphia soul singer whose Grammy Award-winning No. 1 single "Me & Mrs. Jones" introduced him to the rest of the world. His vocal versatility spans the spectrum of musical styles from jazz to sophisticated R&B to ballads, and the recent Philadelphia Walk of Fame inductee continues to captivate live audiences on every continent.
- The Original Intruders (Phil Terry and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards): As the first group to have hit songs under the direction of Gamble & Huff, they played a major role in the rise of the Sound of Philadelphia. Their 1968 hit, "Cowboys to Girls," topped the R&B charts, was a Top 10 pop hit, and became the template for what would become the Philly Sound. And let's not forget their follow-up hit, "(Love Is Like a) Baseball Game."
- Joseph "Butter" Tamburro, has been an integral part of the Philadelphia radio scene since 1964, and is a certified legend. The Philadelphia native has been the Program Director at WDAS-FM for more than 25 years, also hosting the famous "Sunday Night Dance Party" live broadcast, and is Operations Manager of WDAS (AM/FM). Butter's show features a master mix of R&B and soul classics from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
Past award recipients include the Delfonics, Soul Survivors, Teddy Pendergrass, Jerry Blavat, Boyz II Men, Patti LaBelle and D.J. "Jazzy Jeff" Townes.
On-field performances will also celebrate the music of Gamble & Huff. Among the artists performing include the award-winning Intruders and Grammy nominees Russell Thompkins Jr. of the New Stylistics.
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