FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shayna Bayard, Barbara Blair
FAME, Inc., 301.249.7526
Date: October 4, 2006

Largo, MD—Local Radio Personality Kojo Nnamdi will key the third annual music benefit for the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education, Inc. (FAME, Inc.) on Saturday, October 7, 2006, 6 pm, at the Hallam Theatre, on the campus of Prince George's Community College. Proceeds will benefit local youth organizations and schools in DC, Maryland and Virginia. 

FAME, Inc. (www.FAMEorg.org) is a Washington Metropolitan Area nonprofit organization focusing on positively affecting the lives of children, teens, and young adults who want to make music and educational achievement a lifelong journey. Through scholarships, FAME cultivates avenues for young musicians to become musical innovators, thereby their overall academic social and cultural integrity.  FAME’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Thurman M. Davis, Sr., says that “FAME will continue to champion the right of our children to have positive outlets to express their musical ingenuities.”

“We are very excited about this year’s benefit,” says co-chair Dr. Beatrice Tignor, chair, Board of Education, Prince George’s County Public Schools. “There is nothing more rewarding than providing opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams. The FAME concerts are making a significant contribution to supporting our aspiring performers. And, that makes it all worthwhile.”

Nnamdi, called “maybe the best interviewer in town” by the Washington Post, hosts WAMU-FM’s The Kojo Nnamdi Show, featuring two hours of news, political issues and social trends of the day in a call-in, magazine program format.

The Richard Payne Trio and Friends, under the leadership of Richard Payne -- pianist, recording artist and music educator-- will perform an evening of classical, jazz, and R&B, flavored with Latin & Brazilian music.

Ms. Lori Morris, Member and Former Chair, Prince George’s Community College Board of Trustees, also serves as co-chair for the benefit.

Major sponsors of the benefit include The Gazette and The Star Newspapers, The Perfect Plan of Greater Washington, the Washington Afro-American Newspaper, Prince George’s County Council, The Washington Redskins, Politics Today, Prince George’s Community College and Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce. 

Tickets for the event are $25 with open seating. FAME will donate approximately $10,000 in scholarships to local groups during the event.