CARSON, CA (Friday, October 28, 2005) - The Home Depot Center announced that Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. will make the opening remarks to kick-off the second annual Battle of the High School Marching Bands competition on Saturday, Nov. 19.  Joining Reverend Jackson will be special guests and celebrity judges including artists Sheila E. and Debbie Allen.
 
\"Music is a great form of expression that all should have an opportunity to be exposed to.  It gives a sense of accomplishment and pride,\" comments the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.  \"I am honored to be a participant this year with Home Depot Center at the Battle of the High School Marching Bands, and lend my full support.\" 
 
As Founder and President of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Inc., the Reverend will be delivering the opening speech for the Battle of the High School Marching Bands.  Reverend Jackson will open the show at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 19. 
 
\"The addition of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. to the Battle of the High School Marching Bands truly makes this a marquee event for the participants and the city of Carson,\" says Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation Director Tamala Lewis.
 
The Battle of the High School Marching Bands at The Home Depot Center will feature eight high school marching band finalists from across the nation who will battle it out on the stadium field \"southern show style\" for $10,000 to purchase new instruments or uniforms for their school.  Three of the eight finalists are from local Los Angeles high schools including Alain Locke High School (Los Angeles), Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles) and Inglewood High School (Inglewood).
 
Joining Reverend Jackson at the second annual Battle of the High School Marching Bands will be celebrity guest judges from the music and entertainment industry.  The panel will judge the high school marching band competition.   Celebrity judges include Sheila E., Debbie Allen, Lalah Hathaway, Kashif, Rahsaan Patterson, Ken Taylor, BIGG P-WEE, Paul Holman, Dr. O'Neill Sanford and John P. Robinson.  In addition, renowned artist Ernie Barnes created the 2005 Battle of the High School Marching Bands first place winner's trophy using his painting \"Homecoming.\"  This painting was shown in 20th Century Fox's movie Drumline.  Barnes will be presenting the trophy to the winner of the competition.
 
About the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.
The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, is one of America's foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Over the past forty years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality and economic and social justice.
 
Reverend Jackson has been called the \"Conscience of the Nation\" and \"the Great Unifier,\" challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and human priorities for the benefit of all. He is known for bringing people together in common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief.
 
About the Celebrity Judges
Sheila E.
Sheila Escovedo picked up the drumsticks and started making music at the age of three while watching her father and legendary Latin jazz musician, Pete Escovedo rehearse.  Best know to her fans as Sheila E., she became a top session and touring musician before the age of 20, performing and/or recording with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, Con Funk Shun and many others.  In addition, she has recorded, performed and toured extensively with renowned artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Patti LaBelle, Prince and countless others.  Today, Sheila E. devotes her talents as the co-founder and co-chair of the Lil' Angel Bunny Foundation.
 
Debbie Allen
The talented and successful actress, director, producer, choreographer, singer, author and dancer continues to redefine herself as an accomplished artist.  Most recently, Allen produced, choreographed and hosted NBC's reality television show, Fame.  Allen's credits include the long-running hit television series, Fame, as well as Amistad, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, A Different World, The Parker's and The Division, to name a few.  In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California. 
 
Lalah Hathaway
Songwriter and vocalist Hathaway released Outrun in the Sky in 2004, her third album as a solo artist, which includes the interpretation of the CD's sole cover, Luther Vandross' \"Forever, For Always, For Love.\"  Hathaway's credits also include collaborations with David Sanborn, Mary J. Blige, Take 6 and Gerald Albright, to name a few.  She has performed live with Dizzy Gillespie and Steve Wonder, and opened shows for Maze and Herbie Hancock.
 
Kashif
Kashif has amassed accomplishments as a musician, author, software developer, lecturer, film producer and educator.  As a producer and songwriter, Kashif has produced and/or written smash hits for artists including Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Kenny G., George Benson, Barry White, Lil' Kim, Evelyn Champagne King, Will Downing, Dionne Warwick, Howard Johnson, Johnny Kemp, Glenn Jones and Da Brat.
 
Rahsaan Patterson
Patterson is a singer, songwriter and producer.  He blends gospel, blues, jazz and soul to create his unique sound.  His resume includes television, musicals, commercials and production.  Patterson is a forward-thinking musician who recently released After Hours, available in stores now.
 
Ken Taylor
Taylor is well-known for his role as host on Directv, and as a radio personality on Stevie Wonder's radio station KJLH 102.3 FM.  Other television hosting credits include the TV Guide Channel, E! Entertainment, ABC and MTV/VH1 Networks.
 
BIGG P-WEE
BIGG P-WEE started his radio career at cross-town KKBT in the community action department.  After spending two successful years at the station, BIGG P-WEE advanced to work in the promotions department on the street team, doing community and promotional events.  He is now one of the co-hosts on the popular Steve Harvey Morning Show on the new 93.5 FM K-DAY radio station.
 
Paul Holman
Holman is the executive vice president of the Tournament of Roses Association.  He joined the Tournament in 1978.
 
Dr. O'Neill Sanford
Dr. Sanford is the director of bands at Norfolk State University and the president of the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium.  He is also the founder of the HBCU \"Battle Fest\" Battle of the Bands and is chairman of the music department at Norfolk State University.
 
John P. Robinson
Robinson is a professor of woodwinds at Florida A&M University.  His duties include teaching woodwind techniques, music history, applied oboe, bassoon, first level clarinet and saxophone and coaching woodwind ensembles.  He is also the assistant band director for the university.  Robinson earned his bachelor's degree in music education and his master's in woodwind performance from the University of Georgia. 
 
About Artist Ernie Barnes
Barnes created and will be presenting the first place trophy to the winners of the Battle of the High School Marching Band competition.  Most recently, the former professional football player turned artist Barnes unveiled \"A Life Restored,\" a painting commissioned by hip hop artist Kanye West.  The painting depicts West's profound, near-death experience from a car accident in late 2002, which became the inspiration for his debut hit single, \"Through the Wire.\"  In 2004, Barnes was presented with the \"America's Best Painter of Sports\" award by the United States Sports Academy. 
 
About The Battle of the High School Marching Bands
Last year, The Battle of the High School Marching Bands raised $40,000.  All proceeds benefit The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.  Gold sponsors for the event are Comcast, Disneyland and 100.3 The Beat. Tickets for the Nov. 19 event are $10 for reserved seating and are available for purchase at The Home Depot Center Box Office and through Ticketmaster. 
 
Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, they have given nearly $30 million worth of instruments to more than 500,000 children.  VH1 Save The Music's many honors include the Governor's Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards.
 
The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation was established to provide financial and in-kind support for educational, recreational and social service programs which improve the lives of young people in the Greater Southern California region.  The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation has given more than $400,000 to youth organizations since The Home Depot Center opened in 2003.
 
About The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center is southern California's new home of world-class competition and training facilities for amateur, Olympic, collegiate and professional athletes.  The $150 million privately financed facility was developed and is operated by AEG on a 125-acre site on the campus of California State Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.  The Home Depot Center features an 8,000-seat tennis stadium, a 27,000-seat stadium for soccer, rugby, lacrosse & other athletic competitions and outdoor concerts, a 20,000-seat facility for track & field, the ADT Event Center (a 2,450-seat indoor velodrome for cycling) and other facilities for softball, baseball, beach volleyball, basketball and other sports. Named an Official U.S. Olympic Training Site, The Home Depot Center is home of the USA Tennis High Performance Training Center as well as the national team training headquarters for the U.S. Soccer Federation.  The complex is also the home of The David Beckham Academy for youth soccer and the nationally recognized Athletes Performance training center for elite and professional athletes.  The Home Depot Center has additionally been designated \"official\" training sites for USA Cycling, United States Track & Field, and the USTA.
 
 
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Contact:
Alison Groendal, The Home Depot Center
(310) 630-2032
agroendal@homedepotcenter.com