Show features impressive lineup of R&B, House, and Rap artists, including Aly-Us, Pamela Long, Allure, Judah Priest and Rahway’s Ny’a, to run from 5-8 p.m., sponsored by Union County Freeholders and City of Rahway
The Union County Performing Arts Center is presenting the Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, featuring a card of nationally known, award-winning musical artists, on Saturday October 1st, from 5-8 p.m.
The show, which is being sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the City of Rahway, features platinum-winning artists Aly-Us and Pamela Long from Total, gold-winning artists Ny’a and Allure, Julia Robertson and Norm Adams, Judah Priest, Kenny Black, High-Five, and the Apostolic Center’s band and choir. Tickets for the general admission show are $20 and may be purchased in advance at www.ucpac.org. All proceeds from the show will be used to benefit Hurricane victims in Texas and Florida.
“It is all about coming together to help our fellow Americans who need it the most in Texas and Florida,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “We thank the artists for performing, and we urge our residents to come out and support the relief effort, and have a good time while doing so.”
Mayor Samson Steinman, who is also involved in supporting the show, thanked Rahway’s own recording star, Ny’a, for organizing the concert and bringing the artists together, and hailed the program to help disaster victims.
“Our Country has experienced back-to-back devastating weather events, and it has been said that hurricanes do not discriminate in their path of destruction,” Steinman said. “We are coming together to lift our hearts, raise funds and show our compassion for our fellow Americans in need. There is no finer way than to do than through music, a celebration of our culture and American way of life.”
Felice Twaddle, President of the Board of Directors at UCPAC added:
“I am pleased that we are able to come together for a night of great entertainment to benefit those that were affected by the damages of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. My sincere thanks to all the artists that have graciously donated their time to make this event happen.”
Artist Profiles
Aly-Us achieved stardom with their 1992 hit single “Follow Me.” This song became one of the first “house” songs to appear on the radio, and subsequently helped catapult house music into the main stream.
Pamela Long is best remembered as the voice in the New Jersey R&B trio Total. Her lyrics helped fuel various hits throughout the 90s, including: “What You Want” (Featuring Mase), “Kissing You”, and “Can’t You See” (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.). Long’s chorus on the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize”, helped elevate the song to the #1 spot on Billboard Hot 100, while simultaneously solidifying it as one of the 50 greatest rap songs of all time.
With two number one singles on the R&B and club charts, Rahway native, Ny’a, has amassed a following both statewide and around the world. Her debut album Embrace sold over half a million records. Currently, Ny’a has a new single, “Mend,” which features Kenny Black.
Allure is a New York based R&B group currently comprised of Alia Davis, Lalisha Sanders and Akissa Mendez. In the 1990s, Allure’s single “All Cried Out” dominated the airwaves and soon reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Most recently the group has signed with Bridge Works/Interscope records and released their single entitled “Butterflies.”
Julia Robertson achieved fame as a member of the female R&B group Ex-Girlfriend. Her hit singles include “Why Can’t You Come Home,” and “You (You’re The One for Me),” Norm Adams first discovered his skills as a young singer in church. Over the years, he has struck success with both the soca-infused single “Love Me,” as well as “Stretch Ya Neck”. Collectively, Julia Robertson and Norm Adams have worked together to perform the hit ballad “Body Rush.”
Judah Priest is an affiliated act of the Wu-Tang Clan, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time. Most recently, Judah Priest released an album titled The Day After Tomorrow.
Kenny Black Jr., aka The Music Machine is a singer, songwriter and producer whose music crosses a variety of genre’s including R&B, gospel and country.
Hi-Five is an American R&B quintet based in Waco, Texas. Hi-Five had a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the early 1990s with “I Like the Way”.
Local Spiritual Group, The Apostolic Center Band and Choir, are based out of the Word of Life Apostolic Center on Elm Avenue in Rahway.
The Union County Performing Arts Center is located at 1601 Irving St in Rahway, NJ and is easily accessible to major roads and public transportation.