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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Colleen Wright
February 21, 2002
Marketing Communications Account Executive
Telephone: (410) 581-4293
E-mail: colleenwright@mpt.org
MPT. This is bigger than television
Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV rock and roll
Program unites local stations in unprecedented collaboration
OWINGS MILLS, MD: For the first time in history, a local commercial
television station will join with Maryland Public Television (MPT) to
simulcast a prime time program. On March 9, from 7:00-8:00 p.m., WBAL-TV
and MPT will jointly broadcast the first hour of R&B 40:
A Soul Spectacular, which unites legendary artists from America's
leading rhythm and blues, Motown and soul labels. From 8:00-9:00 p.m.,
viewers can watch the final hour of the program on MPT.
In this unprecedented evening of community collaboration between the two
television stations, Marianne Banister, anchor for WBAL's 11 News
at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. news programs, and Tom Tasselmyer, chief meteorologist,
will join MPT hosts Rhea Feikin and Donald Thoms in the MPT studio to
host pledge breaks.
R&B 40: A Soul Spectacular is the first televised cross-gathering
of Motown, Atlantic, Stax, Volt, Muscle Shoals and Philadelphia International
talents from the 1960s and 1970s. The program features new performances
from soul legends the Temptations, the Isley Brothers, Sam Moore, Eddie
Holman, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Fontella Bass, Percy Sledge,
the Chi-Lites and many others. Extra special moments occur when Ben E.
King reunites with the Drifters, Jerry Butler joins the Impressions on
stage again and the Miracles come together with Billy Griffin.
Other highlights include rare tapings of Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye,
Otis Redding, James Brown, The Supremes and others singing their most
memorable hits.
The cohosts of R&B 40: A Soul Spectacular are Dionne Warwick,
who performs one of her biggest hits, "Walk on By"; Jerry Butler,
who sings "Make It Easy on Yourself" solo and "For Your
Precious Love" with the Impressions; Sam Moore, who performs "Soul
Man"; and actor Richard "Shaft" Roundtree. The Temptations
open the program with "Get Ready" and follow with "My Girl."
Among the other highlights are "Hurt So Bad" and "Take
Me Back" from Little Anthony and the Original Imperials; "Rescue
Me" from Fontella Bass; "When a Man Loves a Woman" from
Percy Sledge; "Knock on Wood" from Eddie Floyd; "Ooh Baby
Baby" from the Miracles; "Who's That Lady" and "Shout"
from the Isley Brothers; "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl"
from the Chi-Lites; "Stand By Me" from Ben E. King and the Drifters;
"Oh No! Not My Baby" from Maxine Brown; "Hey There, Lonely
Boy" from Eddie Holman; and "I Got You" from the inimitable
James Brown.
The program also airs on MPT without the simulcast on March 3 at 8:00-10:00
p.m., March 6 at 3:15-5:15 p.m., and March 14 at 10:00 p.m.-midnight.
For more information on this and other programs on MPT, please visit mpt.org.
Maryland Public Television is a not-for-profit, state-licensed public
television station which serves the citizens and communities of Maryland
and beyond through a variety of broadcast and nonbroadcast activities.
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