Final Lineup for Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival This Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Sunshine, Sand & Superstars!  Aruba’s Hosts Eighth Annual Soul Beach Music Festival  

Headliners Include Four-Time Grammy Award Winner Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, Sean Kingston & Superstar Comedian Sinbad Bringing the Funk & Fun May 21 – 26, 2008

Oranjestad, Aruba – April 17, 2008 – Aruba’s beaches just got a whole lot hotter!  Aruba is thrilled to announce the star-studded lineup for the Eighth Annual Soul Beach Music Festival featuring Grammy Award-winners Erykah Badu and Wyclef Jean along with R&B stars Sean Kingston, Ledisi, and Paige.  In addition, funnymen Sinbad and Brandon T. Jackson will keep sides splitting.  The festivities kick off this Memorial Day weekend, May 21 – 26, as Aruba’s white-sand shores are turned white hot from five days of unforgettable nights at some of the island’s hottest nightclubs, incredible beach parties, and, of course, the once-in-a-lifetime music and comedy concerts sure to pack a punch.  This year’s Soul Beach Music Festival is designed to keep R&B fans, comedy connoisseurs and sun and sand seekers exhilarated the entire time!

“This is the fourth time that Aruba has hosted the Soul Beach Music Festival and each year it seems to get better. We are thrilled that Arubans and visitors alike are getting the opportunity to enjoy this year’s impressive lineup of talent,” said Minister of Tourism and Transportation, Edison Briesen.  “Soul Beach has been a hit on Aruba from day one and we anticipate that with this year’s headliners, we will have another extremely successful festival on our hands.”

Singer and songwriter, Erykah Badu, is a musical force to be reckoned with.  In 1997, her highly acclaimed debut album, Baduizm, debuted at number two on the Billboard charts. The album eventually went triple platinum and won two Grammy Awards at the 1998 ceremonies.  Badu is renowned for her introspective lyrics and jazzy sound.  Her first live album, Live, reached number four on the Billboard charts, selling double platinum, and spawned another R&B hit single in "Tyrone."  Badu is also a collaborator and her work with the Roots won her a third Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1999 for the song "You Got Me.”   In 2003, her work with artist, Common and their song, "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)," hit number nine on the pop charts, topped R&B listings, and Badu was awarded her fourth Grammy Award.  Her latest album, New Amerykah, was released in February 2008 and part two is currently slated for July 2008 release.

In addition to once-in-a-lifetime concerts, Aruba’s Soul Beach Music Festival will feature the hilarity of sidesplitting comedian, Sinbad, sure to leave paradise seekers doubled over in laughter.  Sinbad is internationally known for his starring appearances in hit movies like “Jingle All the Way,” playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger; “Houseguest” co-starring the late Phil Hartman and his co-starring role in “Necessary Roughness.” He has starred in the televisions sitcom “A Different World” as well as his own series, “The Sinbad Show.” He has even written a self-help book entitled Sinbad’s Guide to Life: (Because I Know Everything). Sinbad has drawn legions of fans from his highly rated HBO comedy specials; “Brain Damaged” (1991), “Afros & Bellbottoms” (1993), “Son of a Preacher Man” (1996), and “Nuthin But The Funk” (1998).  His annual HBO music concert series “Sinbad’s 70’s Soul Music Festival” received the prestigious NAACP Image Award consecutively for two years as the “Most Outstanding Variety Series/Special.”

Back for a second year time due to popular demand is Grammy Award-winning musician/rapper/producer/social activist, Wyclef Jean.  As part of the dynamic trio, The Fugees, Jean’s album, “The Score,” produced three hit singles – “Fu-Gee-La,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “Ready or Not.”  Other smash singles include “Guantanamera” – which earned a Grammy nomination, “We Trying To Stay Alive” and “Gone Till November.”  As a talented producer and collaborator, Jean has produced a number of successful projects including “New Day” with Bono, Carlos Santana’s Grammy-winning “Supernatural,” and more.  Jean most recently topped charts with his Grammy-nominated duet with Shakira, “Hips Don’t Lie.” 

2007 may have gone devoid of a summer anthem if not for then 17-year-old Sean Kingston and his prolific “Beautiful Girls,” which made history as one of the fastest ascents up the charts ever.  The now-legal singer/wrapper has since graced the airways with two more top ten hits “Me Love” and “Take You There.”  Kingston has sold more than three million digital singles as well as more than three million ringtones and has tours with artists like Gwen Stefani, Chris Brown and Kelly Clarkson under his belt.

Other performers include singer/songwriter, Ledisi and Paige, while comedy will come courtesy of Michigan-born Brandon T. Jackson. 

“We are excited to return to Aruba, a destination that celebrates diversity in music, culture and people,” said Mark Adkins, producer of the Soul Beach Music Festival. “This years Soul Beach Music Festival promises undeniable talent, soulful-energy and heart-pumping entertainment.”

For more information on the eighth annual Soul Beach Music Festival, please call 1.800.TO.ARUBA or www.ARUBA.com or www.soulbeach.net.   

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