The classically trained South Florida twosome known as Black Violin, fresh off their performance of the inauguration of President Barack Obama’s second term, have signed to open for main act nine-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer and songwriter Natalie Cole at the Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. GENERATIONS concert to raise funds for music education on Friday, March 1, 2013 at the Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida (the venue of the final 2012 Presidential Debate).
Comprised of Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester, Black Violin are known for their ability to meld highbrow and pop culture, “Brandenburg” and “breakdown,” into a single genre-busting act. The band’s most recent album, Classically Trained, puts their groundbreaking blend of classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B and even bluegrass music on full display.
Wil B and Kev Marcus are classically trained viola and violin players who first
met playing in the high school orchestra in Fort Lauderdale, FL. After graduating college, they joined up as hip-hop studio rats in South Florida, working with several different acts before returning to their roots by fusing the two genres in a groundbreaking collaboration that has seen them play their music for everybody from the troops in Iraq to both the official President’s Inaugural Ball and the Kids Inaugural in Washington, D.C. The pair also headlined 40 shows in two stints at the New Victory Theater on Broadway, including 16 sold-out shows over two weeks last November.
Since starting Black Violin a decade ago—named after an album by preeminent African-American swing era jazz violinist Stuff Smith—Wil B and Kev have performed an average of 200 shows a year in 49 states and 36 countries as far away as Dubai, Prague and South Africa, while appearing at official NFL celebrations for three Super Bowls and last year’s U.S. Open in Forest Hills with Jordin Sparks. The pair has played with the likes of Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor, while opening for Fat Joe, Akon and the Wu-Tang Clan. Individually and together, Black Violin has collaborated with the likes of P. Diddy, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin and The Eagles.
“We’re extremely excited to announce Black Violin as a late addition to our lineup,” said Timolin Cole. “Their music, born in South Florida and enjoyed ‘round the globe, is something every generation can enjoy. Their efforts toward giving students the opportunity to enhance their musical talents and abilities is in line with our father’s dream and our family’s legacy.”
Casey Cole added that “in keeping with that legacy, the concert will showcase generations of musical greatness, including performances by our sister Natalie Cole, students from the Nat King Cole Generation Hope Summer Strings Camp, and local youth performance artists Andrew Foreman, Zoe Fromer, and Jermaine Teague in addition to Black Violin.”
Much like the Nat King Cole Generation Hope, which raises much needed funds for music education where the resources are lacking, Black Violin is committed to turning young fans on to their own potential through a tireless schedule of appearances at schools, where they constantly stress the importance of arts education.
“We’re passionate about it because we realize how fortunate we were to grow up having access to that,” explains Wil B. “It’s something in which we take a great deal of pride. We encourage kids to think creatively, to take what they love doing and try to come up with something no one has ever done before. And that doesn’t just apply to playing violin or even music, but whatever it is you decide to do. Expand your mind. Once we get their attention with the music, that’s the message we want to deliver.”
Twin daughters of music legend Nat King Cole, Timolin and Casey Cole of Boca Raton, launched Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. to honor the legacy, music and life of their father Nat King Cole in 2008 after learning of budget cuts in public schools directly affecting the arts. Since that time, donations in excess of $66,000 have benefited more than 5,000 children with “the greatest need and fewest resources” in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The GENERATIONS concert event begins at 7:00 p.m. with a reception hosted by Celebrity Cruises featuring music performed by students from the Lynn Conservatory of Music and an ensemble of children they mentored during Nat King Cole Generation Hope Summers Strings and a silent auction that will include a 4-foot x 3-foot original painting of Nat King Cole by Salvatore Principe, a vintage handbag from the private collection of Maria Cole, wife of Nat King Cole and mother of the Cole sisters, Natalie, Timolin and Casey; and a limited edition print of the legendary artists who performed and recorded “We Are The World,” including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and Diana Ross with each artist’s signature and portrait, along with the musical score of the song. At 8:00 p.m. the attendees will enjoy music from the talented, local youth performers Andrew Foreman, Zoe Fromer and pianist Jermaine Teague, and an opening by Black Violin followed by the performance by headliner Natalie Cole. The evening program will be emceed by WPTV News Channel 5 anchor Tania Rogers.
VIP tickets priced at $350 include premier seating, open bar at the Celebrity Cruises pre-concert reception, a private meet-and greet with performers, and post-event dessert reception; Donor tickets priced at $150 include priority seating and two drink tickets for the Celebrity Cruises pre-concert reception; and General Admission tickets priced at $75 with cash bar at Celebrity Cruises pre-concert reception are available, but limited.
The mission of Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is to provide music education to children with the greatest need and fewest resources. It is accomplished by funding programs that provide for instruction, mentoring and resources. Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. accepts grant applications throughout the year, which are reviewed by its Board of Directors and grants are awarded twice yearly based on the merit of application and availability of funds.
GENERATIONS Concert sponsors include Platinum Sponsor Patriot National Insurance Group; Silver Sponsor Celebrity Cruises; Bronze Sponsors Allied Health Institute, Excel Services Corporation and West Boca Medical Center; Patron Sponsors Florida Power & Light and Global Tower Partners; Partners Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, Cruisin-America, Kaye Communications, Inc., Lynn University and SmartCruiser.com; Media Sponsors The Boca Raton Observer, The Boca Raton Tribune, Seaview Radio and LivingFLA.com.
To purchase benefit concert tickets visit natkingcolefoundation.org/concert or call 561-237-9000. For more information on Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., call 561-213-8209 or email info@natkingcolefoundation.org.
