Internationally Acclaimed Jazz Artist Najee Added to Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Line-up

Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is produ to announce that Najee will be performing at their 3rd Annual Street Festival.

Tampa, Florida-September 17, 2002-The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Inc. announced today, that Contemporary Jazz Artist Najee would be taking the stage at the Third Annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival scheduled for Jan 16-20, 2003. Najee will perform during the street festival on Saturday at the University of South Floridas campus in Tampa.

Najee, with two platinum and four gold albums, is one of the pioneers of what is commonly known as contemporary jazz-- a combination of jazz improvisation and R& B. His albums include: Najees Theme," Day by Day," Tokyo Blue," Just an Illusion," and Share My World."

Najee has toured in the United States, Asia, Africa, and Europe including England, France, Italy, and Spain. While in South Africa in 1998, he performed for Nelson Mandela 's birthday celebration. In 1999, Najee was a guest of President Bill Clinton in a special performance at the White House honoring President Jerry Rawlings of the Republic of Ghana.

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is very excited to have a performer of Najees caliber take part in this years festival," commented Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr., President and Founder. He is well known in jazz markets around the world."

The Festival plans to debut local talent within the Tampa Bay Community as well. We are looking for artists of all types-- gospel choirs, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and rap. We are looking for the cream of the crop in Tampa Bay," states William Sanders, entertainment coordinator. Interested parties may call (813) 972-3409 or email uge.wm@verizon.net.

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is an annual event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Inc., a non-profit, 501©3. For further information regarding the festival or for the schedule of events visit the website at http://www.tampablackheritage.org