The Amy Winehouse Foundation Announces
Emmy and Grammy Award winning artist NAS
To be Honoree and Featured Performer
at the Amy Winehouse Inspiration Awards & Gala
(August 7, 2012: NYC, NY): The Amy Winehouse Foundation (US) announced today that hip hop icon NAS will be honored at the Amy Winehouse Inspiration Awards & Gala to be held on October 11, 2012 in New York City at the famed Waldorf Astoria. The Emmy and Grammy Award winning artist has been chosen alongside the legendary Tony Bennett (http://tmapr.com/?p=1233 ) and the multi Grammy nominated producer and songwriter SaLaAM ReMI (http://tmapr.com/?p=125 ) to receive an Amy Winehouse Inspiration Award for his work in helping to inspire greatness in others.
NAS will also perform at the star studded black- tie cocktail and dinner event that will feature other (soon to be announced) musical performers, honorees and special guests.
NAS was first introduced to Amy’s music in 2004 through their respective producer SaLaAM ReMI and the two became instant friends. “She was really inspired by him,” says ReMI, who produced the Amy/NAS collaboration “Like Smoke” from the Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures album and their collaboration “Cherry Wine” from NAS’ new critically acclaimed Life is Good album. Not only did the two share a similarity on the way they approached music but they shared the same birthday (September 14th). “Amy was an amazing talent and a special artist. She was like a little sister to me,” says NAS, “I’m happy to be involved with a foundation that not only keeps her memory alive but helps support those things she cared most about- kids and music.”
Tickets for the Gala are $1000 per person and will be the first of what Mitch Winehouse and Janis Winehouse, Amy’s father and mother, plan to be an annual event to raise awareness and resources for the Amy Winehouse Foundation in the US. All monies raised in the US, including from this event will go to US programs.
Launched in NYC on April 11, 2012, the mission of the Amy Winehouse Foundation -US is to support and empower children in need through music therapy and music education. One of the US Foundation’s first missions is to assist the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO), in supporting after school music programs for children in those districts still struggling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Mitch Winehouse recently visited the 9th Ward in New Orleans and presented the Foundation’s first pledge of $10,000 to NOJO.
The Amy Winehouse Foundation was formally established in the UK in 2011 by Amy’s family in honor of her memory and in keeping with her passion of wanting to help children in need. To date, the UK Foundation has allocated over £500,000 to various organizations.
For more information about the AWF (US) please visit www.amywinehousefoundation.org
AWF-US/ Mitch Winehouse Media contact: Tracey Miller, TMA, Inc., 609-383-2323, ext.11 or tracey@tmapublicity.com