Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation Presents:  Uptown Theater Hall of Fame Awards Fundraiser Uptown Theater Tour   Friday, June 20, 6:30 p.m. at CBS3 Studio, 1555 Hamilton Street

Guided Tour of Uptown Theater and Lunch: Saturday, June 28, at 1:00 p.m., 2231 N. Broad Street   On Friday June 20, 6:30 p.m. at CBS3 Studio (1906 Rittenhouse Square), the Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation (UEDC), presents its inaugural Uptown Theater Hall of Fame Awards Fundraiser. As UEDC renovates the Uptown Theater we understand the need to nurture new talent through our Uptown Youth Got Talent program. UEDC demonstrates continuity in creating opportunities for youth artists to perform alongside established entertainers so they understand the history of Rhythm and Blues. We are building a permanent legacy to African American music as we redevelop the Uptown into a state of the art regional performance venue for independent producers, promoters and artists.   2014 Hall of Fame Awardees: MPrynt (Motown Recording Artists), Lady B (Old School 100.3 on air talent and first recorded female rapper in hip hop), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (Producer, Composer, bassist and international performer). Corbitt Banks Excellence in Leadership Award, to UEDC board members: Yumy Odom(Founder, Frator Heru Institute and East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention). Andrea Brown Visionary Award, for funders in the vanguard: Congressman Bob Brady (invited) and Hon. John F. Street (former Mayor of Philadelphia)   Join MC, Earl Young, founder of the Trammps for an evening of food, fun and entertainment. Special performance by UEDC Uptown Youth Got Talentcompetition winners.     On Saturday June 28, 1:00 p.m., at 2231 N. Broad St., tour the Uptown Theater and stay for lunch.   Purchase tickets for June 20 and June 28 at http://tinyurl.com/UptownTickets UEDC awards program spotlights artists who have made significant contributions to Rhythm and Blues and those who are stars on the rise. 2011 honorees were singer, actress and philanthropist Jill Scott; radio personality Dyana Williams of 100.3 WRNB, entertainment promoter Lox Knox; and Ola Solenka owner of the Arts Garage for their contributions to Black music and the local arts community. 2012 honorees were State Senator Shirley Kitchen, drummer Earl Young founder of 70's R&B disco group The Trammps, actor Will Smith,entrepreneur/producer James Elam, Philadelphia Tribune entertainment reporter Kimberly Roberts, WRNB 100.3FM radio personality Tiffany Bacon and internationally acclaimed poet Ursula Rucker for their contributions to Philadelphia music, arts and culture. 2013 honorees were Sonny Driver, Publisher of Scoop Newspaper; Sonny Hopson, pioneer radio DJ and producer; William “Poogie” Hart of the Delfonics; 16 year old Interscope Recording Artist Cody Wise; and, Bruce Webb, legendary local entrepreneur and impresario. The UEDC oversees the renovation of the historic Uptown Theatre on Broad St. in North Philadelphia where music icons such as The Supremes, Jackson 5, James Brown, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder and more performed.  Built in 1929, The Uptown Theatre became part of the national “chitlin circuit” in the 1960's providing a venue for African American R&B, jazz and gospel artists to perform.

For more information contact Linda Richardson at 215-236-1878 

orlrichardson.uptown@gmail.com or visit www.philadelphiauptowntheatre.org.   About the Uptown Theater The Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation (UEDC) acquired the historic Uptown Theater at 2240 N. Broad St., a 50,000 square ft. venue with a 2,100 seat auditorium, as its first acquisition in 2002. Construction began in August 2011 to revitalize the theater's education and entertainment tower which will be completed in 2014.  The second phase of construction is set to begin in Fall 2014 with an anticipated completion date of 2015. The Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation is a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to neighborhood stabilization. The Uptown's mission is to stimulate the economy in blighted areas of Philadelphia by creating commercial enterprises, neighborhood revitalization and management of moderate and low income housing.   Tickets for the Uptown Hall of Fame Awards Fundraiser are $50; Ticket & Studio Tour $75, VIP Reception, Tour and Program Ticket $100. Public tour of the Uptown Theater Tower is $20 per person (lunch included)