AAP – FOOD SAMARITANS ANNOUNCES THAT GLADYS KNIGHT WILL BE THE HEADLINER FOR ‘EVENING UNDER THE STARS’ GALA

PALM SPRINGS – October 10, 2017: AAP – Food Samaritans (AAP) proudly announces that Gladys Knight will be the headline entertainment for the 25th annual Evening Under the Stars gala, to be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the O’Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs. Gladys Knight is a seven-time Grammy Winner and one of the greatest singers of our time.  Her Billboard Number 1 R&B Singles include: “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “That’s What Friends are For,” “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye),” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” and “If I Were Your Woman.”

 

“Gladys Knight is one of greatest singers in the world, period,” said Mark Anton, CEO/Executive Director of AAP – Food Samaritans. “Evening Under the Stars is not only a great fundraiser, it’s also a great show. This year, as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this iconic Palm Springs event, we’ll pull out all the stops to make it extra special.”

Evening Under the Stars is the largest annual fundraiser for AAP – Food Samaritans, a non-profit organization that provides nutritional support for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

The organization was initiated in 1991 by a small operational budget through private donations, community and local business support, special events such as Evening Under the Stars, and foundation grants. It receives no Federal or State funding.

Evening Under the festive cocktail receptions of the season. A short awards program will recognize a few inspirational honorees (to be announced soon), followed by a delicious dinner, and the performance by Gladys Knight. Tickets for the benefit, at $395 and $500 per person, are available for purchase now. Individual VIP seats and sponsorships are also available. For more information, call 760-325-8481 or visit aapfoodsamaritans.org.

About Gladys Knight: The Empress of Soul

The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last fifty years have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance.

Knight, known as the “Empress of Soul,” a longtime Las Vegas resident, returned to the Strip in the late-2000s to the famed Tropicana Hotel for a special engagement that ran in the newly named Gladys Knight Theater, making her the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas. This followed a successful four-year show run at The Flamingo, which the Las Vegas Review-Journal praised as “the number-one show on the Strip.” A tireless humanitarian, Knight is an iconic supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, to which she donated a Randy Jackson- produced song, “The Dream.” As the celebrated singer of the timeless song “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Knight was a natural fit as national spokesperson and host of Amtrak’s National Train Day, the celebration of which took place Washington, DC’s famed Union Station.

In February 2011, Knight reunited with Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder for the first time in 25 years to perform their Grammy-winning song, “That’s What Friends Are For” at an AIDS research benefit in New York. Adored the world over, Knight then toured across the UK, performing at packed arenas that included a sold-out performance at Wembley Stadium.

No stranger to performing and light choreography over the course of her career, Knight raised the stakes when she put on her dancing shoes in the spring of 2012 when she joined the cast of ABC’s hit reality competition “Dancing with the Stars,” partnering with Tristan MacManus.

In her first effort since 2013’s “Another Journey” – Knight’s 8th solo effort – this summer marked the release of “Where My Heart Belongs”, a new inspiration gospel album. Knight is a two-time Grammy winner in the gospel category, and “Where My Heart Belongs” dropped on September 9th from Deseret Book, and recently won an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Gospel Album.”  “Another Journey” enjoyed success from the hit “I Who Have Nothing” as well as the up- tempo track “Settle,” produced by Randy Jackson, with whom she previously collaborated with on her Grammy-winning album, “At Last.” Knight also enjoyed the success of her song “You and I Ain’t Nothin’ No More” which appeared over the end credits of the critically-acclaimed Lee Daniels film The Butler.

THE BACK STORY – GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS:

They recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade.

ABOUT EVENING UNDER THE STARS

Over the years, Evening Under the Stars has featured the talents of a wide variety of entertainers. In 2014, an electrifying  their feet with an amazing night of 70’s dance music. Previous headliners including Barry Manilow, Lily Tomlin and the entire remaining cast of Laugh In, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Pink Martini, The B-52s, The Go-Go’s, Cyndi Lauper, Darlene Love and the iconic Village People have all taken the stage in support of this very worthy cause.

AAP - Sam The Desert Sun last year, and is a candidate in both categories again this year (voting closed late September).

Evening Under the Stars also won ‘Best Fundraising Event” in Palm Springs Life’s 2016 Best of the Best awards and was named “Best Annual Charity Event” 2016 by CV Independent.

ABOUT AAP – FOOD SAMARITANS

Now in its 26th year of service to the community, AAP- Food Samaritans of Palm Springs remains dedicated to providing nutritional support to improve the quality of the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

HIV/AIDS continues to be a major health challenge in the Coachella Valley and across the world. While some people who have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS are able to work and maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle, AAP serves those who unable to do so. Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, heart and liver disease all present similar challenges to those who are living with these debilitating conditions. While there have been developments in treating these chronic illnesses, our clients are faced with daily challenges. AAP – Food Samaritans is there to provide comfort and support to improve the quality of life for those who need it the most.

For more information, please call 760-325-8481 or visit aapfoodsamaritans.org.