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Sequoia Community Initiatives Presents 2nd Annual American Roots Music Benefit Concert

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Sequoia Community Initiatives, a non-profit organization benefiting the homeless and other special needs populations, will present their second annual American Roots Music Benefit Concert at the world famous Apollo Theater on Thursday, November 16, 2006 from 8-10pm/EST. Headlining the event will be Richard Hartley & Soul Resurrection, Haven House Choir, the Tokyo Mass Choir, Rory Block and New Orleans native, Kipori 'Baby Wolf' Woods. This event aims to raise funds that will continue to allow Sequoia Community Initiatives to provide essential services to New York's homeless and to continue to grow stronger, more vibrant communities.

Ticket prices range from $50 to a $150 VIP ticket which includes access to a VIP only pre-show cocktail event with a jazz piano performance by Yovanne Pierre. Special discounts are available for seniors, students and groups. Tickets for the event can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, your local Ticketmaster office, or from the Apollo Theater Box Office directly at (212) 531-5305.

Richard Hartley is a New York-based singer, arranger, songwriter, actor and musical director who has worked with Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Tricky, Kelly Price, Candi Staton, Dottie Peoples and many more. Richard Hartley currently serves as Pastor and co-founder of Haven International Ministries in Rockaway, New York, home of the dynamic Haven House Choir. Known as a non-traditional gospel choir, the Haven House Choir is poised to make their mark in gospel history.

The Tokyo Mass Choir, founded by Shin Ikesue, is comprised of one hundred fifty students from all over Japan who perfectly sing the gospel art form but speak little or no English. They are the most successful and popular gospel group in the country and sing with near perfect English diction that threatens even the most seasoned American gospel choir. The passion for gospel embodied by the Tokyo Mass Choir is one of the characteristics that make their performances so unique and powerful. Accomplishments include performing “Heal The World" for Michael Jackson which received them a standing ovation, and a performance on the Japan Academy Awards.

Considered a legend in the making, Kipori 'Baby Wolf' Woods is the youngest black blues vocalist and guitarist to surface on the blues scene in years. Taking his cues from masters like B.B. King and Albert King, Kipori's sound blends blues classics and modern flavors. Schooled under the direction of Ellis Marsalis, this young 'blues man from way down south' has won offBEAT Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards for Best New Blues Artist two years running. Kipori is currently the featured artist on tour with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and will be playing at Lincoln Center Out of Doors on August 8, 2006.

Country Blues acoustic guitarist and singer Rory Block has been heralded as “a living landmark" Berkeley Express, “a national treasure" Guitar Extra, and “one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists" Blues Revue. Rory Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery and haunting guitar and vocal style that redefines the boundaries of acoustic blues and folk.

Sequoia Community Initiatives, a New York City based non-profit organization benefiting the homeless and others in need of specialized services. Dedicated to the recovery of homeless men and women, SCI programs empower individuals by teaching the hands-on skills necessary to negotiate one's way through a maze of bureaucracy, be it negotiating a system or reuniting with their family. Sequoia Community Initiatives believes in the inherent dignity of all people, no matter what their current circumstances.

Rooted in change, Sequoia Community Initiatives literally helps the homeless stand tall. They have provided more than 432,000 meals a year to the homeless, have placed nearly 1,000 clients in permanent housing and have had tremendous success reunifying numerous families. Sequoia Community Initiatives believes that people have the ability to improve and enhance their lives when given the appropriate skills, tools and support necessary to fulfill individual needs.

Today, the face of homelessness in New York has changed. Many of these individuals are college-educated, have held jobs and had their own apartments but when faced with unexpected catastrophes, they become one of the 38,000 people sleeping in a New York shelter every night. Sequoia Community Initiatives has an exciting mission. By providing programs that address the whole person, this organization helps renew the spirits and self-confidence of the individual, which becomes the first stepping stone towards getting their life back on track.

Proceeds from the first American Roots Music Benefit Concert held at the world famous Apollo Theater in November 2005 has allowed Sequoia Community Initiatives to continue to provide essential services to New York's homeless. A portion of last year's event proceeds was also donated to Habitat for Humanity's “Operation Home Delivery" to help provide assistance and rebuilding opportunities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

To arrange an interview with Sequoia Community Initiatives' President, Diane Cilento, or for event press credentials, please contact Eda Kalkay at (212) 877-5551 or via email at [email protected].

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