Forever Freestyle Live @ Lehman Center March 20, 2010

LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
presents
FOREVER FREESTYLE 4

Featuring Lisa Lisa, Corina, Safire, Noel, & More, Rob Base, Nayobe, Shannon,
Nocera, Joyce Sims, Nyasia, and David (formerly of Nice &Wild)
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts and Sal Abbatiello of Fever Records bring The New York City club scene of the ‘80s back to life on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at 8pm as FOREVER FREESTYLE 4 presents some of the hottest artists who defined that era of Latin-flavored dance music. The freestyle phenomenon, a fusion of hip-hop and disco, originating in New York City’s club scene in 1983, quickly became the sound of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The evening will feature legendary freestyle artists Lisa Lisa, Corina, Safire, & More, Rob Base, Nayobe, Shannon, Nocera, Joyce Sims, Nyasia, and David (formerly of Nice & Wild) performing their chart-topping dance hits. The concert, hosted by Speedy, will also include a KR3TS Breakdance Company showcase, comedian Mark Viera, andDJ Kool Mike Ski.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for FOREVER FREESTYLE 4 on March 20, 2010 at 8pm, are: $55, $45, $40 and $35 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718.960.8833 (Mon. through Fri., 10am-5pm, Tues. 10am-7pm, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through 24-hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. FREE on-site parking is available.

Lisa Lisa and her band Cult Jam, one of the most successful dance-pop/R&B groups, recorded their debut single, “I Wonder if I Take You Home,” soon after forming in 1985. The group quickly signed to Columbia Records, which re-released the single; it climbed into the R&B Top Ten and the U.K. Top 20. The group amassed a number of hit songs throughout the mid-'80s, including “All Cried Out,” “Lost in Emotion” and “Head to Toe.”

Corina released a self-titled album on Atco Records in 1991 and charted a string of dance hits, including the summer 1991 top ten hit "Temptation," and “Out of Control” and “Whispers.” In 1999 she portrayed Frida Kahlo in the film “Cradle Will Rock.”

Safire’s debut single, 1986’s “Don't Break My Heart,” was followed by the even bigger hit “Let Me be the One.” “Boy, I've Been Told,” from her self-titled debut album, crossed over to pop radio and became her first pop hit. The song was the #1-selling single in New York for twelve straight weeks. In 1989 she wrote the ballad “Thinking of You,” her biggest hit.

Noel hit the dance singles charts in 1987 with “Silent Morning” his first Top-10 hit. 1988’s “Like a Child” became his first #1 single, and he topped the dance charts again later that year with “Out of Time.”

Rob Base was part of a duo with DJ E-Z Rock best known for their hit, the multi-platinum “It Takes Two.” The album of the same name included their follow-up hit, “Joy and Pain,” and went platinum seven times.
& More is best-known for the hits “You’ll Never Find Another Love” and “Materialistic Girl.”

Nayobe was discovered, at the age of 14, by Fever Records “Sal Abbatiello and recorded” Please Don't Go,” arguably the first Latin freestyle song recorded. Her hit single “I Love the Way You Love Me” was Top 20 on the R&B chart. She was the singing voice of Salma Hayek in the film “54.”

Shannon is best known for her 1983 million-selling record “Let the Music Play,” which re-defined the electro-funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.

Nocera is best known for her 1986 Latin freestyle hits “Summertime, Summertime” and “Let's Go.”

Joyce Sims is known for “(You Are) All and All” and her biggest hit single, “Come Into My Life,” which reached Top 10 status on both the US Billboard R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

Nyasia’s debut single was “Now & Forever” followed by “Who’s Got Your Love,” which reached the Top Ten.

David released the mega-hit “Diamond Girl” in 1986 with the trio Nice & Wild.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Lehman Center also receives support from the New York State Council on the Arts.