Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992 TAG: 9203270127
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium
This year's festival will be held June 26-28 at the Hampton Coliseum.
The lineup, announced by festival officials Tuesday, marks the return of some of the biggest talents who have come to the event in the past. Charles played at the first festival in 1968. Franklin came to the 1974 event.
Last year, Franklin had to cancel as the headliner at the last minute. Still, about 30,000 people came to the three-day festival.
"It's an incredible representative of great black artists," said George Wein, the event's promoter. Wein, Hampton University and the city sponsor the show.
This year's lineup includes jazz greats as well as rhythm and blues and soul artists, a mix that's needed to satisfy most concertgoers, said festival coordinator John Scott.
"To attract numbers, we do need artists who have popular appeal, whether it be jazz or whatever," Scott said. "Since the early 1980s, this event has made a character change that's pretty much become its new identity. The core of this event is that we'll try to retain quality representatives of jazz music. I don't think anybody will be dissatisfied."
A few new additions to this year's festival include two wide television screens that will provide close-ups of the acts to ensure that every seat in the house is a good one.
Organizers also are discussing the possibility of having some artists perform small, free concerts at different sites around the city during the festival weekend.
Tickets for the coliseum show cost $30. Call (804) 838-5650
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 28, 1992.
An Associated Press story about the Hampton Jazz Festival in Friday's paper contained incorrect information. Tickets for the festival do not go on sale until Monday. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-543-3041.
Memo: CORRECTION