Usain Bolt Helps Kick Off 9.58 Charity Concert, Jamaica Jazz

CARIBPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Oct. 1, 2009: The world`s fastest man,  Usain St. Leo Bolt, on Tuesday joined Turn Key Productions in a top New York City club for the kick-off of the 2010 Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival and his inaugural 9.58 charity concert.
 
The triple Olympian was joined by his management and Turn Key President, Walter Elmore at the Strata club launch event, which included dozens of media and top celebrity guests.
 
Bolt, in brief remarks extended an official welcome to all to join his special charity event in St. Ann`s Jamaica on December 3rd. The two day series of activities will end with a one-of-a-kind Super Party on December 5, 2009 at Richmond Estate in St Ann, Jamaica. The party will be a way to raise funds for charity and community activities.
 
Carole Beckford, Bolt`s new publicist, said as part of the top athlete`s push to become a legend, the 9.58 party is Bolt`s decision to give back to his community by helping to raise funds to acquire land to give a permanent home to a current medical center in his home town. Proceeds from the concert will also help united way and help launch the Usain Bolt Charitable Foundation.
 
Turn Key President, Mr. Elmore, expressed joy at being chosen to put together the Usain Bolt party and said it will be a one of a kind event Jamaica will be proud of.
 
Turning to the Jamaica Jazz and Blues 2010 festival, Elmore revealed that the annual event will be expanded to a full week in January 24th to 30th, 2010.
 
Elmore also revealed that Turn Key will bring back the Jazz Fest Quest, a search for top amateur talent who will be selected via a soon to be announced digital submission online with the best selected to audition live in key U.S. cities and the winner flown in to Jamaica to perform at the festival.
 
Acts for 2010 so far include Roy Ayers, Jon Secada, and Monty Alexander as well as Marion `Lady Saw` Hall.
 
David Shields, deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, said the Board is again pleased to be associated with the Jazz and Blues Event and now the 9.58 party. He lauded Turn Key for putting together a quality event each year, adding it makes it easier for the JTB to support it as a title sponsor.
 
`The event represents the highest quality of musical talent and speaks to the quality of Jamaican entertainment,` said Shields.
 
While Campbell Rudder of Air Jamaica, a key corporate supporter of the event, insisted they are again happy to continue to be a partner of the event and to ensure there are packages available for all flyers in the northeast.
 
Jamaica`s Consul General to New York, Genieve Brown Metzer, welcomed Bolt and the Turn Key Production team to New York officially and praised the top athlete as an example to young people everywhere, especially to Jamaicans while emcee Bevan Springer insisted that not only Jamaica, but the Caribbean and the world is also proud of Bolt`s historic accomplishments.
 
Several top musicians joined guests and the media at the launch including Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Marion `Lady Saw` Hall, Monty Alexander, Roy Ayers and Stephen Cat Coore.
 
The event is also being produced by Turn Key Productions, the producers of the annual Jazz & Blues Festival. Tuesday night`s party was organized by Hard Beat Communications.
 
The festival, which since its introduction in 1996 was known as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica. International artistes that have performed at the festival include Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Norah Jones, Julio Iglesias, Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, Nancy Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, Kenny G., Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Kool & the Gang, Al Jarreau, Branford Marsalis, Brian McKnight Harry Belafonte, Babyface, Stephanie Mills, George Benson, Erykah Badu, Gladys Knight, Michael Bolton, and many more.  And to bring the Jamaican flavor, well-known names such as  Ziggy Marley, Morgan Heritage, Third World, Toots Hibbert, Shaggy, Sean Paul  Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Monty Alexander, Ritchie Stephens and many other Jamaican talents have made their mark on the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues stage.
 
This year the festival is again being presented by key title sponsor, the Jamaica Tourist Board. For more log on to www.jamaicajazzandblues.com.