CeCe Winans Scheduled to Perform at Verizon Wireless' How Sweet the Sound

CeCe Winans Scheduled to Perform at Verizon Wireless' How Sweet the Sound

Gospel Super Star Will Be Among Talented Judging Panel

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced that CeCe Winans, six-time Grammy winner, will perform as part of the wireless company's How Sweet the Sound gospel choir contest on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Toyota Center.

The musical superstar plans to entertain the crowd with selections from her seventh solo album, "Purified," a celebration of heart, soul and spirit, blending the power of gospel with upbeat pop and R&B. The album comprises several of Winan's new hits, including "All I Need," "Pray," "Just Like That," "I Promise," "Colorful World" and "A Place Like This."

Winan's performance is just one of the many musical acts on tap for the evening. Grammy-winning producer, composer and recording artist, Donald Lawrence, as well as gospel singers, Marvin Sapp and James Fortune, also will be a part of the talented line-up.

Winans will join Sapp and Fortune on the judging panel to name the best church choir in Houston. Gospel choirs from eight Houston-area churches were chosen to perform in the regional competition based on audition tapes and a thorough application process. These eight churches include:

   Few Voices Category:   --  Word of Power International Fellowship Church Choir, Word of Power       International Fellowship Church   --  Voice of JOY, JOY Baptist Tabernacle Church   --  The Levites, Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church    --  Christ Church Chorale, UPC    Many Voices Category:   --  Greater St. Matthew Church Choir, Greater St. Matthew Church   --  Royalwood Sanctuary Choir, United Pentecostal Church, Inc.   --  Resurrection Baptist Church Mass Choir, Resurrection Baptist Church    --  Voice of Faith, St. Agnes Church    

The winner of Saturday's contest will go on to compete for the title of best church choir in America at the How Sweet the Sound grand finale, which will take place in Detroit on Nov. 7.

Tickets to Saturday night's performance are still available. Floor seats are $7 and lower-and-upper-tier seats are $5. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on purchasing tickets, visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com or visit the Web site for the Toyota Center at www.houstontoyotacenter.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

   MEDIA CONTACT:   Gretchen LeJeune   Verizon Wireless   713.219.8028   Gretchen.LeJeune@verizonwireless.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Gretchen LeJeune of Verizon Wireless, +1-713-219-8028,
Gretchen.LeJeune@verizonwireless.com

Web Site: http://www.howsweetthesound.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Broadcast-quality B-Roll and high-resolution images from the 2008 How Sweet the Sound tour are available online. Log on to Verizon Wireless' Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia to preview and request video segments, which can be received in newsrooms digitally or by tape.

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Profile: International Entertainment