Starring the Grammy award-winners Patti Austin and Dianne Reeves, Simone and Lizz Wright and the original Nina Simone band, featuring Al Schackman.

“Known as The High Priestess of Soul, and a pivotal figure in both American music and the black empowerment movement of the 1960s, Nina Simone’s incredibly potent, emotionally packed songs fill the night this summer in idyllic Kings Park. Incorporating jazz, soul, blues and gospel, her music made an enduring impact on listeners around the world.

Recline in the park’s relaxing natural surroundings as the twilight air comes alive with Nina’s indomitable spirit, her legacy rekindled by four brilliant female singers – jazz greats Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright, the legendary Patti Austin and Nina’s daughter Simone.”

For tickets and more information visit: www.perthfestival.com.au

Sing the Truth features songs from Nina Simone’s classic catalogue including Four Women, I Loves You Porgy, My Baby Just Cares for Me, Ne Me Quitte Pas, Feeling Good, Lilac Wine and To Be Young, Gifted and Black.

An unforgettable occasion for passionate music lovers, Sing the Truth is only stopping at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in Asia.

For tickets and more information, visit www.artsfestival.org.

Patti Austin will open the show with her distinctive vocal combination of pop, jazz and musical tributes. Next, Ramsey Lewis will perform with piano stylings of his greatest songs, from slow and calming to more upbeat. The two will end the night on stage together, Ramsey on piano backing Patti on vocals.

Tickets are available for $50, $40 and $30 at www.reichholdcenter.com. For more information call (340) 693-1559.

Patti Austin shares her experience helping her Godfather, Quincy Jones, and Lionel Richie in making We Are the World 25 to help Haiti earthquake victims.

“Here we are 25 years later; sadly we have this horrible thing happen in Haiti, but fortunately we have this great piece of music to represent and hopefully raise more and more money to help this situation — and yet a newer, even more illustrious set of egos to deal with…” – Patti Austin

Stars who participated: Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Groban, The Jonas Brothers, Natalie Cole, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx and many more.

We Are the World 25 will premiere soon after this month. Read full story.

The Grammy Award-winning singer Patti Austin talking about her “Mentorology – The Art of Mentoring,” project and her part on the upcoming “We Are The World” event , on Good Day LA Thursday morning.

Here’s her thoughts on the importance of becoming a mentor:

“…I begin to think of the songs that came out of the civil rights movement and the artists that were inspired to offer up their soul stirring creations to empower people to bring on cultural change. Needless to say, we are at that time in our history again. For me, music is the strongest door opener to the hearts and minds of the people. I want to use recorded music, videos, concerts and social networking as the “stimulus package” to re-energize the focus on forward thinking approaches to education as the key factor in eradicating poverty for the coming generation. Learning should never stop for all age groups. We can empower millions to realize the opportunity to help shape a new society of creative “mentorologists” in all areas of life.” – Patti Austin

To receive updates about “We Are The World” event and more upcoming shows of Patti, you may subscribe to Patti Austin – Newsletter.

Patti Austin says, “Mentoring began with my parents and then with Dinah Washington who brought Quincy Jones into my life”. Quincy was only in his twenties when he met Austin and now not only serves as her lifelong mentor but is also one of the important players in Harvard’s initiative. She has also asked Norman Lear to join the initiative. Norman Lear has been a long time mentor to diverse groups of all ages in his commitment to empower the individual to make a difference. She has also been recruited by Larry Balaban of “Baby Genius” to help his mission to get the learning/mentoring process going musically in pre-school kids.

Patti Austin, in her partnership with “The Foundation for Social Change” also hopes to join and recognize artists such as John Mayer, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, Randy Newman, Alicia Keys, Gloria Estefan, Sheryl Lee Ralph and many others who have made mentoring a priority in their lives.

Good Day LA airs from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and is simulcast live on myfoxla.com.

“Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. Yet, for many, the “rest of our lives” will be fraught with the scars of lost loved ones and the tireless work of rebuilding a country. The Haitian earthquake disaster is a heart wrenching reminder that forces beyond our control continually test our resolve. But we, as a civilization, hold the keys to how we rise above these forces through our actions in support of each other.

Throughout history, there have been countless examples of how people and nations put aside their own needs in favor of those in more dire situations…

We ALL have the innate instinct to give, especially during times of tragedy. However, giving should be a continuous process. This is the only way that we can sustain our support for those in need, during good times and bad….

In an effort to stimulate sustainable giving, I’ve joined with Dawn Carroll and other concerned citizens to establish the Over My Shoulder Foundation…

The Over My Shoulder Foundation will break down the barriers that separate generations of people and cultures. Through mentoring, it will exemplify how we are all increasingly inter-dependent on each other, rather than independent individuals. And, because of our inter-dependency, we can become a civilization that respects diversity, culture, and individuality….” – Patti Austin

Let’s continue helping Haiti:

• RED CROSS Call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
• UNITED NATIONS CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
• UNICEF
• C.A.R.E.
• SAVE THE CHILDREN
• INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS

• STATE DEPT VICTIMS FAMILY HOTLINE
888-407-4747

• To help with relief efforts, text “HAITI” to “90999″ and $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill.

“Especially, as we begin this time of celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the greatest mentors of all time, I begin to think of the songs that came out of the civil rights movement and the artists that were inspired to offer up their soul-stirring creations to empower people to bring on cultural change.”

“Needless to say, we are at that time in our history again. For me, music is the strongest door opener to the hearts and minds of the people. I want to use recorded music, videos, concerts and social networking as the ’stimulus package’ to re-energize the focus on forward thinking approaches to education as the key factor in eradicating poverty for the coming generation. Learning should never stop for all age groups. We can empower millions to realize the opportunity to help shape a new society of creative ‘mentorologists’ in all areas of life..” – Patti Austin

Each and everyone has something good to share to others… be a mentor, visit http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org.

Patti Austin will be singing “Tonight,” will team up with Jon Secada to duet on “Somewhere,” with Grusin on “Makin’ Whoopee” from The Fabulous Baker Boys and a whole lot more.

Also joining Patti Austin and Dave Grusin, who wrote the score for the popular 70’s TV show, “Good Times” will be the University of Miami Frost School of Music Mancini Institute Orchestra, the Grammy Award-winning flutist Nestor Torres, master vibraphonist Gary Burton, trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval and Latin percussionist Sammy Figueroa.

“Bringing together GRAMMY-winning guest artists, virtuoso instrumentalists and the Mancini Institute Orchestra on one stage, this concert will be a night to be remembered.” – Larry Rosen, co-presenter of the JAZZ ROOTS series.

For tickets, visit: http://pattiaustin.com/shows.