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Warwick, Cage will join forces for concert
Russellville native bringing bigger star power to annual benefit for Western Kentucky scholarship fund

By Jason Dooley, jdooley@bgdailynews.com -- 270-781-1700

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Recording artist Athena Cage will hold a second annual concert to benefit the scholarship fund she began at Western Kentucky University, and this one will come with some very special guest stars.
Pop singer Dionne Warwick, the Western Kentucky University Orchestra and Western’s Chamber Singers will all perform with Cage at the event, scheduled for Aug. 28 at the National Corvette Museum Amphitheater.
“It’s going to be just a great time,â€￾ Cage said Friday. “This is totally family entertainment and it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.â€￾
Cage, a Russellville native and former Western student, began the concert series last year with a performance at Basil Griffin Park that raised about $3,000. She’s been featured on the soundtrack for the movie “Save the Last Dance.â€￾
Cage met Warwick a couple of years ago while doing some recording in Los Angeles, and was invited to come to New York City to be part of the tribute honoring Warwick’s 40 years in the industry.
“She is actually one of the most gracious superstars you’ll ever meet,â€￾ Cage said. “When I was planning this concert, she was the first person I thought of because I wanted to invite some artists of national renown to Bowling Green because the theme this year is pop music.â€￾
Cage is hoping that adding Warwick’s name to the bill for the concert will be a springboard for future big-time events in Bowling Green, she said.
“Having an artist of that caliber to lend her talents to this is major, not only for the cause but for Bowling Green as well,â€￾ Cage said. “This concert has major implications with respect to Bowling Green emerging as an entertainment center, which I think it can.â€￾
While this year’s event may be hard to top, given Warwick’s star power, next year’s will continue to build on the series’ momentum, Cage said.
“I got it covered, I promise you,â€￾ she said.
WKU Media Relations Director Bob Skipper said that in addition to the concert, Warwick and Cage will be on campus for a few days to speak with music classes and are working on a salute to southcentral Kentucky veterans at the event.
The Athena Cage Scholarship Fund was established to help deserving students from Logan and Warren counties and the Delafield Community Center attend Western, Skipper said.
Students not awarded a scholarship through Delafield must be enrolled in music-related fields to be eligible, he said.
“A $50,000 pledge from Ms. Cage is being matched with $50,000 from the state’s Regional University Excellence Trust Fund to endow the scholarship,â€￾ Skipper said. “It’s a great program that helps some people who really need it.â€￾
Tickets for the benefit concert go on sale June 22 at several Bowling Green area locations, including all South Central Bank branches in Bowling Green, Glasgow and Franklin; the Logan County Chamber of Commerce; the National Corvette Museum and the Western box office. Reserved seat tickets are $75 each, reserved lawn seats are $25 each and general admission tickets are $10 each.
Cage said she is hoping for a big crowd.
“I want the crowd to be spilling out onto I-65, that’s how full it’s going to be,â€￾ she said. “How often are you going to get the chance to see an artist like Ms. Warwick, not to mention me, for $10?â€￾
— More information is available online at www.athenacageevents.com, www.southcentralbank.com, www.wku.edu and www.tourism@bg.ky.net.

Moving like a thief in the night, after New York on Monday, Germany on Tuesday and Wednesday, New York on Thursday, Dionne pays her respects to the man who appointed her the first United States Ambassador Of Health, at Ronald Reagans funeral in Washington today.

Great pictures of Dionne and Hal David at www.wireimage.com
Type in Dionne Warwick or Hal David.

About Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song
Documentary, directed by Dietrich's grandson, that reveals the passionate artist and political activist beneath the star's glamorous facade. Interviews include Rosemary Clooney and Burt Bacharach.
June 12, 4-6am. TCM

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5183450/

http://www.womensworldawards.com/main.asp

THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Still sailin' smooth! -- by Ricardo Hazell *The Isley Brothers are the smoothest, most accomplished, innovative, constantly relevant, forever growing R&B group of all time. These brothers personify Rhythm and Blues in every since of the word. From "Twist and Shout" ...

Thank you Vincent for saying Thank You!

6/8/04-Definitely Dusty OVA 9am
6/12/04-Marlene Dietrich TCM 4am
6/22/04-AFI:100 Years CBS 8 pm
7/8/04-Soundstage PBS w/Ron Isley 10 pm

Dionnes coffee table book MY POINT OF VIEW is available at
www.amazon.com for $10.00 less than the publisher!

Pics from last night event at www.wireimage.com

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