Coca Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival: Taking It Back to the 'Old School'

Old School Reunion Featuring Doug E. Fresh and the Pioneers of Hip-Hop Including Slick Rick, Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and Dana Dane Added to Festival Line-Up on Sunday, July 2nd

NEW YORK, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival today announced the addition of a star-studded old school reunion, Doug E. Fresh and The Pioneers of Hip-Hop, to the Festival's jam-packed line-up of main-stage performances on Sunday, July 2nd at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The old school reunion show will feature Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Sugar Hill Gang, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and Dana Dane. Other performers on July 2nd will include Chris Brown, Jaheim, New Edition and Bobby Brown, and Steve Harvey.

"ESSENCE is thrilled to welcome these ground-breaking artists to round out the show at the Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival," said ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks. "The old school reunion performance will perfectly complement scheduled appearances by Cedric the Entertainer, Charlie Wilson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Mo'Nique, Toni Braxton, and Yolanda Adams for the largest gathering of African-American musical talent in the world."

Diddy and Friends will not perform at the Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival due to a regrettably unforeseen scheduling conflict.

Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com, (800) 488-5252 or (713) 629-3700 in Houston. Tickets are $45, $56, $67, $72, $83, and $110. All tickets are subject to additional service charges. For hotel accommodations, call (888) 508-5731. For more information, see the June 2006 issue of ESSENCE or log on to essence.com.

The Coca-Cola Company is the Festival's presenting sponsor for the ninth consecutive year. The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival's major sponsors are Budweiser/Bud Light, Kraft Foods, Chevrolet, McDonald's and Verizon Communications. In addition, Level Vodka, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Army and Wells Fargo will serve as official sponsors for the Festival. Additional sponsors will be announced at a later date.

The Coca-Cola Presents the 2006 Essence Music Festival is produced by Essence Festivals LLC in association with Festival Productions of New Orleans. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI). ECI is also the publisher of ESSENCE magazine. ESSENCE, after 36 years, continues to be the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women.

Source: ESSENCE