PBS Arts Fall Festival
“Unity - The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson” is part of the fifth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival, an eight-week series hosted this fall by Grammy Award-winning international music superstar Gloria Estefan. Friday nights from October 9 to November 27, 2015, the Fall Festival features legendary artists, dazzling musical performances and captivating entertainment, and complementary digital content.
Iconic songs will be heard like never before – with inventive, energetic and distinctively Latin twists – when PBS premieres “Unity - The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson” on Friday, October 9, 2015. Hosted by the legendary percussionist Sheila E., the concert special features 10 of Jackson’s greatest hits interpreted by award-winning Latin artists with a 37-piece orchestra, and kicks off the fifth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival.
“Unity - The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson” is the passion project of Peruvian-born, Miami-raised producer/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Tony Succar. The special features live performances of the Latin-infused arrangements featured on Succar’s chart-topping album also titled “Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson.” Signature Jackson songs like “Smooth Criminal,” “I Want You Back,” “Billie Jean” and others showcase musicians from across Latin America brought together by Succar to celebrate and re-imagine the iconic song catalog. Among the performers are Jon Secada, Angel Lopez, Michael Stuart, Obie Bermúdez, Jennifer Peña, Kevin Ceballo, Judith Hill and Jean Rodriguez, among others.
“We are kicking off the fifth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival with a truly unique and special musical performance. Sheila E., Tony Succar, and all of the featured artists bring tremendous energy and talent to the stage, and you have never heard Michael Jackson’s songs sound quite like this,” said Donald Thoms, Vice President of Programming for PBS and festival curator. “'Unity - The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson' is a marvelous testament to the diversity of art and performances being created in the U.S., and we are delighted to showcase that diversity on PBS.”
“The Unity Project began as an homage to Michael, and to underscore the key messages I always associated with his music: unity and love. These themes drive the album and the concert, and the resulting music has been remarkable,” said Succar. “Every song is true to the essence of the original, but I predict viewers will be inspired to find new moves in their living rooms as salsa and other Latin beats drive their favorite songs.”
The album “Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson,” debuted on three simultaneous Billboard Charts after its first week of release in April, including #1 Latin Tropical, #3 World and #11 Heatseekers. The album is a joint project between Universal Music Classics, Universal Music Latin Entertainment and Universal Music Mexico.
The concert was taped in Miami in July. Produced by Unity Entertainment Corporation and Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with Universal Music Classics.
"Unity - The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson" is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @UnityTribute on Twitter.
Unity – Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson | Trailer
"World-class drummer and percussionist Sheila E. hosts a concert special that showcases award-winning Latin artists and a 37-piece orchestra performing Latin-infused arrangements of the songs on Tony Succar’s album Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson. Premieres Friday
2015 PBS Arts Fall Festival Preview
"The 2015 PBS Arts Fall Festival returns October 9
Unity | Behind the Scenes | Jennifer Peña & Obie Bermudez
"Married couple Jennifer Peña and Obie Bermudez talk about their experience performing in the Unity – The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson concert
Unity | Behind the Scenes | Judith Hill
Judith Hill discusses her experience performing in the Unity – The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson concert and her connection to the music.
Unity | Behind the Scenes | Michael Stuart & Kevin Ceballo
Hear from artists Michael Stuart and Kevin Ceballo about being a part of the Unity – The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson concert and working with the unique music — a combination of iconic song and Latin rhythms.
