The Republican National Committee has released a schedule of entertainment for the upcoming Republican National Convention taking place in Tampa FL next week, and there are a few American Idol alums performing.
Season 8 alum, Danny Gokey and Season 5 alum Ayla Brown are set for Wednesday. Ayla’s father Scott Brown is s Republican Senator from Massachusetts. He’s also running for re-election.
On Thursday, Season 5 winner, Taylor Hicks will perform. And, America’s Got Talent winner, Neal Boyd, will perform on Tuesday.
From a press release:
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 24, 2012 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Besides the serious business of nominating the next president and vice president of the United States, there will also be plenty of quality entertainment at the 2012 Republican National Convention, organizers promised today.
“We’ve booked outstanding performers and world-famous acts,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who today announced the entertainers who will be on hand. “The convention attendees will be treated to special performances they will remember for a very long time.”
Performers will cover the spectrum of music genres, Priebus said, “Everything from pop and rock to country and gospel.”
The performance lineup will feature an exclusive, worldwide premiere of “One Light,” a new single from the Grammy award-winning rock band, 3 Doors Down. The group has sold more than 20 million recordings since its 2000 debut.
“We are honored to be asked to play the RNC and are excited about our performance,” said Brad Arnold, lead singer of 3 Doors Down. “We consider it a privilege.”
Other performers include Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Oak Ridge Boys, Neal Boyd, Randy Owens, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Taylor Hicks and BeBe Winans.
The complete list of entertainers performing at the Republican Convention is as follows:
The House Band
GE Smith & the GE Smith Band George Edward “G. E.” Smith is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in the band Hall & Oates and the musical director of Saturday Night Live. Smith was lead guitarist of Bob Dylan’s touring band from June 7, 1988 to October 19, 1990. http://gesmithmusic.wordpress.com
Monday, August 27
Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s. http://oakridgeboys.com
Conrad Oberg Conrad is a seventeen year-old musician and vocalist from Jacksonville, Florida who is legally blind. He has been playing music since the age of two. He has received accolades on an international level, being chosen by 12 million Cartoon Network viewers as the most talented teen musician in the country. http://www.conradoberg.com/about.html
Lynyrd Skynyrd Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and American Icon, Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band best known for popularizing the Southern rock genre during the 1970s with their signature hits like Sweet Home Alabama, Freebird and many others. http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com
Tuesday, August 28
Philip Alongi New Jersey native Philip Alongi is an exciting young tenor whose powerful voice matches his stature. He has performed over a dozen major operatic roles throughout the U.S. http://www.philipalongi.com/opera/Home.html
Neal E. Boyd Neal E. Boyd is an American pop opera singer. He is best known as the 2008 winner of America’s Got Talent. Neal resides in Missouri where he is a candidate for the State’s 160th House District Seat. http://nealeboydformissouri.com/
Lane Turner Michael Lane Turner is an American singer-songwriter. Signed to Warner Bros. Records since 2004, he released two singles for the label, including “Always Wanting More,” which reached No. 56 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2004. http://www.newcountrystar.com/LaneTurner.htm
Randy Owen Randy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band that saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. http://www.randyowen.com
Jack Blades Jack Martin Blades is an American musician. He has worked in several bands: Rubicon, Night Ranger, and Damn Yankees. He also recorded with Tommy Shaw under the name Shaw/Blades, and has done work alongside TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group. http://www.jackblades.net
3 Doors Down From that first explosive burst of Kryptonite which ignited their storied career at the top of last decade, to subsequent multi-platinum albums, and a non-stop touring regimen that finds them still notching shows around the world at a record pace, 3 Doors Down have earned a hard-fought pedigree as one of Rock’s most exciting and authentic radio icons. Their impressive and steady ascension up the ladder has seen them score multiple #1 hits, snag several Billboard and other awards, and log scores of sold-out shows over a growing global terrain that is nearing 40 countries. 3 Doors Down have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and have played in excess of over 1,000 shows. http://www.3doorsdown.com
Wednesday, August 29
Ayla Brown Ayla Marie Brown is an American recording artist from Wrentham, Massachusetts and former NCAA basketball player. She is also known for her American Idol showing, placing in the Top 16 on season 5 in 2006. http://www.aylabrown.com
Beau Davidson Beau Davidson is an American recording artist, actor, and model. He has appeared on Country Music Television, Great American Country, MTV and Vh1, as well as television shows and print magazines. http://www.beaudavidson.com
The Katinas The Katinas are a Contemporary Christian music group. The family of five brothers hails from American Samoa, and moved to Washington, USA after the death of their mother in 1988. They now reside in Nashville, Tennessee where they sustain a heavy touring schedule. http://thekatinas.com
Danny Gokey Daniel Jay “Danny” Gokey is an American country music singer and church music director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the third place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol. His wife, Sophia, encouraged him to try out for American Idol and died one month before his audition from a congenital heart condition. Danny established the Sophie’s Heart Foundation in her memory to make a positive impact on students’ lives through a Music and Arts Program http://www.dannygokey.com/
Thursday, August 30
The Mighty Sound of SEVEN The acclaimed operatic talents and musical careers of Amick Byram, Charlie Harris, Frank Hernandez, John Cavazos, Kelly Ford, Phil Armstrong & Van Dobbins III have converged to form the vocal ensemble known as, SEVEN. https://thesoundofseven.com
Taylor Hicks Taylor Reuben Hicks is an American singer who won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the southeastern United States. http://taylorhicks.com
BeBe Winans Benjamin “BeBe” Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a multiple Grammy, Dove, NAACP, Soul Train and Stellar-Award winning member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists. http://www.bebewinans.net
Tampa Gospel Choir This Tampa Bay area choir is under the leadership of Marvin Winans, Jr.
About the 2012 Republican National Convention
The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests. For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, become part of the virtual convention at www.ConventionWithoutWalls.com, visit our website www.GOPConvention2012.com and check out our official blog, Conventional Wisdom, at www.gopconvention2012.com/blog/.
