Tina Turner, Travis Tritt, Smothers Brothers in Super Bowl Pregame Show
Tina Turner Headlines “Great American Music of the 20th Century” Super Bowl XXXIV Pregame Show; Travis Tritt Also to Star in Salute Hosted by the Smothers Brothers
NEW YORK–(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)– The Georgia Mass Choir & Georgia Tech Marching Band Also Perform
Legendary superstar Tina Turner and country sensation Travis Tritt will star in Super Bowl XXXIV’s Pregame Show salute to the “Great American Music of the 20th Century” on Sunday, Jan. 30, at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.
A portion of the show will be televised live on ABC.
The United States has been the worldwide leader in musical contributions during the 20th century and much of that music was created in the South, site of Super Bowl XXXIV. The pregame show will highlight some of the unique American musical styles, including Gospel, Big Band, Classical, Country and Rock.
Turner and Tritt will be joined by a cast and crew of 1,250, which includes the 275-member Georgia Tech Marching Band and the 125- member Georgia Mass Choir. The 12-minute show will be hosted by the Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick Smothers.
The rock icon Turner, the most indestructible original voice in American music, will be celebrating the release of her 10th solo album, Twenty Four Seven, to be released Feb. 1, 2000 on Virgin Records.
Turner has been electrifying audiences around the world for five decades with her distinctive voice and the hardest-working legs in show business. Her solo career ignited 15 years ago with the smash hits “Let’s Stay Together” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It” from the “Private Dancer” album, which sold 12 million copies worldwide.
Turner’s musical accomplishments have included a raft of Grammy awards; record-breaking concert dates and recording sessions with Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler; and a duet with Mick Jagger at the greatest live event in history, Live Aid. Her stadium tour of Europe in ’96/’97 saw her smash box office records in 10 countries playing to more than 3 million people.
Her career also includes big-screen starring roles in “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” and her U2-penned hit from the Bond movie “Golden Eye.”
The Georgia-born Tritt, who signed a multialbum deal with Sony Nashville this year, is returning to the Super Bowl. Tritt performed at halftime at the last Georgia Dome Super Bowl in 1994 as well as at the 1996 Olympic Games. The popular country star has had one gold, one platinum, four double-platinum and one triple-platinum albums as well as 11 No. 1 singles and 18 Top 10 singles during his illustrious career.
A winner of two Grammy awards and four Country Music Association awards, Tritt has sold 17 million albums worldwide and has written or co-written 36 songs on his last six albums including his latest work, “No More Looking Over My Shoulder.”
Tritt has performed duets with Patti Labelle, David Lee Roth, Buddy Guy, Kenny Rogers, Marty Stuart, Charlie Pride, Carl Perkins, George Jones, Lari White and Michael Peterson. In addition to his singing career, he has put together an extensive acting career in motion pictures and television.
Each segment of the pregame show, as well as the in-game entertainment, will be introduced by hosts Tom and Dick Smothers. The Smothers Brothers, who have entertained audiences for more than four decades with their blend of comedy and musical talents, have been described as comic geniuses, original and peerless treasures and are one of the most successful comedy teams in history.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was one of the most popular television shows in the late 1960s. The Smothers Brothers also made guest appearances on countless television programs and talk shows across the country. In addition to being headliners in Las Vegas, Tom and Dick continue to tour in concert at theaters throughout the country. Their contributions are recognized in the Museum of Broadcasting in New York as well as with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Georgia Mass Choir, under the direction of Reverend Milton Biggham, is one of the most in-demand choirs in the country, having appeared at the 1996 Olympic Games as well as on many television shows and motion pictures. The GMC, founded by Biggham on Jan. 29, 1983 in Macon, Ga., has produced eight nationally released albums that have earned them two Grammy nominations, three Stellars nominations, a Dove nomination and a Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Award.
The 125 singers from Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Savannah, Thomasville and other Georgia cities will perform “Georgia On My Mind” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
The Georgia Tech Marching Yellow Jacket Band, directed by Bucky Johnson, is made up of 275 students representing every major at the university. The band adds the Super Bowl to its list of bowl game performances including the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Sun Bowl, Citrus Bowl and Gator Bowl. The band, formed in 1908, will perform John Phillips Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes” in the pregame show.
Immediately following the player introductions, superstar Faith Hill will sing the national anthem. Since her debut in late 1993, Hill has sold more than 13 million records in the United States alone, garnered nine No. 1 singles and 10 No. 1 videos. Her music, a blend of country, pop, gospel and rhythm and blues, has evolved as she has matured from vibrant, small-town sweetheart, to loving wife and mother, to confident and soulful artist. Her latest work, the quadruple-platinum 1998 release Faith and the brand new 1999 release “Breathe,” has won over pop audiences.
The national anthem will be signed by Briarlake Elementary School Signing Choir, a group of 12 young people ranging in age from 9 to 12 years.
A color guard composed of the five services will be presented by the Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station Color Guard. The color guard will be on the field during the singing and signing of the national anthem and dancers will create a 40-yard American flag.
At the conclusion of Super Bowl XXXIV, the awarding of the Super Bowl Championship trophy as well as the Most Valuable Player award will be held on the field.
The pregame show is produced and directed by Tampa, Fla.’s Bob Best of Best Productions, who is coordinating his 16th Super Bowl show. He will be assisted by associate producer Ed Jones, also from Tampa, and choreographer Lesslee Fitzmorris of American All-Star in Mandeville, La.