News    (Last Updated: September 2007)




Dear Friends,

Happy fall season!!

It’s that time again - time for the 6th Annual September Concert Event on Tuesday, September 11, 2007!

The Benita Charles & Friends Band will be at Central Park for a special daytime performance and at The Baggot Inn for an evening performance.

Benita Charles & Friends Band:
Benita Charles, vocals
Ed Holley, vocals
VOCE, vocals
Harris Punyon, piano & vocals
Phil Smith, bass
Rob Goldmark, drums
Chauncy Yearwood, percussion


Tuesday, September 11 (Free Daytime and Evening events)

The September Concert (www.septemberconcert.org)

Central Park (line-up) (location: Merchant’s Gate – Columbus Circle)

12:00 - 12:20: Brooke and band
12:35 - 1:20: Buddahead
1:35 - 2:05: The September Concert Jammers (with at 2pm the citywide sing-along of ‘”I Believe in Music”)
2:10 - 2:30: John Virag and Band
2:40 - 3:00: Benita Charles & Friends Band (feat. Ed Holley, VOCE & Harris Punyon)
3:15 - 4:00: Best Left Unsaid
4:10 - 4:40: Muskrat Hannah

Evening September Concert at The Baggot Inn (Free / 9pm)

Baggot Inn (line-up) (address: 82 West 3rd Street, btw. Sullivan and Thompson Streets).

9:00 Introduction
9:10 - 9:20 - Benita Charles & Friends Band (feat. Ed Holley, VOCE & Harris Punyon)
9:30 - 9:40 - John Virag
9:50 - 10:15 - Sept Concert Jammers
10:25 - 10:35 - Kurt Gellersted
10:40 - 10:50 - Brooke Fox -
11:05 - 11:30 - Best Left Unsaid
11:40 - 12:00 - Michelle Citrin

***The September Concert is a series of free concerts, organized by individuals, schools, businesses, and associations to bring communities together, to reaffirm our hope for peace and to celebrate life and our universal humanity. Concerts are held in all areas of our city, our nation, our world. A global day of music for peace, every September 11th. Anyone can participate! www.septemberconcert.org


Hope to see you at the shows!

Thanks,


Benita Charles Music

http://www.myspace.com/benitacharles



Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 7:00 PM

MOMENTS IN LOVE CD Release Party @ Kenny's Castaways (NYC)

Benita Charles performs live from her first solo project, "Moments In Love."

Kenny's Castaways
157 Bleecker Street (bet. Sullivan & Thompson Streets)
New York, New York

Cost: $7.00

Benita Charles performs live from her first solo project, "Moments In Love" at her CD Release Party!!! Join us as Benita sings hits such as Round & Round, Lose Control and STUCK! with her live band, The Benita Charles & Friends Band (feat. VOCE, Andru Cann, Phil Smith and Coleman Martin) with special guest, Phase One.

For more information, call (212) 802-9249 or e-mail: starent99@hotmail.com

http://www.myspace.com/benitacharles



The world debut of "We Can Make A Difference," the 9/11 tribute CD is released for September 11th! You can find the CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/benitacharles3

Be sure to check out all of Benita's music at http://cdbaby.com/all/benita



Benita Charles & Friends: September Concert 2006
"Heal The World Through Music" - Monday, September 11, 2006

Please join us for the 5th annual, September Concert Event 2006. Benita Charles & Friends will present two free shows for this special occasion.

Monday - September 11, 2006

September Concert @ Madison Square Park (12:00 p.m.)
Location: W. 23rd Street @ 5th Ave. [free admission]

John Virag performs @ 12:00 p.m.

Brooke Fox performs @ 12:45 p.m.

September Concert Jammers (feat. Benita Charles, Brooke Fox, Kert Gellersted, John Virag, Karen Larsen, Jeremy Bletterman and Andrew Potenza) perform @ 1:30 p.m.

Singalong (All You Need Is Love) @ 2:00 p.m.

Benita Charles & Friends perform @ 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Confirmed artists:

Grace Gaia
Jasmine Spiess
Ryss
Donah Hunter
Kama Linden

Kurt Gellersted performs @ 3:30 p.m.

Monday - September 11, 2006

September Concert @ The Triad (9:00 p.m.)

Location: 158 W. 72nd Street (bet. Broadway & Columbus) / free admission - 2 drink min.

Confirmed artists:

Yuriko Hoshina
John Virag
Jasmine Spiess
Marci Geller
VOCE
Andrew McCann
Ryss
Donah Hunter
Nhojj
Erika Matsuo
Blue Lady

**We hope you'll be able to make it to our concerts! There are so many talented performers in both shows. It's going to be an uplifting and spectacular event!

For more information about the 5th annual September Concert, visit: http://www.septemberconcert.org

For more information about the Benita Charles & Friends show, call (212) 802-9249, e-mail: starent99@hotmail.com or visit: http://www.myspace.com/benitacharles



Directions to Madison Square Park by train:
Train: R to 23rd Street

Directions to The Triad by train:
Trains: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd street
Walk west (towards Central Park)
The Triad is located in the middle of the block (before you reach Columbus)



Coming soon in 2005 - MOMENTS IN LOVE (new CD from Benita Charles)….stay tuned!



The September Concerts of 2004 were a huge success. I am still getting compliments of the shows months later. It was an absolutely phenomenal day! All the artists were wonderful and they really gave their all in both shows (Morningside Park & The Triad).

Pictures from both shows are now posted on my photo website. Please go to: http://public.fotki.com/benita/september_concert_2004/     (enjoy the magic!)

Featured Artists at Morningside Park (Harlem USA): Ainger, VOCE, Grace Gaia, Preachermann, River Nelson, sean, StephRoc and Crag Haft.

Featured Artists at The Triad (upper Westside- NYC): John Virag, Blue Lady, Rubia, VOCE, Mark Dragon, Grace Gaia, Yuriko Hoshina, Kelly Boyd, River Nelson, Erica Matsuo, Danny Zanker, The Preachermann, sean, StephRoc, Craig Haft and Charmaine Troutman.





Benita Charles & Friends: September Concert 2003 will run during the day at Morningside Park from noon until 2:00 and in the evening at The Baggot Inn at 7:00 p.m.

-- Featured artists for the Baggot Inn include: Marci Geller, Elyse Spies, Nah'jerah Dihann, Melissa Hemann, Mother's Favorite Child, Candida a.k.a. VOCE, Fatimaand Shay Butter.

-- Confirmed artists for Morningside Park include: Leslie August & dancers, Starlett Brown, Ron Bertram, Nah'jerah Dihann, sean, VOCE , Nhojj, 
Shay Butter and Jeanay Say Qua.

Update of 2002 show: We now have CDs, DVDs and VHS copies of last year's 2002 show (Benita Charles & Friends: In Remembrance of September 11) available for purchase. **Prices are as follows: DVD - $25, CD - $15 and VHS - $10.

Send check or money order to:

Star Entertainment New York
244 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 29178
New York, NY 10001.

Please make checks payable to: Star Entertainment New York.

 For more information, please call (212) 802-9249 or e-mail: starent99@yahoo.com
.

You may also purchase CDs online at : http://www.cdbaby.com/benitacharles


**(Please note:  a portion of the proceeds goes to support the September Concert Foundation (a non-profit organization) for their continuous efforts to bring healing through music to the New York community and the world.  To learn more about the foundation and the September Concert event, visit: www.septemberconcert.org)




ALBERT AND ALICE
reviewed by Seth Bisen-Hersh of NYTheatre.com
(reviewed on October 5, 2002)

"...the one exception is Benita P. Charles, whose voice is wonderful. Her rendition of "Let Me Turn You On" is superb and is the highlight of the show. Even in the chorus numbers she sticks out, and she is animated and lively."





Star Entertainment New York presents Benita Charles & Friends: In Remembrance of Sept. 11th. This show is a special program which pays tribute to the heroes and victims of the Sept. 11th tragedy on the one-year anniversary.

Benita Charles and her guest artists will perform songs, poetry and spoken word pieces that will reflect their feelings of the event and hope for the future as the city of New York heals and rebuilds from the tragedy. The show will be an uplifting and healing experience.

The show is a part of the city-wide event called The September Concert in which various artists will present programs related to September 11th which runs from noon until 10:00 p.m. The Benita Charles & Friends show is one of many scheduled for that day but are all a part of the September Concert Foundation event. For more information about the September Concert Foundation, visit http://www.septemberconcert.org

Benita Charles & Friends is scheduled for September 11, 2002 at the Triad Theater at 7:00 p.m. (admission free/ 2 drink minimum)

For more information, please contact Star Entertainment New York at (212) 802-9249.





Star Entertainment New York presents The Benita Charles Variety Show ("The Gift") featuring: Wanda Yvette, seân , Nhojj, Barbie Seigle, Grant Cooper, Just Raymona N.Y., 6'5 (model), Julie Green & Motion Models at Triad Lounge (158 W. 72nd Street - NYC) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 at 8:00 p.m. [Tix $10 in advance/ $12 @ door - call: (212) 802-9249]

"The Gift" is a unique talent showcase extravaganza because it encompasses artists from various backgrounds, experiences and genres of the entertainment industry.

Come join us for an evening of excitement...talent...great live entertainment!





A Message from Benita Charles

Dear Friends:

I'm sending this note to you to let you know how I appreciate all of your kind support and encouragement for me during this horrible time in New York. By the grace of God, I'm doing fine. Although I work in the immediate area of the WTC, I report to work at 10:00 a.m. so I missed the horrible days events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 (911).

At this time, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support of my creative endeavors throughout the year(s).

Take care and I wish you and your families well. Let us all pray for those families who have lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

New York is an incredible city. As we pick up the pieces and finally begin to heal, we are pulling together and helping each other through this horrible time. We are strong and will recover from this and be better than ever. There's a renewed sense of unity that has made us even stronger.

For those of you outside of New York, thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for us as we rebuild our city.

Much Love,

Benita





About the song, "Sexy Punchinella":

Since our initial launch in August 2000, the single is now available online at http:\\www.amazon.com\. Go to music section: Search by song title: Sexy Punchinella and my artist page will come up. Also, you can get there directly by going to my Music Page and clicking on the » Buy This CD Now! « link.

In person, you can purchase it at the following record stores:

Millennium Records (2206 Nostrand Ave. - Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 421-1800

Tiger’s Reggae Hut (1092 Nostrand Ave. - Brooklyn, NY Phone: (718) 469-1325

The song is currently playing in Club Moniques in Brooklyn. Also, the song is doing well in Jamaica. It’s playing on Radio Station RJR 94.5 FM’s DJ Richie B’s "The Beat" program in Kingston.

About the song, "Mama Bear Is Always By Your Side":

The song, "Mama Bear Is Always By Your Side", (written by Benita Charles and Emanuel Gatewood) received rave reviews from patrons attending the play, "Mama Bear", written by Sharon Harris. It was presented by Koalaty Presentations in Decatur, GA on February 1-25, 2001 under the direction of Carol Mitchell. Patrons purchased autographed copies of the song during intermission of the performance.

A further update: the song has won the 2001 ASCAP Popular Panel Award presented the end of June 2001. (ASCAP is The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

For further information about the play and to purchase a copy of the song, please contact Star Entertainment New York at (212) 802-9249 or you can e-mail your requests to starent99@yahoo.com.





Star Entertainment New York is pleased to announce the song, "Mama Bear Is Always By Your Side", written by Benita Charles and Emanuel Gatewood, will be featured in the play, Mama Bear, written by Sharon Harris and produced by Koalaty Presentations in Decatur, Georgia (Atlanta Area).

The play runs February 1 - 24, 2001. Ms. Charles will make an appearance at the show opening weekend. The song is also available for purchase.

For all purchase inquiries, please contact Star Entertainment New York at (212) 802-9249 or e-mail: starent99@yahoo.com. For information about the play, please contact Koalaty Presentations at 770-457-8833 or e-mail: koalaty@mindspring.com.



Star Entertainment New York invites you to an "Afterglow Affair" immediately following "The Benita Charles Show" (11/17/00) at LaVa Gina (116 Avenue C - between 7th and 8th Sts. 212-477-9319).



Leighshaq Records is very proud to present the CD Release Party for its debut artist, BENITA CHARLES, at Club Nix (6 E. 32nd Street, Second Floor) NYC on August 16, 2000. For more information, call (212) 802-9249.



Reviews

Victor Gluck of BACKSTAGE writes of Benita Charles’ performance in The New Yorkers presented at the Medicine Show Theatre in New York:

"Benita Charles as the nightclub chanteuse sang an excellent Laziest Gal In Town."

(BACKSTAGE June 30 - July 6, 2000)