BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
On New Year’s Eve at the Embassy Suites Ballroom, 3705 Spectrum Boulevard near the University of South Florida, Shawn Brown Entertainment Experience will present a New Year’s Eve Gala. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society.
Shawn Brown said he decided to recognize the American Cancer Society because of his own personal bout with the cancer and the loss of a brother to the disease.
“Two years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer, and God healed me. I went through a year of treatment, and came out fine. However in April, my brother came out of remission and passed away. Two weeks later, my mother passed away from a kidney stone ailment.
“Through God, I’ve been able to keep going, but this has been a tough year for my entire family.”
Brown said he wants to be an advocate for cancer treatment, and said he wants to create awareness.
“I want to send out the message for everyone to get pre-screened for cancer. This event is to celebrate and encourage those who’ve beat cancer and the others going through treatment. I’m going to need a lot of help getting the word out.”
Brown was born and[private] raised in Baltimore, Maryland and has been a professional musician for the past 30 years. As a child, guidance from an equally talented mother taught him the fundamentals of music.
Making Tampa home since 1980, Brown toured Japan in “The Precision Band.” He’s also opened for Howard Hewitt, Roger and Zapp, and Stephanie Mills.
Brown has shared the stage with Al Green, Clarence Clemons, Christopher Cross, Earth Wind and Fire, Keith Sweat, Ronnie Earl, Lucky Peterson, Little Milton and Percy Sledge.
Showcasing the New Year’s Eve event will be Nate Najar, Theo Valentine, Tony Janflone, Jr., Tom Patton, Pat Barbara, Lonza Barlett, Dee Lewis and special guest host, Jo Mamma Johnson of 95.7FM The Beat. Also, Dr. Thomas Taylor, and State Representative Darryl Rouson will be honored.
Tickets to the event are available now. You can reach Shawn Brown at (813) 924-8943 or Pat Barbara at (941) 730-6911. VIP tickets are available at $100, to include two dinner entrees per person, plus VIP room access. Standard tickets are available at $85 and include a single dinner entrée per person.
You can also visit the website www.ShawnBrownEntertainment.com for ticket purchases and more information.[/private]
