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Southern sound to dominate entertainment at GOP convention
Organizers for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., announced the entertainment lineup for the week.
Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said in a news release, “We’ve booked outstanding performers and world-famous acts. The convention attendees will be treated to special performances they will remember for a very long time.”
Delegates, dignitaries and the press will hear “everything from pop and rock to country and gospel,” he added.
Performers at the RNC include 3 Doors Down with the premiere of a new single “One Light,” as well as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Oak Ridge Boys, Neal Boyd, Randy Owens, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Taylor Hicks and BeBe Winans.
The house band is the GE Smith Band – Smith was a lead guitarist with Hall & Oates and a musical director of “Saturday Night Live.”
The schedule is:
Aug. 27: The Oak Ridge Boys, Conrad Oberg and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Aug. 28: Philip Alongi, Neal E. Boyd, Michael Lane Turner, Randy Owen, Jack Blades and 3 Doors Down.
Aug. 29: Ayla Brown, Beau Davidson, The Katinas and Danny Gokey.
Aug. 30: The Mighty Sound of SEVEN, Taylor Hicks, BeBe Winans and the Tampa Gospel Choir led by Marvin Winans Jr.
The GOP also is planning a welcome party for the press, politicians and delegates with multiple musical acts on Aug. 26 in St. Petersburg.
Outside the convention, protesters with Occupy the RNC have set up a number of benefit concerts at much smaller venues.
The Democrats have not announced a full entertainment lineup, but performers for the pre-convention party in Charlotte, N.C., in early September include Janelle Monáe, Jeff Bridges and The Abiders and James Taylor.
And for the gay entertainment at the GOP Convention:
