Ronnie Spector, Merry Clayton & Darlene Love Added to Toronto Jazz Festival

JUST ADDED - THE GRAND DIVAS OF R&B
Featuring Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love
and Merry Clayton

The TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival announced today that Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love and Merry Clayton have been added to the line-up for Saturday, June 21 at Nathan Phillips Square. Due to a recording conflict, The Grand Divas of R&B will now replace Susan Tedeschi.
All tickets previously purchased for Susan Tedeschi will be honoured or refunds are available.

The Grand Divas of R&B, who all came to prominence during the 1960s, have collectively worked with some of the biggest names in music including Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Alice Cooper, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Cher, Luther Vandross and many more.

Ronnie Spector is a member of both the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Former lead singer, choreographer and designer of The Ronettes, the ultimate girl group, her 1960s recordings of such hits as Walking In The Rain, Baby I Love You, and the international #1 hit Be My Baby, remain some of the most influential and best loved recordings of all time.

One of the most sought-after vocalists in music, Darlene Love has performed with and backed up artists such as Sam Cooke, The Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher and Aretha Franklin. Currently she can be found on Broadway, in the musical Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle.

A member of Ray Charles' Raelettes, Merry Clayton is perhaps best known for her background vocal work on the Rolling Stones' legendary single Gimme Shelter. In 1963 she released her first solo debut before recording a version of The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss), a song later popularized by Betty Everett and Cher. Over the years, Clayton has established a successful career as a session singer (working with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Cocker, Carole King and The Who), while also recording solo material.

The Grand Divas of R&B will be backed by Toronto's very own, The Lincoln's. Grammy award winner John Hammond will open. The Grand Divas of R&B is produced in association with Shaun Pilot.

Voted Canada's Best Jazz Festival by the National Jazz Awards in 2006 and 2007, more than 1,500 musicians will entertain as the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival gets underway this summer, running June 20 – June 29, 2008. From bop to swing, cool to fusion and all musical points in between, Toronto will play host to a musical celebration like no other. Soak up the cool sounds of jazz as more than 350 concerts across 40 locations take over the city!

For more information please visit www.torontojazz.com