PRE-GRAMMY CELEBRATION OF LIVE MUSIC HITS 7th YEAR
 The Roots |
Returning on the eve of the Grammy Awards, the 7th annual Roots Jam Session is back on February 12th in Hollywood, CA. Jimmy Fallon will act as this year’s host, following in the footsteps of Don Cheadle, John Legend, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Dave Chappelle. The announcement comes on the heels of The Roots’ 6 Grammy nominations, which are split between their two 2010 releases, Wake Up! (with John Legend) and How I Got Over.
“We’re extremely proud and humbled that what began as a simple night to put the focus back on the music has become an amazing opportunity to unite both major artists and new talent in an impromptu musical collaboration unlike many other experiences in the industry today, while also providing a voice to some extremely worthwhile cause campaigns” said Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.
With an audience packed full of musicians and talent from every area of the entertainment industry, The Roots Jam Session is a night where unique mash-ups and groundbreaking music is created. Past performers and attendees include Jay-Z, Norah Jones, Cee-Lo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Slash, Black Eyed Peas, Fall Out Boy, Mos Def, Beyoncè, Queen Latifah, Bill Maher, Snoop Dog, Matisyahu, Anita Baker, Queens of the Stone Age, K’naan, Corinne Bailey Rae, Elizabeth Banks, John Mayer, Chelsea Handler, Travis Barker and Prince.
In addition to the performances, however, The Roots Jam Session is annually interwoven with themes of social awareness, partnering with top organizations dedicated to creating global change. The goal is to entertain but also to utilize the power of its high-profile attendees to make an impact and educate audiences outside of the Jam. The Roots Jam Session has previously partnered with organizations from Save Darfur & Green Music Group to Rock the Vote. This year’s cause partner is OpportunityNation . Launching at the 2011 Jam, the organization will focus on the revitalization of the “American Dream” – in short, a campaign, powered by the people, to kick-start a nationwide conversation about opportunity while providing forums for those voices to be heard.
