Entertainment

PrideFest Friday Concert Headliner

Martha Wash

Wash began her music career as a backing singer for Sylvester. With fellow backing singer Izora Rhodes, she was half of “Two Tons O’ Fun”, who would later be renamed The Weather Girls. When the singers left to pursue a career on their own, they achieved success with a handful of successful disco-oriented tracks, culminating with the 1982 release of “It’s Raining Men” which still receives regular play in dance clubs and R&B radio to this day.

Later, when the Weather Girls disbanded, Wash continued to lend her vocals to various dance and house music tracks. Several of them became massive pop, R&B and dance hits. She sang lead vocals on all three of Black Box’s U.S. top-forty hits, including the top-ten smashes “Everybody Everybody” and “Strike It Up”, and The C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”, which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.

With the Milli Vanilli scandal still fresh in the minds of the music industry, Wash, also perturbed by the fact that her image had been labeled “unmarketable” because of her size, successfully sued to receive proper credit and royalties as the vocalist on all of these songs. Wash’s courtroom efforts spurred legislation making vocal credits mandatory on CD’s and music videos. It also awarded her a recording contract with RCA Records, which led to her debut, self-titled solo album in 1993. The album scored three top ten club/dance hits including “Carry On”, “Give It to You”, and “Runaround.” The first two hit number one.

Wash, a notable star within the gay community, continues to record new music into the 21st century such as her first new single in more than 5 years, “You Lift Me Up” – a fusion of gospel and house, which is the first song produced on her own label, Purple Rose Records – 2005. Wash performed in the opening ceremony of the World’s first OutGames in Montreal in July 2006. She has also performed at numerous Human Rights Campaign events in the U.S.  In 2006 Wash appeared as a guest on GSN’s I’ve Got a Secret, and performed “It’s Raining Men” for the all-gay panel.

She was a performer at the annual Big Gay Day in Brisbane, Australia on March 9, 2008. She also performed at the Chicago Gay Pride Street Fest on June 28, 2008, at the Nightingale as part of the Birmingham, England, bank holiday festival on August 23, 2008, at Washington, DC Capital Pride on June 14, 2009, and at the Opening Ceremony of the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series in Milwaukee, WI on August 31, 2009.  Most recently Martha Wash was seen as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race (2nd season).   She makes her debut on the Mainstage for Albuquerque Pride Friday, June 11th, 2010.  “Everybody- Everybody”,”Strike It Up” and attend this fantastic event.  More Info at martha-wash.com

PrideFest Friday Concert Featured Performer

BeBe Zahara Benet

Nea Marshall Kudi is BeBe Zahara Benet. Nea was born and raised in the Republic of Cameroon on the West African Coast and is now settled in Minneapolis, MN. Before moving to the United States, he began working in France. Nea started a career in the fashion industry as a male model. It was there, on a runway in France that Nea was first exposed to the art of feminine illusion.During a show, when some of the female models did not turn out to walk the runway, he was asked to step in, as a female. Bebe zahara Benet was born.  As a recording Artist, Bebe brings to the scene an eclectic infusion world music that pulls in her roots from West Africa and merges them with sensibilities of traditional house, dance, and R&B flavors.

Bebe Zahara Benet was last season’s winner on RuPaul’s Drag Race.  She appeared on RuPaul’s latest album on the track “Covergirl” and is in the video along with fellow finalists, Nina Flowers and Rebecca Glasscock.  Bebe is currently performing around the country and booking shows.  Bebe Zahara Benet makes her debut on the Albuquerque Pride Main Stage Friday, June 11th, 2010.  Don’t Sashay Away…be there to lip sync for your life.  More Info at bebezaharabenet.com

Saturday Pride Fusion Performers

God-Des and She

“Most people trying to foray into the hip-hop world try to conform to the stereotypes,” says GO NYC magazine. “For God-Des & She, by bucking the standard, they created their own. In other words, while most aspiring rappers try to set the bar, God-des & She ARE the bar.”

A hip-hop/pop/soul duo bred in the Midwest, God-Des & She now play to packed venues all over the world, from Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to Stockholm, Sweden.  Ever since they appeared on Showtime’s The L Word three years ago, performing their infamous single “Lick It,” the pair haven’t had a moment’s rest, selling over 30,000 albums, holding down the #1 song spot on MTV LOGO with their song “Love You Better,” and signing autograph after autograph for eager fans.  With their new unreleased album, God-Des & She are about to blow up—big.  Produced by Brian Hardgroove (Public Enemy, Wu Tang, Burning Spear, Aerosmith), their new album confirms their status as an underground act about to hit the mainstream.  Experience God-Des and She on Saturday, June 12th, 2010 for Pride Fusion at the Hyatt Regency.   More Info at god-desandshe.com

Morgan McMichaels

From RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 2, Miss Morgan McMichaels is a Pride Fusion Exclusive. This Fierce queen will be bringing it down like only she can. Morgan is one of the most sought after performers, along with her debut on VH1s and Logos biggest hit RuPaul’s Drag Race, She has also received The West Hollywood Award for outstanding entertainer. Her fans can’t get enough of Morgan as she travels all over the country performing live for GLBT events. We are very pleased to announce her as a Pride Fusion headlining performer.

ATTENTION LOCAL ENTERTAINERS: You may also send a comment if you would like to perform at PrideFest 2010.  Please include both your real name and stage name and what type of act you would like to perform.

QUESTIONS? Leave a comment (your reply will not be posted to the public).