BB KING - CLAPTON AND KING TO SPEARHEAD BLUES EVENT

Music legends BB KING, ERIC CLAPTON, WYNTON MARSALIS, RAY CHARLES and WILLIE NELSON are among the artists who will play the BLOWIN' THE BLUES AWAY gig in New York.

The event, to be held on 2 June (03) at Manhattan's famed APOLLO THEATER, will celebrate the American Congress-declared YEAR OF THE BLUES.

The show will benefit the JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER (J@LC) in New York, which is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting the understanding of jazz.

Conceived by Marsalis, J@LC's artistic director, the event will be hosted by THE MATRIX RELOADED star LAURENCE FISHBURNE, and will also feature performances by LOU DONALDSON, AUDRA McDONALD and CARRIE SMITH.

Tickets for the concert, which will be followed by a gala dinner, start at $1,000 (GBP650). Proceeds will benefit the J@LC's performance and educational programmes.