Legends Tony Bennett, Paul Rodgers to Entertain at NACDS Annual

Press Release

Arlington, Va. - Two musical legends from diverse genres, whose careers have spanned six decades each, will perform at events during the 2016 NACDS Annual Meeting.

Kennedy Center Honoree and 18-time Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett will entertain on Tuesday, April 19, following the Board of Directors Dinner.

Paul Rodgers, who in unprecedented fashion drove three bands — Bad Company, Free and The Firm – to international success, will kick-start the Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 16.

“Tony Bennett and Paul Rodgers are going to contribute to the unmistakable feel of the NACDS Annual Meeting, which includes amazing opportunities to enjoy and foster relationships within this great industry,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “We look forward to hosting NACDS members for an experience in April that will be both highly productive and highly memorable alike.”

A World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Tony Bennett has earned the United Nations Citizen of the World Award and the Billboard Magazine Century Award. In addition to his 18 Grammy Awards, he has earned seven Emmy Awards. While his initial successes resulted from a string of singles in the early 1950s, Bennett demonstrated his timelessness in 2006 — the year of his 80th birthday – with the release of Duets: An American Classic, which featured performances with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Bono and others. At the age of 85, he released Duets II, featuring collaborations with the late Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, John Mayer and others. In 2014, at the age of 88, he surpassed his own record of being the oldest artist with a #1 album when Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek topped the Billboard Top 200. Bennett also is an accomplished painter.

Paul Rodgers, through his collaborations and solo career, has sold in excess of 90 million records, while creating such rock anthems and hit songs as “Can’t Get Enough,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” “All Right Now,” “Shooting Star,” “Runnin’ with the Pack,” “Ready for Love,” “Bad Company” and more. Known as “The Voice” by his fans, Rodgers is credited for helping to establish the sound of the British blues and rock invasion. He has ranked in polls by Rolling Stone and other magazines as one of the greatest singers of all time. In 2013, he and Bad Company celebrated their 40th Anniversary with a worldwide tour. His 2014 album, The Royal Sessions, celebrated the music that inspired him to become a singer songwriter and hit #1 on Billboard’s Blues Album Chart.

The announcement of the entertainment for the 2016 Annual Meeting follows announcements that former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey will speak during the event’s Business Programs, and that Dr. Larry Sabato, election analyst and founder of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, will keynote the NACDS-PAC Breakfast.

The NACDS Annual Meeting website presents complete information about the event.