Funk legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins will serve as Master of Ceremonies for The Music of The World Games this July. Having shared stages with the likes of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, Collins will bring his staple funk and energetic stage presence to the opening (July 7th) and closing ceremonies (July 17th) for The World Games 2022 held in Birmingham, Alabama. As Master of Ceremonies, Bootsy will present “Power of One”, an epic theatrical and musical production with a spectacular presentation of dance, lights, actors, and a 75-piece orchestra.
“It’s such an honor to be working with the World Games bringing sports & entertainment together to represent The Power Of The One!,” states Collins. Adding to that enthusiasm, Artistic Director Dr. Henry Panion states, “as we celebrate the importance of love, unity, and togetherness as primary themes of these ceremonies, we’ve incorporated the music of Bootsy Collins to set the tone and thought he would best captivate and bring excitement to such an international audience!"
Collins has become an icon in his own right, eventually forming his own Bootsy’s Rubber Band. In addition to being a vocalist, Collins is also a multi-talented instrumentalist (Bass, guitar, drums and keyboards) and Rolling Stone named him one of their top 50 greatest bassists of all time. Bootsy has been keeping busy in 2021 working on the Silk Sonic album, producing his new album and artists like Fantasama, working on a book, a documentary, a cartoon with Cartoon network, developing the Bootsy Metaverse called Funktropolis and even trying his hand at the cryptocurrency world with a Blockchain & Bootsy Bitcoin. He also just recently signed with UTA (United Talent Agency).
Bootsy Collins joins a list of world-class performers that includes: Lionel Richie, Yolanda Adams, Alabama, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bo Bice, Sara Evans, Taylor Hicks, Jamey Johnson, Nelly, Pastor Mike Jr., Martha Reeves, Sheila E., Ruben Studdard, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Worth The Wait and Yung Bleu.
The World Games 2022 will kick off on July 7th at Protective Stadium with Unlocking The Magic: Celebrating The Power of The One. The evening will be a colorful celebration of sport and Birmingham history. Presented by Alabama Power, the presentation will feature live entertainment, special effects, honorable dignitaries and a parade of athletes representing more than 100 countries. Produced by Birmingham-based LRY Media Group, the Opening Ceremony will celebrate Birmingham’s past, present and future. Spoken word artist, musician, educator, and Birmingham native, Sharrif Simmons will be delivering a poem in the Opening Ceremonies. On July 17th at Protective Stadium, the grand finale of The World Games 2022 – One World-One People: Celebrating Legacy, Achievement & Unity – will commemorate The Games with incredible performances and the opportunity for athletes, fans and volunteers to bid farewell to Birmingham.
About The World Games:
The World Games is an extraordinary, international sports event held every four years, in the year following each Summer Olympic Games. Staged over 11 days, The Games represents the pinnacle of competition for 3,600 of the world’s best athletes in 30+ unique, multi-disciplinary sports. The World Games generates worldwide exposure for participating sports and provides a highly visible stage on which athletes from more than 100 countries compete for gold. More than 600 medals will be awarded to the competing athletes, including 200 gold medals for the ultimate champions in each discipline. The World Games is led by the International World Games Association (IWGA), a non-profit organization that is composed of 37 International Sports Federations and recognized by The International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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