Entertainment Legend Della Reese to Join Maya Angelou and Odetta in National Capital's Speakers Event on Mon., Feb. 7

Entertainment Legend Della Reese to Join Maya Angelou and Odetta in National Capital's Speakers Event on Mon., Feb. 7

Trio to Pay Tribute to Late Colleague, Ossie Davis, Originally Scheduled to Participate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Entertainment legend, Della Reese, most recently the long running star of network TV's "Touched By an Angel," will be in Washington, DC, Mon. night as a featured participant in the Capital Speaker's event at The Kennedy Center (8PM).

Reese, an ordained minister, will be joined by poet Maya Angelou and Odetta.

The trio will also pay tribute to their late colleague, Ossie Davis, who was scheduled to join them on Monday night's program.

"Ossie was a wonderful man, an inspiration, a brilliant and brave artist who opened cultural and professional doors for many of us that followed him in the arts," said Reese, who starred with Davis in the film, "The Secret Path."

"Legendary African American Elders" is part of the National Capital Distinguished Speakers Series, which has featured everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Desmond Tutu.

Award winning journalist Renee Poussaint, a co-founder of the National Visionary Leadership Project, will moderate the panel.

The HistoryMakers, the largest national non-profit organization, dedicated to recording and preserving the personal histories of well-known African Americans, recently honored Reese in "An Evening with Della Reese," which will air on PBS television stations around the country in 2005.

Della Reese's illustrious show biz career began in the church at age six.

At 13, she was on the road singing with the great gospel artist, Mahalia Jackson. By 1954, Della scored a hit single with "And that Reminds Me (of You)" which led to numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1959, Della recorded her biggest hit, "Don't You Know," which granted her a Grammy(R) Nomination.

In 1969, she became the first African American talk show host on television with the launch of her talk show, "Della."

The veteran entertainer played the role of Tess in the popular TV series "Touched By An Angel," resulting in numerous awards during its decade long run on CBS TV, including three NAACP Image Awards.

She now preaches weekly at her Understanding Principles for Better Living Church in Los Angeles.

In addition to her four Grammy(R) Award nominations, Reese was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994, two Golden Globes and a Screen Actor's Guild award nomination.

In late Feb., the NAACP will present her with its top Theatre Award in Los Angeles.


Source: Lett Enterprises

CONTACT: Eric Raymond, or Jerry Digney, both of Solters & Digney,
+1-323-651-9300, for Lett Enterprises


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