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ESSENCE FEST TO INCLUDE JACKSON TRIBUTE: Plus, author Celia Anderson signs her book 'Love, Ocean'; TV One holds auditions.

(July 3, 2009)

*In light of Michael Jackson's death on June 25, the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this weekend will serve as more than just a celebration of black music and culture.

Lionel Richie, a longtime friend of the pop superstar, says the annual event will be a homecoming of sorts that will give him and others comfort and a chance to regroup, according to the Associated Press.

The festival, held at the Louisiana Superdome and Morial Convention Center beginning today, will include a tribute to Jackson, as well as performances by Richie, Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo, Anita Baker and others.

Organizers say they are still planning the Jackson tribute, so details were not immediately available. The festival runs through Sunday.

Meanwhile, author Celia Anderson will be signing her book "Love, Ocean" in conjunction with the Empowerment Seminar workshops on Friday and Saturday from noon until 2 at the Morial Convention Center.

The event will be the last event on a 12 city tour for Anderson that included Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles. "Love, Ocean" is the first of four in the Ocean Series.

Anderson will also be published alongside E. Lynn Harris by Random House in a compilation of short stories entitled, "Love Is Stronger Than Pride." She uses her novels along with an interactive presentation for teenagers, entitled G.A.M.E.T.I.M.E (Gaining a Meaningful Education to Insure Maximum Elevation), to empower young adults to achieve greatness.

For further information on Celia Anderson visit www.celiaanderson.com.

Also this weekend, TV One has three full days of activities planned for the Essence Music Festival, including a schedule at its booth (#902) that is chock full of network talent appearances, an open casting call, and "Unsung" karaoke, where visitors can perform the songs of the great talent featured in the network’s acclaimed bio series.

Scheduled activities during the three days include:

FRIDAY

10:30am-12:30pm      TV One Open Casting Call
1:00pm-2:00pm          Meet & Greet with Eva Marcille, featured in TV One’s upcoming fall bio series Life After
2:00pm-3:00pm          Unsung Karaoke
3:15pm-3:45pm          Relationship Seminar w/ Big Boom & Dr. Michelle –Experience Stage
4:00pm-6:00pm          Meet and Greet: Big Boom & Dr. Michelle - BOOTH

SATURDAY

9:30 am -11:30am      Soul Train Scramble Board Contest
11:30am-2:00pm        Unsung Karaoke
2:15pm-2:45pm         Comedy Show: Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes? winner Lav Luv- Experience Stage
3:00pm to 4:00pm     Meet & Greet with Lav Luv- BOOTH
4:00pm-5:00pm         Meet & Greet w/ Omarosa: featured in Life After
5:00pm-6:00pm         Meet & Greet with w/ LisaRaye from All of Us
TV One Research

SUNDAY

10:30am 11:30am       Meet & Greet w/ Mario Van Peebles of upcoming series Mario’s Green House.
11:30am-1:00pm        Unsung Karaoke
1:00pm-2:00pm         Meet & Greet w/ TV One Political Editor Roland Martin
2:30pm-3:00pm         Unsung Karaoke: CONTEST -Experience Stage
3:00pm-4:30m           Meet & Greet w/ Al Reynolds, featured in Life After
4:30pm-6:00pm         Meet & Greet with G. Garvin, host of Turn Up the Heat with G.Garvin

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