ARLINGTON, Va., June 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT: "Salute to the Military" USO Concert Event on South Lawnof the White House
WHO: Bruno Mars, Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and producer
WHEN: Saturday, July 4, 2015
8:10 p.m. EST USO Concert
Notes. USO photos available post event
WHERE: White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
WHY: The countdown is on! Today, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and producer Bruno Mars announced plans to perform his first-ever USO concert on the South Lawn of the White House. The announcement came at 11:00 a.m. CT/2:00 p.m. ET via Mars' twitter account, which stated the show would take place on the Fourth of July. Just seconds after the post hit the worldwide web, First Lady Michelle Obama and the USO confirmed the news and relayed their excitement.
Part of the White House's annual "Salute to the Military" extravaganza – which has become an Independence Day tradition since 2009 – the USO concert will cap off an afternoon full of family friendly afternoon activities exclusively for troops and military families, to include a patriotic barbeque, festive games, an appearance by "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band and remarks by the Commander-in-Chief President Barack Obama. The 60-minute USO show will start at 8:10 p.m. ET and conclude just seconds before the world famous fireworks display at the U.S. Capitol.
Bruno Mars is an 18-time Grammy Award nominee and multi-Grammy winner. At the top of 2014, Mars made NFL history with one of the most watched Super Bowl Halftime Shows that amassed a record breaking 115.3 million viewers. The critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer and musician has sold over 150 million singles worldwide. His most recent album Unorthodox Jukebox and his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans have a combined certification total of 94x Platinum worldwide. According to Billboard, Mars scored his first five "Hot 100" No. 1s faster than any male since Elvis Presley. Bruno and his eight-piece band, The Hooligans, recently wrapped the second leg of their sold-out 155-date Moonshine Jungle world tour. Mars most recently teamed up with Mark Ronson on the smash hit "Uptown Funk." The international hit single is the longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 of the 2010s, and is the 10th single in the Hot 100's 57 year history to spend at least 14 weeks at Number 1.
QUOTE: Attributed to J.D. Crouch II, CEO and President of the USO:
"The USO is thrilled to once again be partnering with the White House and hosting a USO concert featuring superstar Bruno Mars this Independence Day. There is no better time or place to celebrate the birth of our nation than on the Fourth in our nation's capital, surrounded by hundreds of America's troops and military families. And with Bruno's help, it is sure to be the ultimate 'thank you' to those who serve our nation and sacrifice their lives daily."
NOTE: The USO strives to deliver life-changing experiences for troops and their families stationed around the world, like this "Salute to the Military" USO concert. To join Bruno Mars and the First Family in honoring, saluting and creating moments for America's military community this Independence Day visit USOmoments.org and/or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter using #USOMoments and #JoiningForces.
About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transitionand families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.
In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: American Airlines, AT &T, BNSF Railway, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, JCPenney, Jeep, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, BIC, The Boeing Company, ConAgra Foods, FedEx, GEICO, Harris Teeter, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, Procter & Gamble, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG and Wawa Inc. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34048
