Musical Performers Set for Games One and Two of 2007 MLB World Series

John Williams, Ashanti, James Taylor and Boyz II Men to perform at Fenway Park

10/24/2007 -- Seventeen-time Grammy award winning and five-time Academy award winning American orchestral composer John Williams will lead the Boston Pops in the performance of the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game One of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park.

Actress, singer and songwriter Ashanti will perform God Bless America in the seventh inning.

Five-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter James Taylor will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Two of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park. Grammy winning R&B group Boyz II Men will perform God Bless America in the seventh inning.

Celebrated for his film scores and ceremonial music, John Williams is one of the most popular and successful American orchestral composers of the modern age. Williams is best known for scores in films such as: Jaws, E.T.: The Extra-Terresterial, Schindler's List, the Indiana Jones series, and the original Star Wars trilogy.

Williams has been awarded several gold and platinum records and his score for Schindler's List earned him both an Oscar and Grammy. In January 1980, Williams was named nineteenth Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885, and he assumed the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor following his retirement in December 1993.

Singer/songwriter and actress Ashanti burst onto the music scene in 2002 with her self-titled debut album that landed her the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts. The album also won her the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Ashanti began her acting career on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and has since been seen in "Coach Carter" with Samuel L. Jackson, "John Tucker Must Die," "Bride and Prejudice" and "Resident Evil 3: Extinction." Ashanti holds the Guinness Book of World Records title as "the largest selling female debut ever with 504,000 albums sold in one week in 2002."

A native of North Carolina, currently residing in The Berkshires of Massachusetts, long-time Red Sox fan James Taylor has earned forty gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards to date. Taylor has sold more than 40 million albums throughout his extraordinary career, which began in 1968 when he was signed to Beatles' Apple Records. In 2000 he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Taylor performed the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Two of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.

One of the most successful R&B groups of all time Boyz II Men has sold more than 60 million records to date. They recorded five #1 R&B hits between 1992 and 1997, and their single "One Sweet Day" with Mariah Carey, set and broke records for the longest period of time a single remained at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Currently, Boyz II Men is gearing up to release their new album, Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA, November 13th, 2007 on Decca Records.

The 2007 World Series will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio will provide national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on the Internet.

Source: MLB

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