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Let the music begin
Olympic entertainment to shake, rattle'n'roll
July 20, 1996
Web posted at: 12:50 a.m. EDTFrom Correspondent Paul Vercammen
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) The centennial Olympic games are ready to shake, rattle and roll -- from an entertainment standpoint.
At the recently-opened "House of Blues", they began hammering out the Olympic entertainment game plan months ago. Among the performers scheduled for the renovated Baptist tabernacle in downtown Atlanta are the Blues Brothers, Ray Charles and Little Richard.
The "House of Blues" is just one of the many places in Atlanta promising to make Atlanta the entertainment capitol of the planet during the summer games.
Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart says he has created a rhythmic endeavor for the opening ceremonies.
"The games are all about rhythm," Hart said. "It sort of worked into the theme of the Olympics and all I can say is there won't be a lot of piccolos out there."
Also, Celine Dion will lay out the welcome mat during the opening ceremonies while Gloria Estafan has been signed on to bid "au revoir" in the closing ceremonies. . There are special entertainment features for the over 10,000 competitors. Entertainment manager Judith Service says she has lined up acts for the Olympic Village ranging from Ziggy Marley to Hootie and the Blowfish.
Service acknowledges that organizing events for the athletes is something of a balancing act.
"It's definitely turning out to be the logistics of actually getting the performers into the village -- between the security which is a very big issue and dealing with the vast numbers of groups we're dealing with," Service said.
John Cossette, who helped organize the Grammys, says he recruited music stars for one event in the Olympic Park.
"(With) the Grammys you work six weeks to do one show," Cossette said. "Here we've worked six months, and the first show is tomorrow, then the next one is day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that -- there's no rest."
But it's all worth it, says Lisa Loeb, who has already performed before the athletes.
"It's an honor to play for so many different people from around the world at one time. You know usually you are like in Italy or in Japan or in New Zealand," Loeb said.
Indeed, the aim is for entertainment -- like sports -- to transcend borders during the Olympics.
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