Three Barbadian Music Sensations: Shontelle, Hal Linton & Vita Chambers to Perform in 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Halftime Show

 ....A MOTOWN 50^TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE

Bridgetown, BARBADOS (November 18, 2009) – The American tradition of combining Thanksgiving and football is adding another element to Thanksgiving Day: three Barbados-born performers – Shontelle, Hal Linton, and Vita Chambers, singing the classic songs of Motown.

The 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show: “A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute,” will take place during the first game of the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader when the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX.    

The Motor City will be filled with the Thanksgiving spirit, as Shontelle, Hal Linton, Vita Chambers and the other Motown halftime performers, Melanie Fiona, Forever The Sickest Kids, and Kem join United Way the week of their performance to volunteer at the Detroit Boys & Girls Club’s “I Am Thankful” Dinner on Tuesday, November 24 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Shontelle, Linton and Chambers are all proud of their Bajan roots. “It’s a really proud time for us,” Linton said as he spoke about the rising success of Barbadian musicians. “Barbados is a real musical town and that shows by the amount of artist coming out from there.”

After Linton’s first single “Cardiac Arrest” was released in 2007, he was likened to musical legends Marvin Gaye, Prince and D’Angelo. In 2009, Shontelle won the Barbados Music Award for “Song of the Year” for her single “T-Shirt,” and Chambers has recently signed with Universal Motown Records.

Shontelle adds, “Barbados, the most easterly island in the Caribbean is small, completely accessible and a friendly wonderland, booming with life, wonderful people, vibrant culture and art; the best beaches; top rated hotels and resorts; award-winning restaurants and the best local food on the planet! If you are a nature lover, it doesn't get much more beautiful than Barbados.”

Shontelle, Hal Linton and Vita Chambers fans can visit www.nfl.com/thanksgiving to find out how to download a copy of the halftime performance, as well as music from the other Motown halftime performers. Proceeds will benefit United Way.

For more information on travel to Barbados, contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at (866) 566-0956 or www.visitbarbados.org.    

About Barbados:

The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes, including The Crane beach, St. Philips, voted one of the world’s sexiest beaches for 2008 by Concierge.com.  Barbados is the first and only Zagat-rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world-class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship-The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via newly-launched Jet Blue, Air Jamaica, American Airlines, Delta and US Airways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean.  Barbados was voted #8 in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards’ in its Top 100 Destinations category.  Follow the Barbados beat and catch up on the latest news via the Barbados Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/barbadosbeat and Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbadostourism.  For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1.800.221.9831.

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