Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

UNITY - the LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHL JACKSON to Premiere on PBS Friday, October 9

10/09/2015

--

UNITY THE LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON TO PREMIERE ON PBS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9

Latin Artists Bring New Life, Rhythms to Hit Songs

Concert Hosted by Sheila E. Launches Fifth PBS Arts Fall Festival

Special to be Followed by 28th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards

ARLINGTON, VA; September 10, 2015 Iconic songs will be heard like never before with inventive, energetic and distinctively Latin twists when PBS premieres UNITY THE LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON on Friday, October 9, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). Hosted by the legendary percussionist Sheila E., the concert special features 10 of Jackson's greatest hits interpreted by award-winning Latin artists with a 37-piece orchestra, and kicks off the fifth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival.

UNITY THE LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON is the passion project of Peruvian-born, Miami-raised producer/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Tony Succar. The special features live performances of the Latin-infused arrangements featured on Succar's chart-topping album also titled Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson. Signature Jackson songs like Smooth Criminal, I Want You Back, Billie Jean and others showcase musicians from across Latin America brought together by Succar to celebrate and reimagine the iconic song catalog. Among the performers are Jon Secada, Angel Lopez, Michael Stuart, Obie Berm dez, Jennifer Pe a, Kevin Ceballo, Judith Hill and Jean Rodriguez, among others. The concert was taped in Miami in July.

We are kicking off the fifth annual PBS Arts Fall Festival with a truly unique and special musical performance. Sheila E., Tony Succar, and all of the featured artists bring tremendous energy and talent to the stage, and you have never heard Michael Jackson's songs sound quite like this, said Donald Thoms, Vice President of Programming for PBS and festival curator. UNITY THE LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON is a marvelous testament to the diversity of art and performances being created in the U.S., and we are delighted to showcase that diversity on PBS.

The Unity Project began as an homage to Michael, and to underscore the key messages I always associated with his music: unity and love. These themes drive the album and the concert, and the resulting music has been remarkable, said Succar. Every song is true to the essence of the original, but I predict viewers will be inspired to find new moves in their living rooms as salsa and other Latin beats drive their favorite songs.

The album Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson, debuted on three simultaneous Billboard Charts after its first week of release in April, including #1 Latin Tropical, #3 World and #11 Heatseekers. The album is a joint project between Universal Music Classics, Universal Music Latin Entertainment and Universal Music Mexico.

Also airing on October 9 will be the 28th ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS at 10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). The legendary Rita Moreno will host this special evening, which is the countrys highest award paying tribute to Latinos by Latinos. The evening includes live performances and appearances by some of the countrys most celebrated Hispanic artists. The Hispanic Heritage Awards were created by the White House in 1987.

Funding for the 2015 PBS Arts Fall Festival is made possible by generous support from the Anne Ray Charitable Trust.

About the PBS Arts Fall Festival

UNITY THE LATIN TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON is part of the fifth PBS Arts Fall Festival, an eight-week series hosted this fall by Grammy Award-winning international music superstar Gloria Estefan. Friday nights from October 9 to November 27, 2015, the Fall Festival features legendary artists, dazzling musical performances and captivating entertainment, including a UNITY Latin tribute to Michael Jackson's music, and complementary digital content. This year's Festival showcases:

GREAT PERFORMANCES Billy Elliot the Musical (Oct. 23), a production from London's West End; Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin' to Do (Nov. 6), featuring the legendary Broadway star; and Andrea Bocelli: Cinema (w.t.) (Nov. 27), with the renowned tenor in a concert that pays tribute to the silver screen.

LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat in Concert with the New York Philharmonic (Oct. 16), the groundbreaking musical with an all-star cast led by Vanessa Williams; Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton (w.t.) (Oct. 30), featuring scores from films such as Batman, Beetlejuice and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure; and the Tony-winning play Act One (Nov. 13), based on the life of playwright and theater director Moss Hart.

FIRST YOU DREAM THE MUSIC OF KANDER & EBB (Nov. 20), a tribute to the legendary award-winning songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb.

The arts is a cornerstone of PBS' Friday primetime lineup in the fall, reaching more than 15 million viewers last season and underscoring PBS' ongoing commitment to give audiences the best of the arts on-air and online. Most programs will be available online at http://video.pbs.org/ following their broadcast premiere. For more, please visit http://pressroom.pbs.org/.

About PBS

PBS, with over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 103 million people through television and over 33 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digi
LINK: http://www.pbs.org/about/news/archive/2015/unity-latin-tribute/...
See more stories from pbs

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

05/02/2026

Teads, Google TV Partner To Grow CTV HomeScreen Ad Availability

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

Advanced Systems Group Appoints Industry Veteran Derek Pe...

Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, announced the appointment of Derek Pezzotti as Sen...

05/02/2026

Taurus Technologies Elevates Podcast Production with Brig...

Taurus Technologies, a Dallas-area professional AV systems integrator, has upgraded its in-house podcast studio with Brightline Lighting's AV/720 low-voltag...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Selects Production Infrastructure and Signal P...

NBC Universal to Present XXV Olympic Winter Games Feb. 6-22 and Milan Cortina Paralympics March 6-15 NBC Sports to Utilize Grass Valley's Frame Rate Conver...

05/02/2026

Atomos Unveils All New Shogun AV-19

Atomos today announced Shogun AV-19, a rack-mountable, 19-inch 4K HDR monitor-recorder-switcher designed for professional live production, broadcast, and video ...

05/02/2026

Vizrt revolutionizes corporate communications with AI-pow...

Vizrt, the leader in live production technology, revolutionizing viewer experience and engagement, today introduces two brand new solutions in partnership with ...

05/02/2026

Appear Appoints Simon Frost as Chief Marketing Officer to...

Appear, a global leader in live production technology, today announced the appointment of Simon Frost in a newly created role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). ...

05/02/2026

Noah Chamis ICLS Illuminates Only Murders in the Building...

New York gaffer Noah Chamis, ICLS ( You Deserve Each Other , The Half of It , Project Runway ) practices a mix of technical precision and creative play in his...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Deploys Audio-Technica Microphones for Winter Olympics

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

Hemisphere Media Group, Entravision Launch WAPA Orlando

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

SMT Providing Timing And Production Data Services for Winter Olympics

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

GeForce NOW Celebrates Six Years of Streaming With 24 Games in February

Break out the cake and green sprinkles - GeForce NOW is turning six. Since launch, members have streamed over 1 billion hours, and the party's just getting...

04/02/2026

Save the Date: SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Heads to Denver June 29-30

The 11th-annual Summit will not only the unprecedented headwinds facing the business, but also the groundbreaking opportunities for the future....

04/02/2026

2026 Grammy Awards Audio Team Collaborates for Live Broadcast

Just moments before the 2026 Grammy Awards kicked off, members of the event's audio team assembled for a group photo at the base of the stage inside Los Ang...

04/02/2026

Riedel Connects Live Surgery and Medical Professionals at VISAR 2025

At the Vienna Interdisciplinary Symposium on Aortic Repair (VISAR), Riedel Communications' Managed Technology Division delivered a turnkey technical infrast...

04/02/2026

Mountain West Announces New Media Rights Package in Collaboration with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW Network, and Kiswe

The Mountain West Conference announces a new media rights package featuring CBS ...

04/02/2026

NFL 2026 International Games Announced in Madrid, Mexico, and Paris

Earlier this week, the NFL announced it would play regular season games in Madrid, Paris, and Mexico City in 2026 as part of a nine-game international schedule,...

04/02/2026

Super Bowl Halftime Show Preview: PA Speakers on Wheels Return for Football-Meets-Music Event

Custom-built carts carry music speakers for Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime S...

04/02/2026

Wireless Audio, Part 1: RF Does More With Less, Because It Has To

In an era of constrained spectrum, two tactics have emerged: work closely with regulatory bodies and utilize engineering chops The Federal Communications Commi...

04/02/2026

Wireless Audio, Part 2: RF Mics Have a Key Role in Sports Broadcasting

Three examples of how wireless microphones are deployed to bring fans in deep and up close Microphone manufacturers have myriad ways to put wireless to work fo...

04/02/2026

Sennheiser Is Moving to Music City

The mic manufacturer will join other suppliers in the new Rock Nashville production campus Sennheiser is relocating its U.S. headquarters from its long-time lo...

04/02/2026

Release Rundown: What to Watch in February, From Jimpa to Queen of Chess

Olivia Colman and John Lithgow appear in Jimpa by Sophie Hyde, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | pho...

04/02/2026

Get More From Lyrics on Spotify With These 3 Upgrades

Lyrics are one of Spotify's most popular features, giving fans a richer way to experience the music and artists they love. They're viewed hundreds of mi...

04/02/2026

Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer history

Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...

04/02/2026

NFVF ANNECY 2026 SOUTH AFRICAN ANIMATION SHOWCASE CALL

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to participate in an exclusive creative showcase at the Annecy International...

04/02/2026

Viper Shield Flight Tests Accelerate Delivery with New Digital Electronic Warfare Capability

Viper Shield's robust phase of flight-testing production representative hard...

04/02/2026

Nielsen launches co-viewing pilot program to further enhance TV measurement

Pilot To Launch with Super Bowl LX on February 8 and Continue with High Profile Live Events, Entertainment and Sports Nielsen to Use State of the Art Wearable...

04/02/2026

Vinten Extends VEGA Platform with VEGA Lite PTZ Control S...

New control solution applies broadcast robotics workflows to PTZ cameras with third-party integration and upgrade paths Vinten, a global leader in robotic cam...

04/02/2026

Vinten Launches Vega Lite PTZ Control System

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

04/02/2026

Chyron to Provide Graphics, Virtual Sets for Winter Olympics Coverage

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

04/02/2026

NBC Sports Taps Appear for 2026 Winter Olympics Production

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

04/02/2026

Katie Vitolins Announced as Vice President of Alumni Products and Services

Katie Vitolins Announced as Vice President of Alumni Products and Services An alumna and former trustee, Vitolins will lead the relaunch of Berklee's alum...

04/02/2026

Full cast announced for Saturday Night Live UK, coming to Sky and NOW 21 March 2026

Wednesday 4 February 2026 Full cast announced for Saturday Night Live UK, comin...

04/02/2026

Fear of running out of mobile data (FORO) is a real issue for UK businesses that lose over 3,400 a year

Wednesday 4 February 2026 Fear of running out of mobile data (FORO) is a real i...

04/02/2026

Rohde & Schwarz powers next generation television in Brazil with DTV+ technology for Globo

Rohde & Schwarz powers next generation television in Brazil with DTV technology...

04/02/2026

Netflix Shares Teaser of the Third and Final Season of 'Knokke Off'

Back to All News Netflix Shares Teaser of the Third and Final Season of Knokke Off Entertainment 04 February 2026 GlobalNetherlands Link copied to clipboar...

04/02/2026

Netflix Premieres 'The TikTok Killer' on March 6

Back to All News Netflix Premieres The TikTok Killer on March 6 Entertainment 04 February 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard Download the pictures ...

04/02/2026

Music Is Having a Golden Moment on Netflix as New and Nostalgic Songs Storm the Charts

Back to All News Music Is Having a Golden Moment on Netflix as New and Nostal...

04/02/2026

Fox Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results

Fox Corporation Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, February 4, 2026 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Compan...

04/02/2026

Lucas P. Aragn Joins FOX Advertising as Senior Vice President, Creative

Lucas P. Arag n Joins FOX Advertising as Senior Vice President, Creative New York, NY - February 4, 2026 - Accomplished Creative Executive Lucas P. Arag n has...

04/02/2026

RT Statement on Home of the Year and The Great House Revival

Following the passing of our friend and colleague Hugh Wallace, and with the full support of his family, RT will proceed with the broadcast of the new series o...

04/02/2026

Nemotron Labs: How AI Agents Are Turning Documents Into Real-Time Business Intelligence

Editor's note: This post is part of the Nemotron Labs blog series, which exp...

03/02/2026

Tagboard's New Partner Development Kit Turns Complex Third-Party Integrations into Instant Graphics

Tagboard, a modern, interactive graphics system for news, sports, and entertainm...

03/02/2026

SNS Launches New S3-Compatible Cloud Storage Service

Studio Network Solutions (SNS) announces the launch of Trio, a new S3-compatible cloud storage service fully integrated with EVO for media backup, archival, and...

03/02/2026

NEP Group Running at Full-Scale This Month in Support of Major International Events

50 Production Trucks at center of 160 U.S.-based productions...

03/02/2026

Nielsen Launches Co-Viewing Pilot Program to Further Enhance TV Measurement

Nielsen, which specializes in audience measurement, data, and media intelligence, announces that it is piloting a new methodology enhancement to more accurately...