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ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced that singing legends Tony Bennett and Paul Rodgers will perform at the 2016 NACDS Annual Meeting.
Paul Rodgers
NACDS said Tuesday that Rodgers — known for his work with rock bands Bad Company, Free and The Firm, as well as his solo performances — is slated to play at the Annual Meeting’s Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 16.
Bennett, an 18-time Grammy Award winner and a Kennedy Center Honoree, is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, April 19, after the NACDS Board of Directors Dinner.
The 2016 NACDS Annual Meeting is being held April 16 to 19 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.
“Tony Bennett and Paul Rodgers are going to contribute to the unmistakable feel of the NACDS Annual Meeting, which includes amazing opportunities to enjoy and foster relationships within this great industry,” NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting NACDS members for an experience in April that will be both highly productive and highly memorable alike.”
A World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Bennett has earned the United Nations Citizen of the World Award and the Billboard Magazine Century Award. Besides his Grammy Awards, he has earned seven Emmy Awards.
Tony Bennett
His success began with a string of hit singles in the early 1950s, and he’s had 24 songs in the Top 40, including his signature song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” Bennett showed his enduring appeal in 2006 at age 80 with the release of “Duets: An American Classic,” which featured performances with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Bono and others. At 85, he released “Duets II,” featuring collaborations with the late Amy Winehouse as well as Aretha Franklin, John Mayer and others. In 2014, at 88, he surpassed his own record of being the oldest artist with a No. 1 album when “Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek” topped the Billboard Top 200. Bennett also is an accomplished painter.
Rodgers has sold over 90 million records during his band and solo careers, with such hits as “Can’t Get Enough,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” “All Right Now,” “Shooting Star,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Bad Company,” “Radioactive” and more. Known as “The Voice” by his fans, Rodgers is credited for helping to establish the sound of the British blues and rock invasion. He has ranked in polls by Rolling Stone and other magazines as one of the greatest singers of all time.
In 2013, Rodgers and Bad Company celebrated their 40th anniversary with a worldwide tour. His 2014 album, “The Royal Sessions,” celebrated the blues and soul music that inspired him to become a singer songwriter and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Blues Album Chart.
NACDS also recently announced some of the headline speakers for the Annual Meeting, including former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R., Ohio), former Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey and election analyst Larry Sabato, who is the founder of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
