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CeCe Winans, Donald Lawrence and Marvin Sapp Headline Verizon's How Sweet the Sound 2011 TourBASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Gospel legend CeCe Winans and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter and producer, Donald Lawrence, will return in 2011 to co-host Verizon's How Sweet the Sound(TM) - the country's biggest gospel music celebration. Marvin Sapp will serve as the tour's resident judge. Joining him on the judging panel is a who's who of gospel music, including Mary Mary, Dorinda Clark Cole, Fred Hammond, Richard Smallwood, James Fortune, Byron Cage, Ricky Dillard, Shirley Caesar and more. Verizon's How Sweet the Sound tour provides a platform for church choirs to share and celebrate their faith and talent with people across the country. Participating choirs will perform in front of gospel legends and fans and have the chance to win up to $50,000. This year's tour will travel to nine cities including: Dallas - Sept. 15 at American Airlines Center Atlanta - Sept. 17 at Philips Arena Charlotte, N.C. - Sept. 19 at Time Warner Cable Arena Washington, D.C. - Sept. 21 at Verizon Center Detroit - Sept. 24 at Joe Louis Arena St. Louis - Sept. 26 at Scottrade Center Chicago - Sept. 27 at United Center Los Angeles - Oct. 1 at STAPLES Center Oakland, Calif. - Oct. 4 at Oracle Arena "It is an honor to return as resident judge for this joyous event that honors the foundation of our community - the church choir," said Marvin Sapp. "How Sweet the Sound has become a second family for me, and I can't wait to see our family grow in 2011." "Verizon is pleased to welcome this year's star-studded lineup of judges and hosts who are joining us for what is sure to be another memorable How Sweet the Sound experience," said Marquett Smith, vice president, corporate communications, Verizon Wireless. "As a way of giving back to the community, Verizon is partnering with the country's most beloved gospel talent to provide an opportunity for individuals to enjoy and celebrate the power of music." Tickets to Verizon's How Sweet the Sound tour go on sale in July. For more details about Verizon's How Sweet the Sound, including video content, judging criteria, ticket sales information and official rules, please visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Broadcast-quality B-Roll featuring 2010 Verizon's How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration coverage is available online. Log on to Verizon Wireless' Multimedia Library at http://verizonwireless.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=37569 to preview and request video segments, which can be received in newsrooms digitally or by tape.) About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. SOURCE Verizon Wireless |