| The lineup for the 32nd annual Playboy Jazz Festival | | | | went gold and five went platinum, while he also took |
| was announced at a Feb. 25 press conference held at | | | | home five Grammys for his recordings! |
| Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion. Comedian/actor | | | | After securing success in the standup realm, Cosby |
| activist Bill Cosby will once again preside over the | | | | decided to conquer television and became the first |
| event, set to take place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los | | | | African American to co-star in a dramatic series when |
| Angeles June 12-13. quoted the showbiz veteran as | | | | he landed on the television show I Spy. In the 1980s, |
| saying this about the cherished music festival: "The | | | | Cosby was given his own sitcom called The Cosby |
| music may be eclectic, but it's never boring. It's still the | | | | Show. The iconic sitcom was credited with rescuing |
| best ticket in town." With a lineup featuring headliners | | | | NBC from floundering ratings and also highlighted a |
| the Chick Corea Freedom Band and George Benson | | | | new era in the family sitcom format. After his |
| and the Manhattan Transfer, Cosby is right! | | | | eponymous show went off the air, Cosby continued to |
| Acts making their Playboy Jazz Fest debut at the | | | | test his acting chops with film roles (such as in the hit |
| 2010 edition of the festival include vocalist Kurt Elling, | | | | flick Uptown Saturday Night) and also penned a |
| Sax For Stax (Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum and Jeff | | | | handful of best-sellers (like Fatherhood). |
| Lorber), "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and Tiempo | | | | Most recently, Cosby released Bill Cosby Presents the |
| Libre, while those returning to the fest include Robert | | | | Cosnarati: State of Emergency in October 2009. |
| Randolph and the Family Band, Esperanza Spalding, | | | | reported that the album serves as the "aural |
| Marcus Miller and Cuban dance orchestra Los Van | | | | companion" to Cosby's 2007 book Come on People, |
| Van (appearing after a 10-year hiatus!). | | | | which he co-wrote with Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint. Bill |
| President of festival producer FestivalWest Inc. | | | | Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency |
| Darlene Chan said at the press conference, "You can't | | | | doesn't feature Cosby himself, but rather guest |
| say we do the same old, same old. We're both inside | | | | rappers and activities like Jace the Ace, Supa Nova |
| and outside the box." Even Hefner (executive | | | | Slom and Brother Haz laying down rhymes. Cosby has |
| producer of Playboy Jazz Festival) weighed in, adding, | | | | been performing some tracks off the album live with |
| "It's a party with the greatest ambiance and sound. | | | | the Cosnerati Band, however, such as when |
| Given the downturn in the economy and the music | | | | performed on The Jay Leno Show on Jan. 11. |
| business, this music always brings something to the | | | | If you missed Cosby's late-night appearances and |
| heart and lifts spirits." | | | | aren't a big fan of jazz, you can still enjoy his brand of |
| Although Playboy Jazz Festival's master of | | | | standup comedy live because he is currently on tour. |
| ceremonies Bill Cosby is now a household name, he | | | | Grab your Cosby sweater (you know you have one!) |
| was just another standup comedian when he | | | | and get Bill Cosby tickets from to see him live! Cosby |
| emerged back in the 1960s. The product of a | | | | will be stopping in U.S. cities like Fort Myers, FL; |
| Philadelphia housing project, Cosby quickly became a | | | | Augusta, GA; Brookville, NY; Montclair, NJ; Casper, WY; |
| popular live draw and eventually released a string of | | | | Charlotte, NC; Glenside, PA; Petoskey, MI; Red Bank, |
| live comedy albums. Eight of Cosby's comedy albums | | | | NJ and more through summer! |