Bon Jovi to Play Pa. Inaugural Concert

By PETER JACKSON
The Associated Press
Saturday, January 13, 2007; 7:25 PM

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Bon Jovi will headline a slate of entertainers with strong Pennsylvania ties for Gov. Ed Rendell's inauguration, the Democrat's inaugural committee said Saturday.

Also scheduled to perform at Tuesday's $100-per-ticket concert are former teen idol Frankie Avalon and The Trammps of disco fame.


Singer/songwriter Jon Bon Jovi smiles as he speaks during a news conference before Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope charity dinner  in this file photo from June 13, 2005, in New York.  Bon Jovi will headline a slate of entertainers at a concert for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's inauguration. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens-File)
Singer/songwriter Jon Bon Jovi smiles as he speaks during a news conference before Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope charity dinner in this file photo from June 13, 2005, in New York. Bon Jovi will headline a slate of entertainers at a concert for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's inauguration. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens-File) (Kathy Willens - AP)

The concert will be held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex in Harrisburg after the Democrat is sworn in for his second four-year term.

Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi is a New Jersey native with strong ties to Philadelphia, where Rendell served two terms as mayor. Bon Jovi is co-owner of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul and he was given the City of Brotherly Love Award last fall for his work with Habitat for Humanity.

Avalon, a Philadelphia native, was a popular recording artist in the 1950s who built a second career as an actor in the '60s, appearing in films that included the "Beach Party" movies with Annette Funicello.

The Trammps began as a Philadelphia group and won a Grammy Award for their "Disco Inferno" album.

Other performers on the inaugural concert bill include:

_ The Dixie Hummingbirds, a gospel group who backed Paul Simon on his hit recording "Loves Me Like A Rock" and later won a Grammy for their own version of the song.

_ Jill Scott, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter from Philadelphia.

_ Bianca Ryan, a 12-year-old singer from Philadelphia who won the debut season of NBC's "America's Got Talent" show.

_ Monica Mancini, a singer who has won two Grammy awards and is the daughter of the late composer Henry Mancini.


© 2007 The Associated Press