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Nearly Four Decades of Service to Protect the Arts Recognized With Dedication Ceremony at Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Posted on: Monday, 23 February 2009, 09:38 CST

DETROIT, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- After 37 years of service to one of Detroit's cultural jewels, Music Hall Center for the Performing Art's "first couple" will on February 27th be honored with the dedication of the "Tina and Leland Bassett Lounge" at Music Hall. Tina and Leland Bassett have been tireless supporters of the historic, art-deco arts venue, helping to build it into a nationally recognized cultural center and jazz venue.

"Tina and Leland have made an indelible mark on Music Hall and on Detroit," said Music Hall President and Artistic Director Vince Paul. "I'm thrilled that their unfailing dedication to preserving Music Hall and the arts in Detroit is being recognized in this way."

Tina and Leland Bassett have served in a variety of roles at Music Hall, beginning as volunteers, then chairing Music Hall's first strategic planning task force in the 1980s. They now serve as trustees, Music Hall Advocates and Founding General Co-Chairs of the Producers, Music Hall's individual major donor group. Leland K. Bassett has also served as Chairman of the Board and is currently Vice-Chair.

The Tina and Leland Bassett Lounge is an elegant, art-deco designed room that echoes Music Hall's art gallery. It features a north view of the entertainment district below and will be available as a venue for a variety of events and meetings.

The dedication ceremony will take place before the opening performance of Cirque Eloize's surreal homage to the elements, "Nebbia" at 8:00 p.m.

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is a national treasure, having the distinction of being the only surviving stage theatre originally built for live performance in the region. Built in 1928 by Matilda Dodge Wilson, the legendary automaker and lumber baron heiress and philanthropist, the historic art-deco building provides a stage for live performances from top-billed artists from around the globe, including living legends such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Liza Minelli, Lionel Ritchie and Smokey Robinson.

The Jazz Cafe at Music Hall features some of the most prominent jazz musicians in the nation and is being hailed by critics as the most important jazz venue to be built in the nation in recent history.

For more information about Music Hall, visit www.musichall.org, or call (313) 887-8500.

Tina Bassett: Tina Bassett co-founded and is President of Bassett & Bassett, Incorporated, Communication Managers and Counselors, located in the First National Building in Detroit. She is widely recognized for her innovative and creative high-impact communication programs. With a strong background in consumer marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations, she served as the City of Detroit's Director of Public Information as an appointee of Mayor Coleman A. Young from 1974 to 1986. She formed Bassett & Bassett, Incorporated with husband, Leland K. Bassett, in 1986.

Leland K. Bassett: Leland K. Bassett, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Bassett & Bassett, Incorporated, pioneered the application of communication psychology and strategic planning to public relations, corporate communication and integrated strategic communication management for more than a quarter century, establishing the nation's first corporate strategic communication management department in the mid 1970s. He also designed and taught the nation's first graduate strategic communication program at Michigan State University in the College of Communication Arts & Sciences in the 1980s.

SOURCE Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Source: PR Newswire

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