Houghton, McClurkin and Winans to Honor U.S. Heroes at Inaugural Ball

WASHINGTON - Multi-generational music icons will be gathering Tuesday night to honor wounded service men and women recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Included in the line-up for the 2009 Heroes Red, White & Blue Inaugural Ball will be popular Christian music artists Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin, and Bebe and Cece Winans, among others.

Each artist will be performing in the concert, "Legends Past, Present and Future," which will benefit USO and TAPS and be broadcast in its entirety to military bases around the world via the Pentagon Channel.

"It shows just how much they care, that these music giants want to spend the night of the inauguration honoring the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families," said Grammy Award-Winning Producer Nile Rodgers, executive producer of the Heroes Ball tribute concert. "It's a beautiful thing."

Joining the wounded service men and women Tuesday night at the Warner Theatre will be their families, active-duty personnel serving overseas, military leaders and other honored guests.

Following the 3-hour tribute concert, which kicks off at 8 p.m., there will be a VIP After Party featuring live music until 2 a.m.