The best escape from traditional industry parties has been proven to be the Roots Jam Session, which this year is the 5th annual. In Los Angeles, the Sunset Boulevard’s famous Key Club was packed during the four hour jam with the backbones of the industry — managers, publicists, agents, celebrities and the evening’s centerpiece, the Grammy Award winning band. The Roots, each year the night before the Grammys, teamed up with Rock the Vote to celebrate an individual’s right to choose with their 18th anniversary this year. The event’s theme was largely displayed on a Sunset Blvd billboard hanging above the venue: Let your VERSE be heard … Let your VOICE be heard … Let your VOTE be heard … Let your ROOTS be heard.

Proving they are the driving force behind the 2008 Presidential election, young people have been flooding the polls since January. This night was proof of that, as all indulged their passion for music versus competing for celebrity and many spent the evening in debate over the present political scene. A knockout drum off was the highlight of the Jam Session between ?uestlove and Travis Barker, The Roots, and Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump’s version of “Walking on the Moon”, and an impromptu performances from Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae, Raheem DeVaughn, Eric Balfour’s Born as Ghosts, also with a Doug E. Fresh and American Idol’s Blake Lewis‘ beatbox session underneath MC Lyte.

High-profile attendants including his Highness Prince, Missy Elliot, Raven-Symone, Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Bilal, Jurnee Smollett, Nia Long, Solange Knowles, Ryan Phillipe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Goapele, Sanaa Lathan, Will.I.Am and Brian Michael Cox, among many others — were all seen partying the night away until 4am.

Besides the amazing pairings of musical geniuses, which this night has become known for this year’s social action cause and presenting partner, Rock the Vote integrated into the night with touch screens displayed throughout the venue, allowing attendants to not only register to vote, but also voice their opinions on the issues that are most important to them (environment was number one, followed closely by the economy, and third was education), as well as celebrate the history of both Rock the Vote and the Roots with an interactive timeline. The entire night was once again produced by Tina Farris of Goodtime Girl Entertainment and Kevin Seldon of Keldof. Title partners also included Zazzle and Wrigley’s Doublemint.

For more information about the touch screens, please visit this website: http://www.runtriz.com/

For more information about the event, please visit this website: http://www.keldof.com/

About Rock the Vote:

For 18 years, Rock the Vote has fused celebrity and politics in an effort to inspire, engage and mobilize a generation to action. Rock the Vote gives young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but their own — they tell it like it is and pride themselves on being a trusted source for information on politics.

About The Roots:

The Roots are: Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter (emcee), Kamal Gray (keyboards), Kirk “Captain Kirk” Douglas (guitar), Owen Biddle (bass), Frank Knuckles (percussion) and introducing on sousaphone — Damon “Tuba Gooding” Bryson.

Source for this post: Keldof

Web site: http://www.keldof.com/

http://www.rootsjamsession.com/

http://www.rockthevote.com/

http://www.runtriz.com/

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