Two R&B solo artists and one group performed Tuesday at the Cingular Concert, which was co-sponsored by Def Jam Recordings, in Lee Hall.
Cingular, along with Def Jam, is touring historically black colleges and universities with artists Bobby Valentino, Shareefa and Megan Rochelle.
According to the Def Recordings Web site, Valentino, the show’s headliner, has been in the music industry for almost three years on the Disturbing Tha Peace record label.
The Office of Student Union and Activities said tickets were free, and approximately 1,180 tickets were distributed to FAMU students.
“I’m pleased with the turnout. I would have rather had it in the gym so more people could come,” said Prince George Olokun, who served as the FAMU liaison to Cingular.
The senior political science student from Atlanta planned the event for the first time last year when he served as the Campus Activities Board adviser.
Olokun, 22, said the event was held in Lee Hall instead of Gaither Gymnasium, where the concert was previously held, because of the current installation of the air conditioning unit.
During the concert, Valentino performed songs from his first album and his upcoming album, “Special Occasion.” His first single is “Turn The Page.” According to www.defjam.com, the album will be released in the fall.
Megan Rochell promoted her album “You, Me and the Radio” by performing two of her singles, “The One You Need” and “Floating.”
Her album, which is due in stores by January 2007, is directed toward “you, the audience; me, Megan Rochell; and the radio, which serves as an intimate invite for you to know me as an artist,” said the 21-year-old singer from Brooklyn.
“I been grinding for awhile,” said Rochell, who has been writing since she was 12 years old.
Rochell may seem like a new artist, but she has been signed with Def Jam since January 2005.
Rochell was discovered by Nate Morris of Boyz II Men while walking in New York.
“Keep the focus. People will try to railroad you,” Rochell said to students who are trying to make it in the music industry.
“You have to pray and stay on the grind. If you want it like I want it, then you will continue to fight,” continued Rochell.
Olokun also solicited the R&B group F.A.M to open the show. F.A.M is a group comprised of three FAMU students, Dekywan Debose, Andrew Williams and Micah Roland.
After performing, F.A.M was offered the opportunity to join Rochelle and Valentino on the Cingular tour.
“We talked to the production manager and we are working out an agreement to possibly start touring in January,” said Roland, 21, a sophomore music education student from Pensacola. “Production management will be giving us a call next week.”
Roland continued, “They said we have the most talent they have seen since they started the HBCU tour.”
Roland said the logistics have not been worked out yet, but “phone numbers were exchanged so that we can work out the logistics.”
“I was surprised when they announced that F.A.M will be going on tour with Megan Rochelle and Bobby Valentino,” said Lindsay Tatum, 18, from Atlanta. “This reflects a lot of the positive things that will be coming for our school.”
Hosts, Sean D and DJ KD, entertained the crowd during intermissions with dance competitions and new music.
“It turned out really well. Everyone was really responsive,” said Tatum, a freshman Spanish language and accounting student. One of the scheduled performers, Shareefa, was unable to perform due to contract negotiations, DJ KD said.