AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, and producer Wyclef Jean will perform at halftime when the Detroit Pistons host the Sacramento Kings during Pistons Beach Party night on Friday, February 17 at The Palace of Auburn Hills (7:30 p.m.). In addition to Wyclef’s performance, the first 10,000 fans will receive a limited edition poster featuring the Detroit Pistons Dancers and the first 5,000 fans will receive a poster and special edition “Detroit Basketball” beach towel.
Wyclef’s musical career came to prominence as a member of The Refugee Camp (The Fugees), which included Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel “Pras” Michel in the mid 1990s. The group’s debut album, Blunted on Reality, sold over two million copies worldwide. Their second album, The Score, was released in February, 1996, and was a major success. It sold over 18 million copies and became a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album. It featured hits such as “Killing Me Softly” which sampled Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “No Woman, No Cry” which sampled Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “No Woman, No Cry”.
The Haitian-born star launched his solo career in 1997 releasing Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars (The Carnival). The album featured guest appearances by Hill, Pras, the I Threes (Bob Marley’s back-up singers), The Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz. Two of the big hits on that album included “We Trying to Stay Alive” which was an adaptation of the Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” and “Gone Till November” which was recorded with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2000, Wyclef released his second solo album The Ecleftic: 2 Side II a Book. He collaborated with many specials guests on that album including Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny Rogers and Mary J. Blige. Wyclef and Blige’s hit single “911” earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and was also nominated for Best Hip-Hop Act at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2006, Wyclef was featured in Shakira’s hit “Hips Don’t Lie”. The song became the highest selling single of the 21st century and reached #1 in 55 different countries. The duo performed the hit at the 2006 Grammys and the 2006 MTV Music Awards.
A versatile musician, who also plays the guitar, Wyclef has gained major recognition for his work, individually or as part of a duo or group, since going solo. In addition to six Grammy nominations, he’s also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song - Motion Picture (from the movie “Hotel Rwanda) with “Million Voices” and won a MTV Music Award in 1998 for Best R&B Video with “Gone Till November”.
A renowned humanitarian, who won the Humanitarian of the Year at the 2009 BET Awards, Wyclef has been active in support of his home country following the earthquake in Haiti on January 10, 2010. He also participated in the benefit concert, America: A Tribute to Heroes following the ‘September 11 Attacks’ with a cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption”.