The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige will join Hip-Hop veteran LL Cool J, comedian/actor Cedric ''The Entertainer'' and the legendary Maze featuring Frankie Beverly July 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd  for the 2006 Essence Music Festival in Houston, Texas.

The Festival will take place in its new interim home, state-of-the-art Reliant Park in Houston, Texas -- a city with a dynamic melting pot of cultures and a venue for world-class shopping, restaurants and nightlife. ESSENCE will continue to work closely with city and state officials to help rebuild the city of New Orleans and its educational system.

The Essence Music Festival, known as "the party with a purpose," is the nation's largest annual African-American event and gathering of musical talent in the world. The Festival has become a destination of choice for families and friends as they schedule their reunions. This multigenerational Festival offers free Empowerment Seminars during the day and exciting performances at night, where Festival goers can dance and sing along with the biggest names in entertainment-rhythm and blues, classic soul, hip-hop, neo-soul and jazz.

More information can be found on www.essence.com .

Additional stellar artists will be announced in coming weeks.