FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005
Contact: Mark Huerkamp
(662) 329-7119

Dove Award-winning vocalist and `American Idol’ finalist to perform at MUW
      
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Dove Award-winning vocalist Nicole C. Mullen and “American Idol” finalist George Huff will perform at a spring concert on the campus of Mississippi University for Women Friday, April 22.
   
Mullen will headline the event sponsored by MUWs Student Programming Board. She will be accompanied by Huff and United Harmony, MUW’s gospel ministry of students.
   
The Nashville-based singer/songwriter, minister and choreographer has achieved a total of 20 Grammy and Dove award nominations. Her achievements as a musician have gathered to her a flurry of prominent band members including Bootsy Collins, Bruce Springsteen’s sideman Tommy Sims, as well as Mariah Carey’s associate James “Big Jim” Wright. 
   
Mullen’s influences, felt through her album “Everyday People,” include pop-rock guitar riffs, tribal music styles and not to mention disco, hillbilly banjo and soul.
   
She is active with the International Needs Network Ghana, helping free Trokosi slaves and created an informal mentoring program called the Baby Girls Club, where she opens her home, heart and closets to girls from her area.
   
Her personal philosophy is a levelheaded approach to life.  She considers herself an ordinary kind of person and from that she opens up her heart to sing.     
   
"I am everyday people when it comes down to it," she said. "We all get to do different things, but when we take everything else off-we take the titles off, we take the job descriptions off, we take the salaries away-we're all everyday people that hurt, that bleed, that cry, regardless of the skin color, regardless of the title of our job."
   
Mullen is touring with New Orleans native George Huff, fifth-place finalist on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series “American Idol.” He was contest judge Simon Cowell’s pick in the wildcard round. 
   
He has released a Christmas CD titled “My Christmas EP” with tracks such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Silent Night.” 
   
Huff is preparing for the spring release of his full-length CD. “It's going to knock your socks off. Tell the people to get ready, because the best is yet to come."
   
The concert kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Whitfield Hall in Rent Auditoriums. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Students with a MUW identification card may enter for $5. Tickets are $10 at the door and $7 in advance. For group rates, contact the Office of Student Life at (662) 241-6974.  Tickets also are available from TicketWeb.com.
   
For more information, contact Molly Cuicchi, assistant director of student involvement, by email at mcuicchi@muw.edu or by phone at (662) 329-7416.