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Groups to perform at Farmers Classic

July 10, 2012

LOS ANGELES — Mixing Los Angeles’ classiest tennis with celebrated tunes, accomplished musical acts “The Spinners” and “Sax and the City” will perform during early-round Super Sessions on July 23 and July 25, respectively, at the 86th-annual Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, at the Los Angeles Tennis Center-UCLA.

Rhythm & Blues group “The Spinners,” presented by KRTH (K-EARTH) 101.FM, will play on July 23. “Sax and the City,” presented by KTWV (The WAVE) 94.7 FM, will play silky smooth jazz on July 25. Each group will take to the Straus Stadium court between the two featured evening matches on both competition days. Evening play is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on both nights.

Daily tickets for the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz — the longest-running annual pro sporting event in Los Angeles which plays this year from July 23-29 — are available at FarmersClassic.com, Ticketmaster, or by calling (310) 825-2101.

“We are delighted to have such heralded musical entertainment as ‘The Spinners’ and ‘Sax and the City’ perform for our fans,” Farmers Classic Tournament Director Bob Kramer said. “Both bands tremendously enhance the fan experience during our Super Sessions, when one ticket provides entry for the afternoon and evening matches, as well as the concert.”

Added Patty Pastor, Director of Marketing for 94.7 The WAVE and K-EARTH 101: “K-EARTH 101 and 94.7 The WAVE are thrilled to once again renew our partnership with the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes Benz, one of the most dynamic and exciting tennis tournaments in the United States. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy this amazing event, now in its 86th year, than the beautiful setting of the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA.”

“The Spinners,” signed by Atlantic Records in 1972, boast six GRAMMY Award nominations, two performances during the GRAMMY Awards, 12 gold records, with hits on top of both Pop and R&B charts, and a star on the Hollywood “Walk of Fame.” The band received a Black Gold Award from the late Dick Clark for their achievements in the recording industry and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Award for their contribution to R&B. The group tours internationally and features lead singers Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson, Charlton Washington and high tenor Harold “Spike” Bonhart, along with a soul-infused, five-piece band.

“Sax and the City” is a Jazz collaboration of saxophonists Jessy J, Marion Meadows and Paul Taylor, who are touring nationally. Jessy J, who graduated from USC with a degree in jazz studies and has performed on American Idol and The Voice, released her debut album, “Tequila Moon,” with Peak Records in March 2008. The album earned her such accolades as Radio & Records’ Debut Artist of the Year, and the title track won her Contemporary Jazz Song of the Year by R&R and Billboard while spending eight weeks at No. 1. Having played the sax since age 15, Meadows’ first album, “For Lover’s Only,” was recorded for RCA records in 1990. Taylor scored his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart with Ladies’ Choice (2007). Taylor and Meadows have also played together in recent years under the “Gentlemen of the Night” tour.

The Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles competition. Los Angeles County’s only top-tier pro tennis event, and an ATP World Tour stop on the Emirates Airline US Open Series, awards total prize money of $700,000.

Proceeds from the Farmers Classic, held in conjunction with UCLA, benefit the grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) and UCLA. In 2011, the tournament and associated special events raised more than $200,000 for the SCTA, the Grammy Foundation and other charities.

Two-time Farmers Classic champion and Southern California native Sam Querrey, fellow American James Blake, France’s Nicolas Mahut and Belgium’s Xavier Malisse, the tournament’s reigning doubles champion, are among the highlighted players entered in this month’s draw.

Farmers Classic season tickets, mini-plans, group tickets and VIP experiences are also available at FarmersClassic.com or by calling (310) 824-1010, ext. 251. The Farmers Classic’s group entertainment program includes ticket discounts for groups of 10 or more, fundraising opportunities for organizations and reserved loge seating for select sessions in the intimate LA Tennis Center. Groups of 40 are eligible to participate in VIP experiences, which include the pre-match coin toss, High Five Kids Tunnel and Penn VIP On-Court Experience.

In addition to visiting the tournament’s official website, FarmersClassic.com, fans can tap into social media channels to stay updated with the latest news and information surrounding the Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, by becoming a fan on Facebook (facebook.com/FarmersClassic), a follower on Twitter (@FarmersClassic), and in joining the LA Text Club by texting “LA” to 25973 (message and data rates may apply).

ABOUT THE FARMERS CLASSIC PRESENTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ

The Farmers Classic, presented by Mercedes-Benz, has been played every year since 1927, making it the longest-running annual professional sporting event in Los Angeles. Played since 1984 at the LA Tennis Center on the campus of UCLA, the tournament is part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series, the six-week summer tennis season linking 10 ATP World Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour events to the US Open, culminating each week with back-to-back men’s and women’s finals every Sunday afternoon. Players battle for $40 million, including a chance for bonus prize money at the US Open. Proceeds from the Farmers Classic Presented by Mercedes-Benz benefit the grassroots programs of the non-profit Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) and UCLA. The SCTA offers programs, leagues, and tournaments involving 300,000 juniors and 50,000 adults and seniors. Information on tickets and the tournament can be found at farmersclassic.com or by calling 310-824-1010.

ABOUT FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP OF COMPANIES

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is a leading U.S. insurer of automobiles, homes and small businesses and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc. or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit its Web site at farmers.com or at Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

ABOUT CBS CORPORATION

CBS Corporation is a mass media company that creates and distributes industry-leading content across a variety of platforms to audiences around the world. The Company has businesses with origins that date back to the dawn of the broadcasting age as well as new ventures that operate on the leading edge of media. CBS owns the most-watched television network in the U.S. and one of the world’s largest libraries of entertainment content, making its brand — “the Eye” — one of the most recognized in business. The Company’s operations span virtually every field of media and entertainment, including cable, publishing, radio, local TV, film, outdoor advertising, and interactive and socially responsible media. CBS’s businesses include CBS Television Network, The CW (a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian Networks, Simon & Schuster, CBS Television Stations, CBS Radio, CBS Outdoor, CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International, CBS Television Distribution, CBS Interactive, CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment, CBS Films and CBS EcoMedia.