R& B sensation Jon B is back and he’s using his resurgence to help send some deserving African American students to college.  In an exclusive launch deal with Rushmoredrive.com, the multi-platinum crooner will deliver his brand new album “Helpeless Romantic” to the masses via a multi-platform marketing alliance/sponsorship that includes CD inserts, live event-sponsorship and an exclusive listening party on Rushmoredrive.com. Jon B will perform live on Oct. 27, 2008 at the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Dinner held at the Sheraton New York Metropolitan Ballroom, the night before his highly anticipated album release. Rushmoredrive.com is the first urban search engine and a division created by media mogul Barry Diller's IAC. 

“Joining with Rushmoredrive.com is a win/win situation and it makes perfect sense. I’m a musical visionary. They are a multi-media visionary; together we are going to simultaneously promote their new search engine and my new album.  I am extremely excited about this venture,” says Jon B.  According to Max Gousse, President of Jon B’s label Arsenal Records, the album listening party will be featured in a special section of the site called the “R Listening Lounge. The "R Listening Lounge" is a tremendous tool developed to expose select albums to Rushmore Drive's audience.  There is no doubt that this pre-release promotion will result in incremental album sales for artists and more specifically Jon B's “Helpless Romantic,” says Gousse.

"Providing an online platform for consumers to discover new urban releases like “Helpless Romantic” is the number one goal of RushmoreDrive.com's R Listening Lounge. We are very excited about Jon B and Arsenal Records partnering with us enabling Jon B to be the first featured artist in the R Listening Lounge. I truly believe that together we will deliver a great experience for Jon B fans while also introducing him to a whole new audience,” Kevin McFall, Vice President Product & Content.

It’s been four long years since his last album and Jon B has plenty to sing about.  The first single “Ooh So Sexy,” featuring Hip-Hopster Paul Wall has received rave reviews. “This event gives me the opportunity to spend time making good music for some of the most selfless individuals in the nation while helping tomorrow’s leaders achieve their dreams of obtaining a college education,” says Mr. Bring Back the Slow Jams.  “That’s what life is about---giving back.  If I can use my talents to help others then I’ve done my job as an artist and a human being,” adds Jon B.

Proceeds from Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Dinner will benefit the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).   Each year, the dinner celebrates the achievements of the country’s foremost visionaries, activists and organizations who have taken it upon themselves to use their status to make a positive impact on the lives of the next generation of leaders.  Two thousand people are expected to attend with as many as 100 Fortune 500 CEO's. The official Jon B listening party is now in session here: www.rushmoredrive.com/jonb

About RushmoreDrive.com
RushmoreDrive.com is a first-of-its-kind search engine for the Black community, employing a patent-pending technology that enables the search engine to blend mainstream general search results with highly-relevant Black search results. The search engine is complemented by a unique job search and networking feature as well as a news section that presents several points of view on current events coming from mainstream and Black media sources and outlets. Discover more here at RushmoreDrive.com.