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Grace Kelly to Perform at the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Induction Celebration

Furniture World News Desk on 8/12/2019


Saxophonist, singer and songwriter Grace Kelly will entertain guests at the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation’s Fuel the Future Induction Celebration on October 20 during the High Point Market. Featured in the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production The Right Note, Kelly performs with the heart and passion of an old soul yet with the genre-bending zest and energy of her generation.

“Vanity Fair described Grace Kelly as a millennial shaking up the jazz world,” says David Gebhart, president of the Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors. “Grace wrote her first song at seven years old, recorded her first CD at 12, orchestrated and performed an original composition with the Boston Pops Orchestra at 14, and performed at President Obama’s inauguration at 16.  She has performed in over 800 concerts in more than 30 countries at such notable venues as the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. We are fortunate to have her join us at the Induction Celebration.”

Kelly is rewriting the rules of the performance experience with such projects as GO TiME: Brooklyn, which brought a fully live, choreographed show to an in-person audience at a recording studio in New York, as well as to thousands more globally over a Facebook Live broadcast. Her PopUp video series, which features her playing soulful sax solos live in unexpected locations via Facebook, Instagram and her YouTube channel, draws millions of views.

A multiple award winner as a performer and as a composer, Kelly was the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize winner (country genre) and placed second in the 2017 International Songwriting Competition (adult contemporary category). Other awards include Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll 2016 Rising Star – Alto Saxophone, and Boston Music Awards 2016 Jazz Artist of the Year, among many others. She has performed and/or recorded with Questlove, Lin Manuel Miranda, Esperanza Spalding, Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Martin Short, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone, Huey Lewis and Gloria Estefan, to name a few.

Kelly will perform at the Induction Celebration when four industry leaders are inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. Joining the current 116 members of the Hall of Fame are Jake Jabs, president and CEO of American Furniture Warehouse; Clement “Clem” M. Lange, co-founder and chairman of Best Chairs, Inc./Best Home Furnishings; Paul Maitland-Smith, founder of Maitland-Smith Ltd. and Theodore Alexander; and Jim McIngvale, founder and owner of Gallery Furniture. “Miracle on the Hudson” Captain Sully Sullenberger will be the keynote speaker, and TV personalities Bobby Berk and Kelli Ellis will serve as hosts.

The Hall of Fame is supported by sponsors of the 2019 Induction Celebration:

  • Presenting Sponsor:  Markor International Furniture Co., Ltd.
  • Speaker Sponsor:  Surya
  • Dinner Table Sponsor:  Nourison Industries
  • Inductee Video Sponsor: Surya
  • Cocktail Sponsor:  International Market Centers
  • Future Leaders Executive Development Sponsor:  Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
  • Celebration Sponsors:  AICO/Amini Innovation Corp. and Glen Raven/Sunbrella
  • Leadership Video Sponsor:  Dufresne Spencer Group
  • Platinum Sponsors: American Furniture Warehouse; Art Van Furniture; Bellini Modern Living; Berkshire Hathaway Furniture Companies; Coaster Fine Furniture; Furniture Marketing Group; Furniture of America; Global Views; Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.; Hooker Furniture; Kane’s Furniture; Kathy Ireland Worldwide; Klaussner Home Furnishings; La-Z-Boy Incorporated; Leggett & Platt, Inc.; Lifestyle; Loloi Rugs; Man Wah Holdings; Prestige Arts & Art Trends; Samson Holding Ltd.; and Wayfair
  • Gold Sponsors: City of Hope, Phillips Collection; Raymour & Flanigan Furniture; Restonic; Sauder Woodworking Co.; Serta Simmons; and Twin Star Home
  • Silver Sponsors: Flexsteel Industries, Inc.;  FurnitureDealer.net; Hickory Furniture Mart; Lexington Home Brands; and W. S. Badcock Corporation

To become a Foundation member, to purchase Induction Celebration tickets or to become a sponsor, visit www.fuelthefuture2019.com.



About The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation: The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., is an industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the U.S. home furnishings industry, and to inspire a new class of innovation and leadership. Membership includes eligibility to nominate candidates for consideration by the Selection Committee, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, 92 percent of all funds support our history and leadership programming. The organization currently is based in High Point, North Carolina, at 202 Neal Place, Suite 101, and can be reached at 336.882.5900.  Watch for ongoing developments and details about the grand opening of a new permanent home, which is targeted for October 2020.