Holliday's noon concert launches the ten-concert series that takes place Thursdays on the MetroTech commons in downtown Brooklyn through Aug. 5. Danny Kapilian produces. The Uptown Horns will back Holliday during her concert.

Holliday made her debut in the Broadway revival of Your Arms Too Short to Box With God. She earned a Tony Award for originating the role of Effie White in the Motown musical Dreamgirls and received a Grammy Award for her performance of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Her stage appearances also include Grease! and Chicago.

Also on the Rhythm & Blues Festival bill: Bernie Worrell's SociaLybrium (June 10); Tony Allen (June 17); Victor Wooten (June 24); Tabou Combo (July 1); Mighty Sparrow (July 8); Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens (July 15); Bilal (July 22); Vieux Farka Toure (July 29); and Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru (Aug. 5).

MetroTech Center is located in the Civic Center/Borough Hall area of downtown Brooklyn. For further information visit BAM.