New York, December 4, 2007 - Celebrities came out to show their support at "LIVE BEATS, A Night of Musical Mayhem and Tonal Terror Fashioned by Fun(k),” LIFEbeat's fundraising event honoring Stephen Hill, EVP of Music and Entertainment Programming at BET.  Stars like Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Diddy, Fat Joe, Missy Elliott, Birdman, and Grandmaster Flash were among those in attendance at the packed Highline Ballroom.

A self-professed "Unabashed Music Fanatic", Stephen treated the intimate crowd to a musical tour-de-force, backed by his 10-piece band "Complete Embarismint" led by musical director Mark Batson.  Stephen got the rare chance to show off some fierce moves with the help of star choreographer Laurieann Gibson.  The evening was full of surprises, including special guest sets by songwriter Denise Rich and by Kathy Sledge, of Sister Sledge fame, who was joined by upcoming vocal group Epiphany.

All eyes were on the performances, but the message was front and center.  AIDS activist Maria Davis inspired the house with an impassioned plea to the music industry to keep the fight against HIV/AIDS alive.  Stephen and Mary J ended the evening with an emotional duet performance of "One".

Hill, a LIFEbeat board member for 10 years, was honored for his long commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS through his work with LIFEbeat and through BET's Rap-It-Up AIDS awareness campaign.

"I am thrilled to be honored by LIFEbeat," said Stephen. "My connection to this organization is strong and personal having lost my best friend to AIDS almost 20 years ago.  We’re raising funds and supporting LIFEbeat so that one day no one else will lose their best friend to AIDS."

The event capped an an exciting year for LIFEbeat, which celebrated its fifteenth year fighting HIV/AIDS and reaching America’s youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention through music.