Rap artist Nelly to play Little 500

Union Board said Monday that rap artist Nelly, who made a name for himself with "Country Grammar," will headline Union Board's annual Little 500 concert April 18 at the IU Auditorium. \nProminent jazz musician Wynton Marsalis will also perform April 26 at the Auditorium.\nNelly, a rapper from St. Louis, recently won the 2001 Soul Train Award for "Best New Rap Artsit." His album Country Grammar has spent 35 weeks on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.\nUnion Board concert director Andy Proctor, a senior, said the show has been in the works for several weeks and has come together smoothly.\n"We had an opening that happened to coincide with Nelly's tour," he said.\nFreshman Adam Blake, assistant director of concerts, said although the process to bring Nelly to IU seemed natural, he had additional reasons for booking the act.\n"I'm from St. Louis," Blake said. "Personally, I'm a big fan and wanted to see that show happen. But I also know that being a freshman and going to parties in dorms or off-campus, that you hear Nelly, so I thought it would be a show the whole student body would have a good time going to."\nProcter said Nelly will appear with a special guest, although no one is confirmed as of yet. Tickets will be $24 for students and $29 for adults and will go on sale after spring break.\n"We're definitely in the midst of a hip hop genre, and it's important to meet that demand from the campus community," Proctor said.\nBlake said after the numerous jam bands who have performed at the Auditorium, Union Board wanted someone different. To further diversify Bloomington's concert events, prominent jazz musician Wynton Marsalis will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 26 at the Auditorium, co-sponsored by Union Board and SFX Entertainment.\nMarsalis will perform with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The musician, who Proctor said is the biggest name is jazz music today, became the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize in music, in 1997.\n"We wanted to bring a whole different flavor to the live music scene that we bring to Bloomington," Blake said.\nDoug Booher, facility and events manager of the Auditorium, said that although Union Board has total control over the selection of the shows they bring to campus, the Auditorium is in support of the efforts to add variety to IU's concert schedule.\n"I think it's a great choice, both appealing to students, the University faculty and the Bloomington community," Booher said. "Wynton has long been known as one of the young, upcoming jazz musicians and it'll be great to have him come to our campus."\nTicket prices for the general public will be $50, $35 and $22. IU Bloomington students with current, valid, student ID cards can receive a $2 discount. All tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday. Tickets will be available at the IU Auditorium Box Office and through TicketMaster.