Grammy winner Albertina Walker, the “Queen of Gospel”, will headline a gospel and musical Inaugu ral brunch called “Route 44 to The White House”, Sunday January 18 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. To be held in the hotel’s Corcoran Ballroom, th e eve nt will benefit the DC-based CB&JT Family Foundation which provides youth mentoring and senior assistance programs for underserved families. Serving as mistress of ceremonies will be the award-honored veteran DC broadcaster Jacquie Gales Webb host of WHUR-FM’s gospel music program.
 
According to event co-chair Judith A. Thomas, “Route 44 to The White House” will feature jazz, gospel and international performances from Africa. Individual ticket prices have been set at $250 and may be obtained at www.44PresidentInaugural.com
 
Albertina Walker, known as the “Queen of Gospel”, is a GRAMMY winning artist who hails from Chicago. Recipient of dozens of music honors the Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee has20performed throughout the world on television and on stage. She started singing at age four with20the Children’s Choir of Chicago’s West Point Baptist Church. By the time she reached her teens she was touring20the co untry with the Williams singers and with the Willie Webb and Robert Anderson Singers. She began her rise to national and international fame as part of the world famous “Caravans” renowned for their hits “Sweeping Through The City”, “Mary Don’t You Weep” and “Walk Around Heaven”.
 
A Chicago native, Thomas is currently president and CEO of Global Management Consultants, Inc., a full service special event and client services firm. She was, for many years, the executive director of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides funding for individuals who are in need of heart surgery and cannot afford it due to financial needs or lack of insurance. An award winning radio and television producer Thomas also served as vice presiden t and assistant for Larry King Enterprises and she was also the associate producer of CNN’s Larry King Live and Mutual Broadcasting System’s Larry King Radio Show.
 
Event co-chair is Emmanuel Bobga Ayaba, owner of downtown Silver Spring’s Roger Miller restaurant. This notable restaurant offers African fare with a specialty in recipes from Cameroon and it has become a pillar in the DC-area community of people of Cameroonian decent