No Blurred Lines as Robin Thicke Wins Approval

Robin Thicke to Headline Cathedral City International Balloon Festival

CATHEDRAL CITY— Robin Thicke has won the approval of the City Council, albeit not unanimously, to headline the 11th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival

The City Council in a special meeting Monday voted 3-1 to approve a contract that paves the way for Thicke to be the headliner with a Friday night concert. Council members Mark Carnevale, Ernesto Gutierrez and Rita Lamb voted yes, Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Gregory Voted no. Mayor Nancy Ross was absent.

Gregory peppered Ryan Hunt, communications and events manager, with questions, all of which Hunt answered. Gregory even told him he’d done a good job with negotiating the contract. In the end, it was not enough for Gregory who questioned the potentiala success of a Friday night concert instead of a Saturday night as originally planned. Turns out Thicke will be filming the Masked Singer on Saturday but was free Friday. Gregory said he was also concerned about ticket sales and whether the city could recoup its cost.

“I really have concerns about whether this is the best use of taxpayer dollars,” Gregory siad.

“This is a big act,” Hunt said. “I think we’ve elevated the Balloon Festival.”

Last year, LeAnn Rimes was the headliner. Before that, there was no one.

Ticket prices are expected to be $30 to $100.

Robin Charles Thicke is an American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor.

His albums, which he previously released under the name Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Thicke has written hits for popular artists such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Mary J. Blige. Thicke has also been acknowledged for his work in popular albums such as Confessions and Tha Carter III. Thicke has had three songs hit the top 40, with one #1, “Blurred Lines.” He has also had three singles hit number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “Lost Without U,” “ “Sex Therapy,” and, of course, “Blurred Lines.” His resumé also includes four #1s on the Adult R&B chart with a total of nine top tens.

He is an actor and composer, known for The Rules of Attraction (2002), Agent Cody Banks (2003) and Fighting (2009).

In January 2019, Thicke began appearing as a panelist on the reality competition series The Masked Singer.