Washington, D.C.'s Own Alexis "Carleita" Harris Crowned as TGI Fridays(SM) Red Hot Summer of Music Finalist

CARROLLTON, Texas, Aug. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than two months of tough competition and over 10,000 online votes by fans for their favorite rising musical stars, TGI Fridays Red Hot Summer of Music has narrowed the field to the three brightest shining stars. Based on fan voting, one of the top three contestants competing for a recording session coached by NE-YO and a $1,000 Fridays^SM gift card is Alexis Harris, aka Carleita, of Washington, D.C. who YouTubed her rendition of "I Want You Back" to claim some of the most votes. The two other finalists in hot pursuit of the title are Om Amaratana of Arlington, Texas and Felicia Millikan of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Creative Director for Malibu® Red, NE-YO, and his team of YouTube apprentices, artists who became famous through YouTube, will personally choose the contest's grand-prize winner. The announcement will be made at the Fridays Red Hot Summer of Music Finale event at Studio 450 in New York City on August 28. Chiddy Bang and YouTube sensation Jake Coco will be performing at the event.

Music has long been part of the Fridays experience as it's the perfect backdrop to a great time out with food, fun and friends. Fridays kicked off its Red Hot Summer of Music campaign on June 6^th as an opportunity to leverage music in a way that showcases emerging talent and promotes fun and excitement for guests all summer long. In addition to the YouTube video portion of the contest, Fridays provided plenty of chances for non-artists to get involved with the contest. Throughout the summer, Fridays guests could enter for a chance to win prizes, including free Fridays food and music downloads, and one lucky grand prize winner won a trip to the TGI Fridays Red Hot Summer of Music Finale event to meet NE-YO, and a trip to Malibu, Calif.

And, while enjoying the music and summer events at Fridays, the best bartenders in the business have been serving up new, hand-crafted cocktails made with Malibu® Red, a vibrant fusion of Caribbean Rum, Silver Tequila and coconut liqueur. Leveraging its 48-year heritage of beverage innovation and drink quality, Fridays has shaken up the classics this summer with two cocktails featuring Malibu® Red: the new Coconut Colada Rita, which is a coconut twist on a classic margarita, and the Tropical Margarita, which is a fruity infused remix of the favorite summer cocktail.

For more information about Fridays and the Red Hot Summer of Music, as well as to view the finalists' videos, visit www.RedHotSummerOfMusic.com.

About TGI Fridays 
TGI Fridays restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Fridays guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes®, rewards loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, TGI Fridays differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. TGI Fridays, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the "Greatest TGI Fridays Bartender in the World." TGI Fridays believes in the importance of acting responsibly, and as a result its Responsible Business Program is focused on positively impacting the economic and environmental well-being of the communities and neighborhoods in which it operates. For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

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SOURCE TGI Fridays