Attendees of the 2009 Regions 500 Festival Snakepit Ball, presented by Cindy and Paul Skjodt, will be dancing and swaying to the music of legendary funk band The Ohio Players.  The Ohio Players have won numerous gold and platinum awards throughout their 40 year history.  The dynamic group will entertain guests at the May 23 gala, the eve of the 2009 Indianapolis 500.

Taking place in the Indiana Roof Ballroom, the Snakepit Ball has become a race-eve tradition.  Known as the place to see the stars, the black-tie party includes red carpet arrivals by celebrities in town for race weekend and special VIP guests. Dinner and dancing will round out the celebration.

Formed in Ohio in 1959 as the Ohio Untouchables, The Ohio Players combine the genres of funk, rock, jazz and soul to create a sound that is best described as “street funk”- a music that would pave the way for the success of rap and hip-hop. The Ohio Players continue to mesmerize fans, performing pop/funk classics including “Fire,” “Love Rollercoaster,” “Heaven Must Be Like This,” “I Want To Be Free,” “Sweet Sticky Thing,” “O-H-I-O,” “Honey” and “Jive Turkey.”

The popularity of The Ohio Players spans across all races, ages and economic backgrounds, which enables the group to perform its infectious ‘70s funk music in a diverse array of settings.  In 1999, the city of Dayton inducted the group into its Walk of Fame.  

The Snakepit Ball will begin at 6 p.m. with celebrity and guest arrivals; followed by dinner at 7 p.m. WISH-TV will televise live from the event’s red carpet arrivals.