The Apple co-founder to face off professional singers and athletes

Feb 9, 2009 09:13 GMT  ·  By
Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and longtime friend of Steve Jobs (Apple CEO)
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   Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and longtime friend of Steve Jobs (Apple CEO)

ABC has announced that Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak is going to face off against 12 contestants (singers, actors and athletes) in one of America's most popular shows, “Dancing with the Stars.” The show is at its eighth season, which kicks off next month.

As ABC describes him, “a Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak, a.k.a. 'The Woz', helped shape the computer industry with his design of Apple's first line of products, the Apple I and II, and influenced the popular Macintosh. After leaving Apple Computer Inc. in 1985, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment. Wozniak is also a published author with the release of his New York Times Best Selling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon, in September 2006.”

One of Steve's fellow contestants is none other than Lil' Kim, a Grammy Award winning multi-platinum rapper, singer, actress, and fashion icon. According to ABC, “she is one of three female rappers to have a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with 2001's Lady Marmalade, featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink, & Mýa.”

So, we've got a guy who can totally make some computers going head to head with a chick that can seriously rap, on a show called “Dancing with the Stars.” This is one for the books...!

The rest of Steve's competition includes Jewel (singer-songwriter), Belinda Carlisle (singer) and Chuck Wicks (Country singer), actors Denise Richards, David Alan Grier and Gilles Marini, Steve-O from "Jackass," "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, rodeo star Ty Murray, former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor, and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson.

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Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and longtime friend of Steve Jobs (Apple CEO)
Lil' Kim - a rapper, singer and actress whose real name is Kimberly Denise Jones
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