(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Countless organizations are pitching in following the devastation left in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and asking for contributions. Wendy Oxenhorn, executive director at the Jazz Foundation of America, makes note of two organizations specifically helping the musicians in New Orelans.
"We are directing folks to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC) which has the names and addresses of so many musicians in New Orleans, and are working now to find them and find temporary housing for them in schools etc.," she says.
"But let us remember… it will be the Jazz Foundation who will be called upon to provide money to the musicians for first month rents and security deposits on new apartments and relocations. As well, we're going to try to get instruments replaced.
Two great organizations she mentions to donate to are: New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC) and the Jazz Foundation of America.
"NOMC is a fantastic hands on organization who has the names and addresses of so many great musicians because they have them all coming to their free health clinic all these years and now, they are the ones who are tracking down the local musicians and finding them shelter. They can be contacted at musiciank@swlahec.com. Contact: Kathy Richard directly at 337 989-0001. Send donations to: NOMC Emergency Fund. Funds will be distributed by:
SW LA Area Health Education Center Foundation, Inc.
103 Independence Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
desk: 337-989-0001
fax: 337-989-1401
email: finance@swlahec.com
www.swlahec.com
"The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is determined to keep Louisiana Music Alive!" says Oxenhorn. "We want to relocate our New Orleans musicians into the Lafayette/ Acadiana community where they can remain a life force! But most of them have lost everything… we must help them rebuild their lives."
The Jazz Foundation of America will be addressing the longer term needs of these jazz and blues artists who will have just lost everything, Oxenhorn stresses. "We will be raising funds and distributing money for the musicians to get a new apartment or room for rent: by giving a first month's rent, possibly more, for them to start over, a place to live. (This is what we normally do on a daily basis for musicians across the country who become sick and can't pay their rent, we also keep food on the table and get employment to hundreds of elderly musicians through our Jazz in the Schools program. Our operations normally assist 35 musicians a week.)
"As well, we will be attempting to help New Orleans musicians by replacing the thing that matters most and the only way they can ever work again: their instruments.
To those who lost their instruments, like drummers and bassists who could not carry their heavy equipment, and guitarist with their amps, we will be making an effort to work with manufacturers and music stores to replace those instruments for as many as we possibly can.
"Remember, New Orleans was only "New Orleans" because of the musicians," Oxenhorn emphasizes. Send donations to:
Jazz Foundation of America
322 West 48th St., 6th floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-245-3999, Ext. 21
email: Joyce@jazzfoundation.org
www.jazzfoundation.org
Credit card donations and pledges can be made online at: www.jazzfoundation.org/index2.html; click bottom right corner of page where it says "instant pledge." –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
Dave Matthews Band Raises $1.5 Million For Hurricane Relief
(CelebrittyAccess MediaWire) — In an unprecedented show of unity and support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,
nearly every single dollar raised at the Sept.12 Dave Matthews Band benefit concert at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre will go to aid those affected by the hurricane.
“We are thrilled to announce that over $1.5 million dollars will be donated to the Bama Works Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund,” said Chuck Morris, president of Chuck Morris Presents. “The fund will be used to provide short term disaster relief to the affected Gulf Coast population, and long term assistance for rebuilding of communities.”
“We are deeply grateful to The Neville Brothers, John Butler Trio and to everyone who supported this effort,” said Dave Matthews Band. “We want to especially thank our fans for responding so generously to assist those affected by the hurricane.”
Everyone involved in the concert including the band and their crew, the promoter, the City and County of Denver, all of the vendors, truck drivers, stage hands, security personnel, ushers, parking attendants, maintenance services, local police and fire, and many others donated their time to Monday night’s concert, cutting the overall expenses of the show to a bare minimum. As a result, the benefit raised over $1.5 million dollars for hurricane relief.
“It was a challenge to pull this together in a week, but Coloradans are the greatest and most generous people in the world,” said Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This was a truly unbelievable concert highlighting the power of music to bring people together to help others. We are especially grateful to Dave Matthews Band and the Neville Brothers for helping Denver contribute to the hurricane relief efforts in such a meaningful way.”
In addition to personnel working at the concert, local businesses turned out in full force in support of the event, purchasing all of the $500 and $1,000 level tickets. Some of those organizations include First Data, Gates Corporation, Kroenke Sports Enterpirses, Newmont Corporation and
Vail Resorts. Aspen Ski Company donated $125,000 worth of lift tickets as an added value to the Premium tickets. EA Sports also donated to the cause.
Conscious Alliance collected 30,000 pounds of food over the four day event.
Contributors included
Dave Matthews Band,
Red Light Management,
DMB crew,
Ultra Sound,
TMS – lighting,
Upstagin,
Four Seasons Ibusses)
Dega Catering,
Musictoday,
Ticketmaster,
Chuck Morris,
Chuck Morris Presents staff,
Mayor Hickenlooper,
mayor’s staff,
Jack Finlaw, Director of Theatres and Arenas, City and County of Denver,
John Huggins, Director of Economic Development, City and County of Denver,
City and County of Denver,
Aramark Corporation,
Aramark Housekeeping Services,
Contemporary Services Corporation,
Denver Police Department,
West Metro Fire Rescue (paramedic services),
Denver Fire Prevention Bureau,
Mobile Access,
Hotel Monaco,
Warwick Hotel,
Multimedia Audio Visual,
Conscious Alliance, Aspen Ski Company, EA Sports, First Data, Kroenke Sports Enterprises, Newmont Corporation and Vail Resorts. –Bob Grosweiner and Jane Cohen
Katrina Telethon Reaches Viewers In 100 Countries
NEW YORK (AP) — With the waters of Hurricane Katrina yet to recede, Randy Newman sang about a long-ago flood in "Louisiana 1927" to open a benefit program spread across dozens of television networks Friday.
Dr. John ended a show suffused with the spirit of a musical city singing a song that's only a wish now: "Walkin' to New Orleans."
The hour-long appeal was an echo of a somber event held four years ago to benefit victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, with the same producer. This time, the telethon had more determination than shock and featured native jazz, gospel and swamp-rock sounds.
"Tonight let's show people on the Gulf Coast that they have friends all over the world, friends who care, who understand and are there to give them shelter from the storm," said comic Ellen DeGeneres, who was raised in New Orleans.
ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN and the WB — the six biggest broadcast networks — aired it along with several cable networks. Viewers in nearly 100 countries were able to tune in.
Contributions were being solicited for the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
It's the most high-profile of several such televised benefits. BET was also appealing for help Friday for victims of a tragedy that struck the black community hard, and MTV planned its own concert for Saturday.
Former President Bill Clinton called in to the BET telethon to express support and was asked by co-host Steve Harvey what his administration would have done differently if it were in power during the hurricane. Clinton refrained from criticizing Bush, but talked about the importance he placed on the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"We always thought faster was better than slower," Clinton said.
NBC stations televised an appeal last week, marked by rapper Kanye West's off-script comment that "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
The performers largely stuck to scripts Friday, including West, who sang "Jesus Walks" with a gospel choir. West's microphone wasn't working during the first few lines of his song, though, in what appeared to be a technical glitch.
Only an impish Chris Rock couldn't resist scaring producers, looking into the camera and saying, "George Bush hates midgets."
"We've all heard the question," Rock said. "Why didn't these people just leave when they had the chance? But now we realize that not everybody can just jump into their SUVs and drive to a nice hotel. These people depend on public transportation and these people can't afford a nice hotel, because some of them work there. Now it's your chance to help them."
Rock singer John Fogerty, who sang passionately about the Mississippi delta a generation ago, wasn't there but his music was: the Foo Fighters sang "Born on the Bayou" and Garth Brooks did "Who'll Stop the Rain."
Paul Simon, who was in Louisiana to help relief efforts this week, sang "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" with an extended coda from a jazz band.
Mariah Carey and Neil Young were also backed by gospel singers and Alicia Keys was joined by several gospel stars. U2 needed only one powerful voice, singer Mary J. Blige's, to enliven the rock band's anthem "One."
The BET benefit was hipper and more heart-breaking. It interspersed musical performances with film clips of Gulf Coast residents asking for help to locate missing relatives and friends.
Keys sang her hit "If I Ain't Got You," and Patti LaBelle sang the Pretenders song "I'll Stand By You."
It was also a little looser: Harvey introduced rappers Jay-Z and Diddy, only to be told they hadn't arrived yet. Fifteen minutes later they did and made it worthwhile, presenting a $1 million check to the Red Cross from the New York hip-hop community.
"There's been a lot of telethons," Diddy said, "but this is our telethon. These are our people."
Canceled In Biloxi, Meat Loaf Adds Savannah Benefit Concert
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — With his scheduled Biloxi, MS, stop on Sept. 16 canceled after Hurricane Katrina demolished the Beau Rivage Casino, Meat Loaf has altered his tour plans to schedule a special concert at the Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, GA for the following evening, Sept. 17, to benefit victims of the disaster. All proceeds from the Hurricane Relief benefit concert will go to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund targeting those hardest hit by Katrina with a special emphasis on the Biloxi area.
"Like everyone else, I was horrified by the devastation caused by Katrina," said Loaf. "With Biloxi on my tour schedule, the situation hit close to home. I just wanted to step up and do my share to provide help for victims of this natural disaster."
All tickets will be general admission, are priced at $25
Many other Savannah area businesses have already jumped on board to support the effort. Yellow Freight Lines will provide a truck and trailer to transport items requested by the Red Cross and brought by concertgoers for the hurricane relief efforts. DaimlerChrysler is also planning to announce a major donation at the concert. Supplies will immediately be brought from the Speedway to directly aid the relief effort in Biloxi. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
MSG, RCMH Stage Simultaneous Hurricane Benefit Concerts
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Coinciding with the All-Star concert being held at Madison Square
Garden on September 20, Radio City Music Hall will also host its own
"From The Big Apple to the Big Easy," New York City's Concert for the Gulf
Coast. This is the first time that the two legendary
venues have joined together to hold simultaneous benefit concerts.
Appearing on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall will be Dave Matthews, Tom Waits, Trey Anastasio,
John Mayer Trio, Joss Stone, The Meters, Galactic with the Wild Magnolia
Mardi Gras Indians, and Ray Lamontagne. Additional artists will be announced.
Madison Square Garden has added Elvis Costello,
Diana Kral, Simon & Garfunkel, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Dave Bartholomew,
Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins and Troy "Tromboneshorty" Andrews to Bette Midler, Elton John,
Jimmy Buffett, John Fogerty, Lenny Kravitz, Ry Cooder, Steve Nicks, Fats
Domino,
the Neville Brothers, Buckwheat Zydeco, the Meters, Allen Toussaint, the
Dirty Dozen Brass Band and The Rebirth Brass Band. Rod Stewart can no longer
participate due to injury.
Madison Square Garden is underwriting all costs related to "From The Big
Apple to the Big Easy" New York City's Concert for the Gulf Coast at both
Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden and has pledged an
additional $1 million dollar donation to begin the event's fundraising
efforts. 100% of all the event's proceeds will go directly to organizations
involved in the region's relief and rebuilding efforts, including the Bush
Clinton Katrina Fund; Habitat for Humanity; MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund
and the Children's Health Fund.
— Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
Jackson Names 8 Artists For Katrina Song
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson's publicist says eight performers so far have agreed to join a song to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.
Raymone K. Bain said artists who will appear on Jackson's song, tentatively titled "From the Bottom of My Heart," include James Brown, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Lenny Kravitz, R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg and Ciara.
But representatives for some of the artists said it was premature to say their clients were committed to the charity single, which hopes to duplicate the 1984 worldwide hit "We Are the World," which Jackson co-wrote to benefit African starvation victims.
Representatives for Snoop Dogg said he would take part. But Jay-Z's publicist, Jana Fleishman, said the rapper had "been approached, but Jay told me directly he is not yet confirmed to be on that song." Several other publicists said their clients were in talks and had yet to confirm.
Bain, however, insisted during a telephone interview Wednesday that Jackson had personally contacted all the artists himself. She said Jackson will record the tune on 2 Seas Records, the label owned by Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of the king of Bahrain. Jackson, who was acquitted after a grueling child molestation trial four months ago, has been a guest of Sheik Abdulla for the past several weeks.
To confirm her account, Bain handed the phone to Sheik Abdulla, who said that he and Jackson had had talked to each artist personally. "He made every single call himself," the sheik said.
Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Jackson tried unsuccessfully to put together a benefit song called "What More Can I Give."
For now, Bain said, the Katrina relief song is "a work in progress," with a time, date and place of recording yet to be scheduled.
Inspiration Network Raises $134,000 For Hurricane Relief
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — On Sept. 3 The Inspiration Networks pre-empted regular programming across three of its cable networks to broadcast A Concert of Hope, a live television event to generate critically needed relief supplies and hope for victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The concert raised over $134,000.
"These funds will enable us to send an additional 22 truckloads with over 873,000 pounds of urgently needed supplies to the impacted areas," said David Cerullo, president and CEO of The Inspiration Networks.
The Inspiration Networks and Convoy of Hope have been on the scene in the impacted areas since August 28. To date, more than 180 truckloads of ice, water and food have been delivered by The Inspiration Networks and Convoy of Hope with a total of more than 6 million pounds of life-sustaining relief supplies.
The three-hour Concert of Hope telethon was broadcast across INSP, i- Lifetv and Inspiration Network International to 80 Million households in 38 different nations. The program was hosted by David and Barbara Cerullo and featured Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, who provided gripping, first-hand accounts of the human needs and hurricane damage as well as inspirational stories of ongoing relief efforts. Featured guests included many Christian leaders and musical performances by Avalon, Mark Schultz, The Crabb Family and others.
"We are grateful for the way people have responded to this outcry for help, but the needs still are great," David Cerullo concluded. "We are committed to be there for these hurting people. Contributions still are needed for the ongoing relief efforts."
Cerjllosaid that one-hour versions of the Concert of Hope program are being made available to cable systems and television stations, "Everyone needs to do whatever they can at a time like this."
Donations are being received at www.insptoday.com and Box 7750, Charlotte, NC 28241. Proceeds will be designated towards Convoy of Hope, the humanitarian outreach of the ministry, which established distribution points in affected areas within hours of the disaster. –Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
Detroit Orchestra Does Its Part For Gulf
DETROIT (AP) — Habitat for Humanity Detroit and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are working together to help raise funds and generate awareness for disaster relief and rebuilding activities.
From the start of the new DSO season Sept. 15 through early October, performances at The Max M. Fisher Music Center will promote and collect funds for Habitat for Humanity's "Operation Home Delivery," a long-term Gulf Coast rebuilding plan.
The project coincides with upcoming performances in Detroit scheduled for Sept. 29 by Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis, honorary chairs of Habitat for Humanity's efforts for long-term rebuilding.
The DSO also will donate a portion of proceeds from CDs sold at the Connick and Marsalis performances to Habitat Detroit.
Neville Laments Destruction Of New Orleans
GLENDALE, CA (AP) — Aaron Neville, part of the Neville Brothers singing group from New Orleans, said he hasn't been back to his beloved city, but images of flood waters show it has turned into a "toxic gumbo."
"I haven't heard from a lot of my friends and don't know if they are alive or dead," Neville told The Associated Press. "When they drain the city there will be a lot of bodies."
The award-winning singer also said that more than two-dozen relatives have been evacuated from the city and are living in various states.
Neville, 64, believes much of his home is under water and prized valuables, including photos and his four Grammys are gone as well.
He and his brothers spent five years renovating an old house on Canal Street and turned it into a studio where they recorded the family album "Walkin' in the Shadow of Life" and his upcoming solo release, "Christmas Prayer."
He and his brothers are donating a portion of their record sales toward the relief effort. His label, EMI Music Group, also has agreed to match donations gained from both records.
Neville said New Orleans was a "disaster waiting to happen" and wished the response would've been swifter.
"The cavalry could have come a little sooner," he said.
Neville has been living in Memphis for the past week and a half and is unsure if he will return to New Orleans.
"I hope one day they will build New Orleans up high enough so this doesn't happen again," he said. "We don't need to be a bowl surrounded by water anymore."
Neville has been on overdrive this week since Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast and forced one of New Orleans' most famous musical families to flee.
His schedule Thursday included the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," CNN's "Larry King Live" and a telethon on the BET Network that will air Friday. He will also fly to Nashville and join his three brothers who comprise the Neville Brothers to perform for a charity show "ReAct Now: Music & Relief," which will air on MTV, VH1 and CMT.
The group was on tour, promoting their latest album when the hurricane struck.
Neville, a burly man with a silky voice, is best known for the ballads "Tell It Like It Is" and joining Linda Ronstadt on "Don't Know Much." He is scheduled to sing the national anthem when the New Orleans Saints play the New York Giants on Sept. 18. The Saints also have been displaced because of damage to the Superdome.
