BENEFIT CONCERTS & TELETHONS - broadcast:
Friday, September 2
A Concert for Hurricane Relief on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC
Approximately 8.5 million viewers; reportedly raised about $40 million to benefit American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Aaron Neville, Chris Tucker, Claire Danes, Eric LaSalle, Faith Hill, Glenn Close, Harry Connick, Jr., Hilary Swank, Jimmy Smits, John Goodman, Kanye West, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lindsay Lohan, Marcia Gay Harden, Matt Lauer (host), Mike Myers, Richard Gere, Tim McGraw, and Wynton Marsalis. New York Governor George Pataki was on hand to present a check to the American Red Cross in the amount of $2.5 million.
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Friday, September 9
Approximately 1.2 million viewers; raised about $11 million to benefit Red Cross relief efforts.
The BET telethon started with a special benefit episode of 106 & Park: Bet's Top 10 Live at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the telethon from 7:30 - 10:00 p.m. ET. The BET telethon featured a roster of artists, many with ties to the affected areas, including Wynton Marsalis, Master P, Mississippi rapper David Banner, Juvenile, Baby and Lil Wayne (Cash Money) along with Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons, Alicia Keys, Diddy, Jay Z, Kanye West, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Common, Usher, Nick Cannon, Omarion, Pharrell Williams, Ciara, Ludacris, Keyshia Cole, Avant, Gerald Levert, Lyfe, Twista, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Wyclef, Erykah Badu, Al and Star Jones Reynolds, Chris Rock and more. New Orleans native Aaron Neville battled back tears during "Amazing Grace." Queen Latifah and Steve Harvey hosted the star-studded event.
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Friday, September 9
Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast - on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, WB and UPN;
also on cable networks including ABC News Now, ABC Family, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, American Life, Armed Services Network, Black Family Channel, The Biography Channel, Bravo, CNBC, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, CourtTV, E!, Fox College Sports Pacific, Fox Movie Channel, Fox Reality, FSN Arizona, FSN Chicago, FSN New England, FSN Ohio, FSN South, FSN West, FUEL TV, FUSE, FX, G4, GoITV, GSN, History Channel Espanol, History International, Lifetime, LIME, Link TV, MSNBC, Ovation, Oxygen, PAX, PBS, Showtime, SOAPNet, SPEED Channel, Style Network, TBS, The Tennis Channel, TRIO, TV Guide Channel, TV One, TVB Jade Channel, USA Network, WGN Cable, World Television.
Approximately 23 million U.S. viewers, international viewership #'s pending; preliminary estimate of amount raised is $30 million to benefit American Red Cross and Salvation Army - see below.
In a cooperative and collaborative effort, the six broadcast networks originally planned to present their commercial-free simulcast as a one hour primetime special. In a giant feat of organization and collaboration, the nets expanded their fundraising platform "Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" to a day long venture, beginning on the morning news programs and concluding on the late-night shows.
The one hour special was also broadcast in over 155 countries and territories around the world, including Africa, Australia, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan, The Ukraine, The United Kingdom and virtually all of the rest of Asia, Latin America & the Middle East.
Performances were provided by Mary J. Blige with U2, Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks, Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Neil Young and Dr. John (see setlist).
Celebrities scheduled to take viewer donations during Shelter From the Storm included Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, Jennifer Aniston, Sean Astin, Angela Bassett, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Don Cheadle, Michael Chiklis, Ellen DeGeneres, Benecio Del Toro, Danny DeVito, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Randy Jackson, Allison Janney, Christine Lahti, Reba McEntire, Mandy Moore, Jack Nicholson, Jeremy Priven, Emily Procter, Dennis Quaid, John C. Reilly, Julia Roberts, The Rock, Ray Romano, Doug Savant, Jimmy Smits, Mary Steenburgen, Nia Vardalos, Sela Ward, Bruce Willis, Alfre Woodard, and James Woods.
In the U.S., phone lines for this Hurricane Katrina relief effort opened on September 9 during ABC's "Good Morning America," CBS' "The Early Show" and NBC's "The Today Show," and local affiliate morning shows on FOX, The WB and UPN. Presenters on all live shows during daytime promoted the telethon, with on-screen captions being put up during recorded programming such as soap operas.
Phone lines remained open into the network late-night programs, including ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live"; "CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"; and NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Last Call with Carson Daly."
Viewers were asked to donate via the toll-free phone number 1-866-4AIDNOW. Donations can still be made through the Red Cross and Salvation Army websites.
Final national Nielsen ratings for the six major broadcast networks, public television and domestic cable outlets indicate that approximately 23 million Americans tuned into the hour-long event, with over 38.3 million viewers watching at least part of the special. This number does not reflect those viewers who watched via internet service providers, radio listeners, or viewers in over 200 additional countries and territories.
Preliminary unaudited tallies from phone and online contributions indicate that Shelter From the Storm raised about $30 million for the Red Cross and Salvation Army's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts (NOTE: This number does not reflect a full accounting of monies raised - particularly in international territories).
TRIVIA: Joel Gallen, who produced the unprecedented America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon on September 21, 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, also executive produced this special. A Tribute to Heroes aired on more than 30 networks, raised over $150 million, and earned several major nominations and awards.
TRIVIA: On September 22, 2002, during the Emmy Awards broadcast, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Governors Award was presented to the four major networks who coordinated the telethon - ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC - for setting aside commercials and competition to organize "America: A Tribute to Heroes" after the attacks of September 2001. The award also cited "In a groundbreaking and unprecedented way, it was originally four networks which came together as one, sold the idea to their corporate bosses, underwrote the cost of the telethon and lined up all of the other networks and cable stations to simulcast "America: A Tribute to Heroes" That telecast helped bring our nation together and showed the world that we were united and still standing strong during a time of utmost tragedy."
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Saturday, September 10
Broadcast live on MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV2, mtvU; broadband radio MTV Overdrive, VSpot
Approximately 12 million viewers; amount raised not yet announced - to benefit Red Cross, Salvation Army, America's Second Harvest & and other relief efforts.
Viacom simulcast this three hour, multi-artist, multi-city, multi-genre, multi-platform concert special featuring Alicia Keyes, Dave Matthews Band, David Banner, Buckwheat Zydeco, Green Day, Kelly Clarkson, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, Paul McCartney, Rob Thomas, the Rolling Stones, Usher, Neil Young, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow, Alan Jackson, 3 Doors Down, Brian Wilson, Melissa Etheridge, The Neville Brothers, Trent Reznor, Cash Money's Baby and Lil' Wayne, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brian Wilson, Mötley Crüe, Simple Plan, Dashboard Confessional, Goo Goo Dolls, Staind, Good Charlotte, Audioslave, Common, John Mayer, Marc Broussard, Maroon 5, U2, Bon Jovi, and the Radiators. America's troubadour, John Mellencamp, closed the show with a performance of the heart felt tune Walk Tall.
Sony's Connect Music Store is offering exclusive downloads from ReAct Now: Music & Relief. All proceeds from the download sales associated with the ReAct Now event will be donated to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and America's Second Harvest. Each single costs $0.99; there are currently 26 songs available. The entire album can be downloaded for $24.99.
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Saturday, September 17
Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC), Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, New York City
Hosted by Laurence Fishburne and featuring JALC Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Ken Burns, Shirley Caesar, Cyrus Chestnut, Peter Cincotti, Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Paquito D'Rivera, Robert De Niro, Renee Fleming, Herbie Hancock, Jon Hendricks, Norah Jones, Marlon and Kent Jordan, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Joe Lovano, Irvin Mayfield, Bette Midler, Toni Morrison, Arturo O'Farrill, Eric Reed, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Roberts, Paul Simon, Meryl Streep, James Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Robin Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Buckwheat Zydeco and many more. A special JALC CD will be produced and released by Blue Note Records with all profits also going to relief funds. Tickets were $50 - $10,000.
The Higher Ground event also includes eBay auctions to benefit the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund. Items include a 000-28 Martin Eric Clapton model guitar, autographed by Eric Clapton and John Mayer; artwork by Peter Max and LeRoy Neiman; and items from Miramax Films. Paul Rogers and Candlewick Press will donate ten pre-publication, first edition copies of Jazz ABZ: An A To Z Collection of Jazz Portraits by Wynton Marsalis, signed by the author and illustrator. Each book will be accompanied by a special edition print that features one of the talents portrayed in the book: Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Jelly Roll Morton, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Fats Waller and Dizzy Gillespie.
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Sunday, September 18
Tweeter Center, Tinley Park, IL
Broadcast on XM Satellite Radio, webcast on FarmAid.org. Both channels will be repeating the sold out 20th Anniversary 2005 Farm Aid concert (check listings). The concert will also be televised starting on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 on INHD2, iN DEMAND's high definition network, Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View.
Farm Aid is assisting farm families hurt by the hurricane. Farm Aid’s Family Farm Disaster Fund has directed $49,500 to aid farmers and rural residents in the affected region, and additional efforts are underway. "This is a moment when each of us can take stock of what we can offer to everyone affected by this catastrophe," Farm Aid president Willie Nelson says. "A disaster of this magnitude can be a breaking point for many Southern family farms." In addition, John Mellencamp announced that half of Farm Aid's proceeds this year will go to the relief effort. "If you can't take care of the poorer people," Mellencamp said, "the rest of us are sunk."
Farm Aid president and founder Willie Nelson and board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, as well as Kenny Chesney, Wilco, Widespread Panic, Emmylou Harris, Los Lonely Boys, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, John Mayer and Susan Tedeschi all performed at Farm Aid’s 20th anniversary show.
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Tuesday, September 20
Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall
Broadcast on Pay Per View (tv) and Real Networks (net) - $19.95. (100% of all money raised from sponsorship and ticket sales 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.)
The concert was hosted by Ed Bradley, who was joined by former President Bill Clinton, Paul Newman, Jessica Lange and Scarlett Johansson to introduce the array of talent. Madison Square Garden performers included Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Costello, John Fogerty, Elton John, Diana Krall, Lenny Kravitz, Cyndi Lauper, Dave Matthews, Bette Midler, Simon & Garfunkel, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Dave Bartholomew, Ry Cooder, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Dixie Cups, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, The Meters, The Neville Brothers, The Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint and Buckwheat Zydeco while Dave Matthews, Tom Waits, The Neville Brothers, Trey Anastasio, The Meters, John Mayer Trio, Joss Stone, Galactic w/the Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indians, Ray Lamontagne and Rebirth Brass Band performed at Radio City Music Hall (how DMB, the Neville Brothers, and the Rebirth Brass Band did both shows is beyond us - we guess it's pure determination for successful relief efforts).
Veteran producer Ken Ehrlich, the man behind this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, and New Orleans Jazz Festival director Quint Davis produced the event. In addition to underwriting the cost of the event, Madison Square Garden will donate an initial $1 million to aid hurricane victims. The RealNetworks Foundation will match the show's initial online viewing proceeds dollar-for-dollar with a grant to Katrina relief efforts.
Tickets for the sold out shows were $50 - 500. The full concert will be available for two future viewings in the coming weeks at www.real.com/katrina.
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Thursday, September 22
The Gospel Music Association, through Project Restore, partnered with the Gospel Music Channel for a nationally televised concert featuring gospel and Christian-music stars. The event was held at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park with additional performances originating from victim shelters across the country.
Hosted by CeCe Winans, the concert featured performances from Atlanta by BarlowGirl, Blind Boys of Alabama, Natalie Grant, George Huff, Israel & New Breed, Nicole C. Mullen, NewSong and Aaron Shust. The concert also included messages and performances from artists in other parts of the country, including Third Day (Houston) and Kirk Franklin (Dallas), where he was joined by Fred Hammond, Kelly Price, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams and Micah Stampley. Tickets were $10 at the door; additional donations were accepted.
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GAC, with simulcasts on opry. com, Sirius Satellite Radio, DIY Network and Fine Living
Broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House with host Marty Stuart, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Craig Morgan, Billy Currington, Keith Urban, Julie Roberts, LeAnn Rimes, Porter Wagoner, Riders In The Sky, Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C. Newman and Terri Clark. Country Reaches Out is also hosting an online auction of country music memorabilia at opryauction.com which includes a 3' x 6' autographed banner (opening bid $100) and a host of opportunities to help hurricane relief efforts. All show and auction proceeds are to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (Amount raised not yet announced.)
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Saturday, October 1 - POSTPONED
The concert, booked into Houston's Reliant Stadium, was POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE as Hurricane Rita threatened Houston and surrounding areas. Scheduled performers included George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride and ZZ Top.
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Saturday, October 1, 7:00 CT
C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum, University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Tickets: $100 for reserved seating; $30 for general admission.
Broadcast by various networks, including MSNBC, Mississippi Public Television and local tv/radio stations
The Mississippi Rising benefit concert / telethon was co-chaired by native Mississippians Morgan Freeman, Archie and Eli Manning, John Grisham, Brett Favre, Faith Hill and Sela Ward. Celebrity participants included Lance Bass, Ray Romano, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Marilu Henner, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathy Ireland, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, Brian McKnight, Jean Smart, Debbie Allen, Doris Roberts, Gary Morris, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Steve Azar, Hugh Laurie, Bernadette Peters, Deidra Hall, Guy Hovis, Gary Grubbs, Jill Conner Browne, Kristian Dambrino, Lori Smith, Rita Cosby, Tucker Carlson, Gail Pittman and Cat Cora. The event was produced by Michael Seligman, who also produced the 2005 Emmy Awards.
On Monday, October 3, five Mississippi Rising posters autographed by over 40 participating celebrities at the Gala Concert went on auction through eBay (opening bid $499). These auctions continue through October 13.
All proceeds go to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund, a nonprofit fund established in September by Gov. Haley Barbour to collect donations, goods and services to help rebuild Mississippi communities, or a similar fund in Louisiana administered by Foundations for Recovery, The Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Recovery Fund. Following the Mississippi Rising benefit, organizers of the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund announced that more than $15 million has been raised for hurricane relief.
CELEBRITY AUCTIONS:
Clothes Off Our Back's 4th Annual Primetime Emmy Auction began immediately following the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18. In continuation of the org's support of children's causes, this year's beneficiaries from the sale of celebrity clothing and accessories are Cure Autism Now, Half The Sky and UNICEF. Following Hurricane Katrina's devestation, Clothes Off Our Back founders Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford announced that proceeds will also be given to the Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.
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Legendary actor Morgan Freeman organized an online auction at CHARITYFOLKS.COM, with over 200 items up for bid. Items included signed movie and music memorabilia from Clint Eastwood, Orlando Bloom, Kenny Chesney, Nicole Kidman, Mike Myers, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, litho prints and original canvas works by artists Mike Manness, Dean Baer and Ben Will, signed Nickelback memorabilia, autographed scripts, patron passes to the 2006 Vail Film Festival, VIP tickets and backstage passes to meet B.B. King, various movie premieres & after party passes, vacation packages at luxury resorts, cruise ships and Land Rover Adventures, and dinner and entertainment at Ground Zero in Mississippi, the blues club co-owned by Freeman. Extremely rare and unique collectibles up for auction included a Sergeant Pepper Poster signed by the Beatles, donated by The Insider host Pat O'Brien, and a copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas signed by Hunter S. Thompson, Benicio Del Toro and Johnny Depp. Charity Folks waived all selling fees in this auction to aid The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
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Kevin Smith held an online auction at ViewAskew.com, where items included a BBQ at Smith's home; a walk-on role in Clerks 2: The Passion of the Clerks; one of every t-shirt sold at Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash; or the chance to have Kevin provide your outgoing voice mail phone message. Smith pledged to match the auctions proceeds, all to benefit the Red Cross. The auctions ran September 8 through 16.
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In addition to the S.O.S. Telethon (see below), BET.com, with Premier Props, gathered items for an online charity auction. The auction items included one-of-a-kind donations from Usher, Stevie Wonder, Wyclef, Chris Rock, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Master P and Wynton Marsalis and pieces signed by or from Derek Jeter, Toni Braxton, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson and more. There was also Lorraine Schwartz diamond jewelry, a Jacob the Jeweler Diamond Studded Watch and an amazing ring from Mary J. Blige, which she spontaneously removed during the BET telethon press conference for donation to the cause. The auctions ran through noon (ET) Friday, September 16 with all proceeds going to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
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The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit event at Lincoln Center also includes eBay auctions to benefit the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund. See event highlights below (September 17) for more details.
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Clothing worn by celebrities during the Fashion for Relief runway show that closed New York Fashion Week is being auctioned through Yahoo.com. The auction continues through Sepember 29, with all funds going to AmeriCares.
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To help celebrate the 10th Annual National Eat Dinner Together Week, the National Pork Board is sponsoring a special celebrity-designed dinner plate auction. All proceeds will fund America's Second Harvest and their disaster relief response to Hurricane Katrina. Celebrities will donate personalized dinner plates that will be available via eBay from October 3 - 13, 2005. Celebrities such as Gail O'Grady, Melina Kanakaredes, Cheryl Ladd, Eva LaRue, Molly Simms and more have lent their artistic talents to the cause. For more details and a link to the eBay auction, log onto TogetherforDinner.com.
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uBid For Hurricane Relief: uBid will kick off this huge celebrity auction to benefit victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with a star-studded bash on October 15 at the Empire Ballroom in Las Vegas. Several prominent musicians are slated to perform and two dozen high-profile items will be up for auction at the event, although the details are being kept under wrap for now. The entrance fee for the event is a $200 donation, while private tables are being offered at an additional cost. Tickets can be purchased through Ubid.com starting September 26. The live event will also kick off an online auction that will run through early November.
More than 100 celebrities have donated items, including Sir Elton John, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Heath Ledger, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Biel, Erika Christensen, George Clooney, Ashlee & Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Patrick Dempsey, Rachel Leigh Cook, Haylie & Hilary Duff, Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Jamie Foxx, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Djimon Honsou, Dule Hill, Emile Hirsch, Paris Hilton, The Black Eyed Peas, Cole Hauser, Ryan Gosling, Joshua Jackson, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, Alyssa Milano, Rhona Mitra, Matthew McConaughey, Pink, Mark Wahlberg, Shane West, Michael Vartan, James Van der Beek, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Tony Danza, Alison Janney, Sela Ward, Ellen Degeneres, NASCAR, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Hartnett, Christina Applegate, Jamie Lynn Discala, Derek Jeter, Matthew Perry, Terrell Owens, Nicole Richie, Vince Vaughn, the casts of The O.C, The Sopranos, Scrubs, Entourage, 24, That 70's Show, ER, Alias, Reba, One Tree Hill, and The West Wing, and many more! More celebs are being added to the mix on a daily basis, thanks to added support and organizational efforts from Kutcher, A.J. Discala and Lance Bass.
The uBid online auction will run from October 15 through the first week of November. Some of the items up for bidding include a chance to snowboard with Justin Timberlake at Big Bear or Mammoth Lakes, co-direct a segment of "Punk'd" with Ashton Kutcher, golf with Brett Favre, get a private poker lesson with pro player Annie Duke, have lunch on the set of "Las Vegas" with Molly Sims and Vanessa Marcil or fly on a private jet with your friends to Miami and party with Paris Hilton at Club Paris on New Year's Eve. You can fulfill your acting dreams by winning a walk-on roles on "Scrubs," "Arrested Development," "That '70s Show" or another TV show. If you would simply like to own something nice, you can bid on Jessica Simpson's autographed daisy dukes, Adam Brody's autographed 2004 Teen Choice Award surfboard, an outfit worn by Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show, Colby Donaldson's torch from "Survivor: The Australian Outback," an autographed coffee pot from "Scrubs," Tony Gonzalez's cleats worn in the 1st game of the season, or something else from the auction line up.
MORE BENEFIT PERFORMANCES & OTHER AID FROM HOLLYWOOD & the MUSIC COMMUNITY:
A fund-raising telethon that featured more than 30 current and former NFL players raised $5 million for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund in about 6 1/2 hours. The telethon was part of the NFL's "Hurricane Relief Weekend" and coincided with a special "Monday Night Football" doubleheader on ABC and ESPN. Players such as John Elway, Donovan McNabb, Art Shell and Frank Gifford manned the phones to take donations. NFL teams and relief organizations have raised approximately $4 million from fans at stadiums for Hurricane Katrina relief, the league said, bringing the total generated by the NFL to $21 million.
Over 5,000 independent musicians have donated the proceeds from the sale of their CDs on CDBaby.com to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
It was reported earlier that Pearl Jam will donate a portion of the proceeds from its fall tour opener (September 1st at the Gorge in George, Washington) to an as-yet-undetermined hurricane relief fund. The band has now scheduled a benefit show in Chicago on October 5 (see details below).
Prince wrote two new songs to raise funds for hurricane relief, SST and Brand New Orleans, which were recorded Friday, September 2 and released the following day. Prince plays all the instruments and sings all the vocals on the two new songs which are available on iTunes. All funds from the sale of the tracks go to the Red Cross relief effort.
Comedian Eddie Griffin donated his fee from his September 2nd performances at the Delta Downs Race Track Casino & Hotel in Vinton, Louisiana, to relief efforts. "Performing so close to New Orleans, my first thought was, 'How could I not help these unfortunate people?' " Griffin said. "I ask everyone to reach into their pockets and do the same to help these people."
NAACP Disaster Relief Fund spokesman Jamie Foxx, in conjunction with SkyBar at The Shore Club and Miami Beach Cares, hosted a benefit on September 4 at Miami's Delano club, with each guest making a $200-minimum donation to the Red Cross. He then orchestrated an on site auction, which raised $600,000.
Originally scheduled to perform at the opening of the new $235 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Velvet Revolver (comprised of former members of Guns N' Roses Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, and Scott Weiland, formerly of Stone Temple Pilots), instead played September 6 at Orlando's Hard Rock Live. AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson joined Velvet Revolver onstage for a rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll." The event raised $250,000 for the Red Cross, including proceeds from tickets and bar sales.
Alabama played a benefit concert in Montgomery, Alabama, on Thursday, September 8.
BosPoker.com hosted a celebrity poker tournament Friday, September 9, where the top eight finishers competed for $100,000 to be donated to the American Red Cross. Participants included Hilary Duff, Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Michael Vartan, Mekhi Phifer, Sara Rue, Nicholas Gonzales, David Carruthers, Shannon Elizabeth, Ron Livingston, Jennifer Tilly, Danny Masterson, Jeremy Sisto, Joe Reitman, Tom Arnold, Chris Ferguson, Hank Azaria, Antonio Esfandiari and Annie Duke. No word yet on who won but here are some pictures from the tournament.
Alan Jackson pledged all proceeds from his September 8 "What I Do Tour” concert at Columbus, Ohio's Germain Amphitheater to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The concert included opening performances by The Wrights and Sara Evans.
The "American Idols Live!" tour ended Saturday, September 10 in Syracuse, N.Y. as a benefit concert for the American Red Cross. Carrie Underwood said she would donate the revenues from her merchandise sales at the benefit concert to the Humane Society of the United States to help pets stranded in the hurricane region.
Southern California rockers Switchfoot collected donations for the Salvation Army at a free concert at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, September 10.
The members of 3 Doors Down, whose Biloxi, Mississippi homes were damaged by the hurricane, will donate $1 from every ticket the band has sold this year to Better Life Foundation, raising nearly $300,000. The band also held a benefit concert in Atlanta on Saturday, September 10 and produced a PSA with info on contacting relief organizations.
Sammy Hagar played an impromptu benefit concert for about 800 people at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Saturday, September 10, raising $20,000 in donations for AmeriCares. "To see the Cabo Wabo fill up with people wanting to do their part for the cause made this night very special," Hagar said. "The important thing is that we got to the magic number $20,000, not bad for a little bar in Cabo."
From September 11-18, jazz musicians in Manhattan raised money for the American Red Cross with shows in clubs throughout the city.
The Dave Matthews Band held a benefit show in Denver on September 12 with special guests The Neville Brothers and the John Butler Trio. The city waived rent for the event and all profits - over $1.5 million - including concessions and parking revenue, will go to the American Red Cross. In addition, DMB partnered with the Colorado non profit group, Conscious Alliance, to conduct food drives at the Red Rocks shows. All food donations will benefit the Houston Food Bank to assist relief efforts. Items requested include bottled water, hand held snacks such as granola and energy bars, breakfast bars, beef jerky, peanut butter, canned meals such as hearty soups, stews, chili and/or pasta, plates, bowls, cups and utensils, bleach, disinfecting household cleaning items and diapers.
The String Cheese Incident donated four of their touring semi-trucks to the Conscious Alliance (see above). The non-profit org is working with community food banks in Houston to acquire and distribute food to the evacuees that have been relocated there.
Steve Harvey hosted Saving Lives with Laughs, an all-star comedy concert held Sepember 14 at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. Tickets were priced from $35 - 50, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
Rust Records Nashville partnered with the American Red Cross to put on a series of concerts beginning September 16 featuring the label's artists. The first concert took place in Morehead City, North Carolina with country stars BlackHawks and Shane Owens.
The Roots, Jill Scott, TV On The Radio and Deerhoof performed at a benefit concert at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center on September 16 at with proceeds earmarked for the NAACP's hurricane relief program on behalf of Moveon.org Civic Action's HurricaneHousing.org. The show also featured the TBC Brass Band, whose members were evacuated to Dallas, Atlanta, Houston and Sacramento in the wake of Katrina.
Fashion for Relief: Naomi Campbell, Jay-Z, Cindy Crawford, Diddy, Kelly Osborne, Nicole Richie and other stars participated in the Fashion for Relief benefit, which closed out New York's Fashion Week on September 16. Tickets were $100 apiece, with proceeds going to AmeriCares. The clothing is now up for auction.
Meat Loaf, who had been scheduled to play in Biloxi on September 16, donated the proceeds of his September 17 concert in Savannah to the American Red Cross.
Bishop T.D. Jakes and Kirk Franklin hosted a free benefit gospel concert on September 17 at The Potter’s House in Dallas. Performers included Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Micah Stampley, Myron Butler and The Potter's House Mass Choir. Concertgoers were encouraged to make donations with proceeds going to Dallas-based radio host Tom Joyner's BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund, which funnels money directly to evacuees and families who host them. (see full story)
David Banner, through his Heal The Hood foundation, held a benefit concert in Atlanta on September 17 with performances by Nelly and the St. Lunatics, Ali & Big Gipp, Jermaine Dupri, T.I. and P$C, Dem Franchize Boyz, Boyz N Da Hood, 112, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, Marí, Bobby Valentino, Canton Jones, Young Jeezy, Twista, 8Ball & MJG and more. The artists played four hours to 10,000 people, including about 1,000 evacuees now staying in Atlanta who received complimentary tickets to the benefit. In addition to proceeds from ticket sales, monetary donations were accepted on site, as well as food, clothing and other supplies for hurricane victims. Concert proceeds are to be donated to the states hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, including communities along the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama as well as New Orleans. The foundation also plans to assist evacuees who have relocated to Atlanta, Arkansas, St. Louis and Texas. Banner promised that proceeds would get where they are needed most. "If one cent from this money is misappropriated, it's all going to fall on [my] career, but I'm willing to take that for my people," he said. "I'd much rather take that criticism than sit back and not do anything at all."
MOJO Aid: Debbie Harry, Ryan Adams, the Cardinals, Jesse Malin, Joseph Arthur, Ted Leo & The Phramacists, Butch Walker, Marah and more performed on September 18 at Irving Plaza in New York City. Proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross hosted an all-day benefit concert in Indianapolis on September 18 to raise money for Katrina evacuees. The event featured local bands, including Aberdeen Project, Greg Bacon, Benito Di Bartoli, Ribs-n-Bones and Toy Factory, and silent and live auctions, with all proceeds going to relief efforts.
re: the 57th Annual Primetime Emmys Awards, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), CBS and Ken Erlich Productions, released this statement: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the devastating and tragic hurricane that has hit the Gulf Coast states. In honor of the survivors and in remembrance of the victims, we will be giving magnolias (the state flower of both Louisiana and Missisippi) to presenters and performers on the Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 18. In addition, throughout the telecast, we will provide information for viewers who wish to make donations and lend their support to the massive recovery effort." We anticipated that perhaps an announcement would be made during the show that the television academy itself made a financial donation, but no such statement was spoken. They did, however, have awards presenters encourage viewers to log onto CBS.com to donate to Habitat for Humanity.
Dashboard Confessional played benefit concerts in Toronto, Chicago and Sayreville, N.J. with the goal of raising $500,000.
Chicago rapper Twista called upon his fellow Chi-Town hip hop artists to perform a free concert on September 19 at Chicago’s House of Blues to serve as a platform for businesses and the public to donate food, clothes and money specifically for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Da Brat, Do or Die, Shawnaa, Crucial Conflict and Bump J were confirmed for the show.
Neighbors in Need: Austin's Katrina Relief Concert: Willie Nelson, the Neville Brothers, Ray Price, Jimmy Vaughn, Lucinda Williams, Eric Johnson, Patti Griffin, The Flatlanders and Bob Schneider performed at Austin's Erwin Center on Wednesday, September 21. Tickets ($20, $30, and $100 VIP) went on sale September 12. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Red Cross Katrina Relief effort.
Tenacious D hosted a Concert for Katrina Relief on September 22 featuring Fiona Apple, David Cross, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, Jesse Hughes and Sarah Silverman at the Wiltern LG in Los Angeles. All net proceeds to benefit American Red Cross.
Parting the Waters: The New Yorker hosted this benefit on September 24 at New York’s Town Hall, featuring music and readings inspired by the artistic culture of the bayou. The talent list included Buckwheat Zydeco, Patricia Clarkson, Elvis Costello, Willem Dafoe, David Byrne and the Les Misérables Brass Band, Eddy Davis and His New Orleans Jazz Band featuring Woody Allen, Richard Ford, Gary Louris and Mark Olson from the Jayhawks, Leigh (Little Queenie) Harris, Terrence Howard, Kevin Kline, Toni Morrison, Mary-Louise Parker, Queen Ida and Her Zydeco Band, the ReBirth Brass Band, Lou Reed, Savion Glover with Matana Roberts, Allen Toussaint, Calvin Trillin, and Walter Wolfman Washington and the Roadmasters. The New Yorker will donate 100% of ticket sale proceeds to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund; Condé Nast Publications will match the donation. Tickets $50 - $250, available through Ticketmaster and at the box office.
Miami Rocks for Relief: Gloria Estefan and Queen Latifah performed at this star-studded benefit on the beach behind the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on September 30. Emceed by The Insider's Pat O'Brien; the show was scheduled for local broadcast that night. Before the concert, New Orleans' chef Emeril Lagasse and Miami celebrity chef Norman Van Aken co-hosted a VIP sit-down dinner. Guests swayed to the sounds of a jazz band while feasting on Emeril's famous gumbo, as an ode to New Orleans' spirit and people. The event also featured live and silent auctions, premiere performance seating and a private afterparty. General admission tickets ($250) were available through Ticketmaster. Proceeds to benefit WFOR-CBS 4's Neighbors 4 Neighbors, The Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Workers Disaster Relief Fund, MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund and the Red Cross.
Pearl Jam and Robert Plant performed on October 5 at the the Chicago of House of Blues. Net proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross and the Jazz Foundation of America, an NYC-based non-profit that assists musicians in need. The performance was open to ages 21 and over. Tickets were $1,000. On their website, Pearl Jam posts "Remember, although this is a higher-end benefit, Pearl Jam has agreed to help in this relief effort and therefore ticket prices reflect the dire need for financial assistance in New Orleans."
New Orleans rappers Cash Money Millionaires (including Baby, Lil' Wayne and Manny Fresh), Silkk the Shocker, Master P and Lil' Romeo will join forces for a benefit tour. Details are still being worked out, but the outings are scheduled to begin October 7 and hit at least 10 major cities on Friday and Saturday nights through November. This is in additon to Master P and Romeo's effort through TeamRescue.com.
Gloria Gaynor is the first artist committed to an October 8 concert telethon being organized by Spirit Ministries. The non-profit organization is based in Opelousas, an above-sea level Louisiana city that has taken in many evacuees. The benefit event, which is expected to draw further celebrity talent, will raise funds to aid displaced people "for as long as they are in need of assistance."
Comedian Michael Colyar and actress Gabrielle Union will host a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina on October 8 at the Miami Arena in Florida. The talent lineup includes Charlie Wilson, Mint Condition, Angie Stone, Jagged Edge, 112 and local artist Joella. Showtime is from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $20, $45, $55 and $75.
Trick Daddy’s Trick Luvs Da Kids Foundation, Inc. will host the Halloween Spooktacular Costume Party, an adult fundraiser to be held on October 29 at Solo in Miami with proceeds going toward the Single Parent Initiative and the Boys & Girls Clubs in both Mississippi and New Orleans. Both organizations have teamed with Trick’s foundation to provide long term support for families that have been misplaced by Hurricane Katrina. The party will provide giveaways and a costume contest. A donation of $100 will include food and drinks all night with general admission slated at $25.
Indie rock group the Juliana Theory has pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from merchandise sales from its official web site to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
New Orleans based Better Than Ezra is donating a portion of the proceeds from their upcoming tour to the American Red Cross.
Alt-rockers the dB's are offering a newly-recorded version of the Motown classic "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" though their website to benefit the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. Two of the band's members were left homeless by the storm.
Televison personalities including Carol Burnett, Bill Cosby, Tony Danza, Florence Henderson, Alyssa Milano, Mary Tyler Moore, Rob Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Henry Winkler have lent their voices to a public service campaign benefiting the American Red Cross.
Green Day, REM, Pearl Jam, Moby, the Beastie Boys and The Roots, and actors Tim Robbins and John Cusack, have joined MoveOn.org to produce PSAs designed to find housing for hurricane victims.
Stars including Sean Astin, Bill Maher, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna and Carrie Underwood have teamed with the Humane Society for a PSA campaign highlighting the organization's animal rescue efforts in the Gulf area.
Stevie Wonder will release the single "Shelter in the Rain" from his upcoming album "A Time to Love" with all net profits to go to victims of the hurricane.
Hoping to rekindle the success of We Are the World, which raised millions of dollars for aid to Africa, Michael Jackson will gather an all-star cast to record "From the Bottom of My Heart " (working title) in a project titled "From the Gulf to the Gulf." Jackson has reportedly recruited Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, James Brown, Lenny Kravitz, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Ciara, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Yolanda Adams, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige, and 70's icons the O’Jays to join him in the recording. The song will be recorded on 2 Seas Records, a label owned by Prince Abdulla Hamad Alkhalifa of Bahrain. All proceeds f
