Look To The Stars News: Unemployment/Career Support

Fats Domino - Alive and Kickin'

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 20:41:42 +0000

On September 1, 2005, Fats Domino was rescued from the roof of his home in New Orleans. In October, after spending some time in a shelter and apartments in Baton Rouge, he and his family returned to New Orleans to rebuild their home.

Now he has turned his attention to helping rebuild his hometown. Proceeds from his latest album, “Alive and Kickin’” are going to the Tipitina's Foundation. The album is only available via the Tipitina’s website, where the cd is purchased as a tax deductible donation.

The Edge's Music Rising

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:32:20 +0000

Written by Hannah Coone

U2 guitarist The Edge and producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of Pink Floyd and The Darkness, have teamed up to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Together with Gibson Guitars, the Guitar Center and charity MusiCares, the pair formed Music Rising in November 2005. The new charity’s primary goal is to replace every instrument lost to professional musicians in the Gulf Coast.

“New Orleans is a crucible for great music,” says the Edge. “The idea that it would be just a place of history for music is awful to me. Coming from Dublin in the Seventies, when music was something you had to search out, I’d never dreamt that somewhere like New Orleans could exist. Music was coming out of the walls. It seemed not just a form of escapism, but like it was weaved into everybody’s life.”

Bob Ezrin describes how he and The Edge were deeply affected by the disaster in New Orleans; “We both concluded instantly that the human disaster was indescribable, but what was being wiped out at the same time was the culture of the entire region.”

Gibson Guitars CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and Guitar Center CEO Marty Albertson contacted Ezrin and The Edge. They created a custom limited edition Gibson Les Paul guitar to raise money for flood victims. The founders pledged a minimum of $1 million for the sale of the guitar and to cover the design and manufacturing costs.

The original guitars sold out quickly at auction and Gibson are now planning a larger edition of a more affordable Music Rising Epiphone Casino to mark the charity’s one year anniversary. The original Casino model was used by John Lennon and George Harrison in The Beatles’ early years, and subsequently by Noel Gallagher of Oasis, and The Edge himself.

To date, Music Rising has provided more than 2,100 replacement instruments to professional musicians, donating over $2.1 million and winning coveted charity awards. The charity plans to extend its instrument replacement program to include local churches, marching bands and schools.

The Edge says, “Something should be done and not just because New Orleans deserves it, but because the world needs New Orleans.”

Green Day and U2 single to benefit Music Rising

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:13:32 +0000

Written by Hannah Coone

Two of the biggest bands in history are to release a joint single to benefit the rebuilding of New Orleans. Green Day and U2 got together for dinner in February to try and think of a project suitable for this cause. Seven months later, the bands met again in London at the studios in Abbey Road made famous by The Beatles, and tried a cover of ‘The Saints Are Coming’, originally recorded by The Skids in 1978.

On September 25th, Green Day and U2 gave the song its first live show at the reopening of the Louisiana Superdome, to support the New Orleans Saints’ first home game in the NFL since the Katrina disaster.

The Saints themselves had said they would like to play U2’s hit song ‘Beautiful Day’ before each match. So, U2 themselves performed the song to end the night’s pre-game show. “It’s a good song,” the Edge said. “I hope … for New Orleans it’s like the past is laid to rest and from now on, OK, we have a lot of problems to get over but now the party starts so ‘Beautiful Day’ is probably a fitting song.”

Before the night’s big game, Green Day took the stage and performed their hit single ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’. Armstrong chose this song because “I think the sort of thing that it resonates is hope, you know.”

U2’s The Edge has already been making headlines with his charity Music Rising, a charity that replaces instruments lost by professional musicians in the disaster. This is something that Green Day front-man Billie Joe Armstrong is completely behind; “I think every musician who earns money doing what they do owes a little bit of a debt to New Orleans.”

“One year later, people continue to be devastated by Katrina’s effects,” Billie Joe Armstrong said in a news release. “We hope that by collaborating with U2, we’ll remind the public that people of the Gulf Coast are still suffering and still need help to rebuild their lives.”

The song will be released for digital download on October 30th and as a CD single on November 6th.

Chris Cornell To Be Honoured For Charity Work

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:23:28 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell will be honoured at a dinner and concert on May 11 for his efforts to help recovering addicts.

Cornell, who has himself struggled with alcoholism, is to receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award during the third annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert.

The MusiCares Foundation provide a safety net for music people in times of need, including access to addiction recovery treatment.

Cornell will also perform during the event in the run-up to the release his second solo album, “Carry On,” on June 5. Other performers will include David Gahan of Depeche Mode, blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and the band Army of Anyone.

The event is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $100 for a balcony seat through to $10,000 for a table of 10 at the front.

Music Memorabilia Charity Auction Raises $2.4 Million

Tue, 01 May 2007 17:48:03 +0000

Written by Steve Purcell

An auction of music memorabilia from celebrities including Jimi Hendrix, The Edge, Bono and Paul McCartney has raised $2.4 million, much of which will go to a charity for musicians.

Music Rising, whose founders include U2 guitarist The Edge, replaces musical equipment lost or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Edge donated his favourite guitar, a 1975 Gibson Les Paul that has been played on every U2 tour to date. Like many of the items sold, the guitar’s forecast sale price of $60,000 to $80,000 was greatly exceeded by the eventual winning bid of $288,000.

Further guitars owned by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney were sold for $480,000, $192,000 and $81,600 respectively, while a pair of sunglasses belonging to Bono fetched $24,000.

Bidding at the auction on 21st April lasted three hours longer than planned, and all 204 lots were sold. 100% of the proceeds from many items will go directly to Music Rising, while other items were sold only partly to benefit the charity.

eBay Busy With Charity Auctions

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:27:49 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Ebay Giving Works, the program set up by the internet giant dedicated to charity auctions, is busy this month with an influx of musicians selling items for good causes.

Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw lead the charge by offering a brand new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on the eBay site. All proceeds from the auction will go towards their Neighbor's Keeper Foundation, the non-profit organization they founded in 2005 to provide funding for community based charities.

The winner of the auction will also receive a trip for two to Las Vegas, two tickets to Hill and McGraw’s Soul2Soul concert on August 4, backstage passes with an opportunity to meet the singers, and autographed photos.

The Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation has already raised over $1 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the jeep is expected to raise at least another $35,000. The auction runs from July 4 to July 14, and can be found at www.ebay.com/jeepsoul2soul.

Other musicians with items for sale this month include rock group Incubus, who have made 25 VIP packages available for their up-coming sell-out tour in America. Proceeds from the online auction will go towards the band’s Make Yourself Foundation, which funds various causes and charities around the world.

Some fans are already bidding over $400 for the packages, which include tickets to their shows, the chance to meet the band backstage, and autographed photos.The auction runs from June 11 to July 16, and is found at www.ebay.com/incubus.

Rockers Linkin Park are offering 1 VIP package to each show in their upcoming Projekt Revolution tour – 28 dates in all. Each package includes two premium tickets to the venue of your choice, a backstage meet and greet with the band, and an autographed poster.

The auction will support Music for Relief, an organization set up by the band to help victims recover and rebuild after natural disasters. It was established in 2005 to provide aid for those affected by the tragic tsunami in South Asia, and has also raised over $2 million for Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims. The auction runs from July 5 to August 9, and can be viewed at www.ebay.com/musicforrelief.

VIP packages continue to be the theme with Beyoncé Knowles' auction at www.ebay.com/beyonce.tour. Two winning bidders will have the opportunity to watch her up-coming New York and Los Angeles shows from front row seats, meet Beyonce backstage, and receive autographed photos. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Survivor Foundation, an organization the singer started with her family in 2005 to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. The auction runs from June 8 to July 24.

Not to be outdone by the younger generation, several classic rock acts are also running online auctions at eBay this month.
Sting and The Police are offering a series of ticket packages, which include meet and greets and autographed memorabilia. All proceeds from the auction benefit MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy.

MusiCares focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues, especially those that have a direct impact on the health and welfare of the music community.
One of the VIP packages to meet the band has already sold for over $1500, and bidding for the others closes on July 6. The auction can be viewed at www.ebay.com/grammys.

Finally this month, former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is auctioning the double neck Gibson guitar he used on the 1971 Led Zeppelin IV tour. This is the guitar he played “Stairway To Heaven” on for every night of the tour, and 10% of the proceeds will go to MusiCares. The auction runs from July 23 to August 2 on eBay.

Ebay also expects to offer a large selection of signed Live Earth products after the Live Earth concerts on July 7.

“Stairway to Heaven” Guitar to Benefit MusiCares

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:10:37 +0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

A rare reproduction of Jimmy Page's signature EDS-1275 double-neck guitar – the type that made “Stairway to Heaven” famous – is up for auction on eBay’s Giving Works.

The Limited Edition Gibson guitar is number 11 of only 26 replicated after the one Page played during the 1971 Led Zeppelin IV tour, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Jimmy. All 26 were played and signed by Page, and he kept the first for himself. This guitar has his signature on the back of one headstock with his handwritten number (#11) on the other headstock.

The instrument is not just a pristine, soul-less replica; it has been made identical to the original, including the scrapes, scratches, dents and dings administered by Jimmy through years of heavy tour use, with the only fingerprints being from Jimmy Page himself.

Opening bid for the lot is set at $50,000, and the winner will receive the guitar in a specially-designed Gibson Custom Shop deluxe hard shell case with red lining. The guitar and case will be shipped in the original Gibson box. Also included are cable, picks, polishing cloth, and straplocks from Gibson Custom Shop.

A unique tri-fold leather collector’s portfolio embossed with Jimmy’s signature on the cover and housed in a taffeta-covered slipcase also embossed with Page’s signature is part of the set. Contents of the portfolio include the signed and numbered certificate of authenticity personally signed by Jimmy Page, ownership decal (sticker) of Jimmy Page’s signature, a CD containing the full interview with Jimmy Page talking about his original and new signature double neck, a two-disc Led Zeppelin box DVD set, and a personally signed congratulatory letter from Gibson Custom Shop Management.

The auction runs until August 2nd, and 10% of the proceeds are going to MusiCares, which provides musicians with critical assistance in times of need.

Lil' Kim Cares About Charity

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:18:10 +0000

Written by Nadia Lias

There’s more to Grammy Award winner Lil' Kim than music; she is also an established philanthropist. Often taking time to give back, she understands her social responsibility to the community and is committed to using her influence to inspire people.

The singer’s Lil' Kim Cares Foundation has announced that Lil’ Kim is teaming up with MusiCares to raise funds through a silent auction being held at the Grammy’s On The Hill ceremony. The ceremony will take place in Washington, DC on September 5, 2007 at the Willard Continental.

The Grammy’s On The Hill ceremony presents awards to outstanding individuals who have improved the environment for the creative community. Among the award recipients are performers Missy Elliott, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill and Kelly Clarkson, senators Lamar Alexander, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, representative Mary Bono, and congressman John Conyers.

Tafia L. Allah-Pringle, the publicist for Lil’ Kim Cares stated that, “Lil’ Kim has added her celebrity to the MusiCares Foundation. She joins a list of celebrities in donating a few of their collector’s items for this year’s Silent Auction to benefit MusiCares which is the charitable arm of the GRAMMYs that provides a safety net of critical services and programs to members of the music community facing a medical, financial, or personal crisis.”

Lil' Kim Cares Foundation focuses on programs that provide positive impacts in communities worldwide. The Foundation raises funds, resources and awareness for national programs that assist with issues of homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, transitional living, child neglect and violence against women in impoverished neighborhoods.

Red Versus Blue

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:24:56 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Mission Australia and Make-A-Wish Australia are two charities reaping the benefits of the Microsoft sponsored ‘Red V Blue’ Charity campaign. Microsoft enlisted the help of some top-notch celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Kanye West to sign one-of-a-kind airbrushed Xbox 360s before putting them up for bids on eBay to raise money for the two charities.

Only 30 exclusive Red v Blue Xbox 360’s are being offered during the course of the four-week auction. Each console is hand painted with the artists face on one side, and their signature on the other. Raising money for Mission Australia, team Red members include Snoop Dogg, Neyo, Ice Cube, Justin Timberlake, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna and Kanye West. On the other side and raising money for Make-A-Wish Australia, are team Blue members: Lupe Fiasco, Evermore, Linkin Park, Talib Kweli, Paramore and Eskimo Joe. Bidding is currently open on Ebay, and so far, team Red has raised over AU$1,200 ($1000) and team Blue has raised AU$283.00 ($250). I’d get ’em while you can, as they no doubt will become collectors items and a must have for Xbox junkies.

Billy Joel - A Philanthropic Man

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:26:01 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Billy Joel is back with his first new song since 1994 – sort of. The 58-year-old singer has made a triumphant return with “Christmas in Fallujah”, a protest song about the war in Iraq, with proceeds going to charity.

“I guess [it’s] just a cumulative effect of this war,” said the Grammy winning singer about how he came to write the song. “We’ve been there longer than World War II. I’ve been getting mail from service people over there, and there seemed to be a similar theme running through the letters, which was a sense of alienation from the home front. I think a lot of people are starting to feel like they’re forgotten.”

However, don’t expect to hear Joel’s trademark piano on the recording – in fact, don’t expect to hear much of Joel himself. The semi-retired entertainer decided to let a young musician from Long Island, 21-year-old Cass Dillon, take the lead vocals.

“I wanted to help somebody else’s career,” said Joel. “I’ve had plenty of hits. I’ve had plenty of airplay. I’ve had my time in the sun. I think it’s time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience.”

Proceeds from the song, available on iTunes, will go to Home For Our Troops, a non-profit organization that builds specially adapted homes for severely disabled veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a cause close to the singer’s heart, and earlier this year he contributed to Five For Fighting frontman John Ondrasik's CD produced exclusively for troops stationed overseas. The compilation also featured songs donated by Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban.

“I don’t get up on a soapbox and do political messages,” said Joel in Rolling Stone Magazine. “I believe in talking about the human being, and the conditions humans find themselves in. I never liked it when a rock star got up on stage and told people how to vote. I find it insulting. But I believe if an artist feels strongly about something, it should be reflected in their art. Ultimately, everything’s political. Even love is political.”

Billy Joel is certainly no stranger to philanthropy, a fact that was recognized when he was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in 2002 for his accomplishments as a humanitarian. Joel is well known as being a supporter of several causes, and contributes regularly to organizations around his hometown of Long Island. Over the years he has played benefit concerts for Charity Begins At Home, Farm Aid, USA For Africa, several AIDS groups, the United Service Organization, as well as many concerts to raise money for environmental causes, such as Sting's Rainforest Benefit Concerts in the late 1990s, and Don Henley's Concert For Walden Woods. While on tour in Japan in 1994, Joel experienced the disastrous Kobe earthquake, and donated the proceeds from several shows to relief efforts.

Joel’s record for benefit concerts looks set to continue into 2008, with the singer being booked to headline the Soles4Souls Opening Night at WSA concert on February 21 at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas.

Soles4Souls is a non-profit organization with a simple aim – to change the world, one pair of shoes at a time. The foundation was established by Wayne Elsey during the Asian Tsunami in December, 2004, with the idea to donate shoes to people devastated by the disaster. A quarter of a million shoes were donated by shoe companies and individuals, and another three quarters of a million were donated after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“I’m happy to be able to help people with such a simple mission,” said Elsey. “The growth of this organization has been rapid and I am excited to get involved on a daily basis so that I can devote more time to a cause that makes a difference in people’s lives.”

The benefit concert will be hosted by Miss Massachusetts 2005, Cristina Nardozzi, who appeared in the movie “Ocean’s Thirteen” and also hosts “The Good Show”, a celebrity-driven television program that features stars and their favorite celebrities.

Tickets are available at www.openingnightatwsa.com.

Don Henley Gets To The Heart Of The Matter

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:28:52 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The music of the Eagles is many things to many people, reminding some of their youth, and others of the canyons and deserts that make up the wild, untouched areas of America. And now fans have the chance to own a piece of music history, with the proceeds going to save the wide open areas the band’s songs represent.

Until December 31, the Eagles are offering hand-signed Takamine guitars to benefit the Walden Woods Project, an organization that is leading the fight to preserve a historic area of forest, generally regarded as being the birthplace of the American conservation movement.

The project was founded by Eagles drummer and six time Grammy winner, Don Henley, in 1990 to protect the Walden Woods area in Massachusetts from development. He spent much of his own money on buying tracts of land and making the area into a nature reserve. The area served as the inspiration for the writings of 19th Century philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, and also guided the creation of the US National Parks system. The project seeks to preserve the area, and also offers a variety of environmental programs for students and teachers. The organization recently launched an international initiative in which students from the US and abroad can take part in environmental discussions, and also mentors them in undertaking stewardship projects in their own communities.

“It has protected nearly 140 acres of land surrounding Walden Pond,” said Henley, referring to the project in Philanthropy Magazine. “About 65 percent of Walden Woods’ 2,680 acres is now permanently in conservation, but other historically significant and environmentally sensitive tracts are in urgent need of protection.”

The founding of the Walden Woods project led Henley to establish the Caddo Lake Institute in 1993, to underwrite ecological education and research around Caddo Lake, an area in north-east Texas, close to the Louisiana border. Caddo Lake, well known for its exceptional wildlife, fishing, and bird diversity, is one of the best examples in the southern US of a mature Bald Cypress forest, and the Institute aims to protect the area for all time from developers.

“Caddo Lake, like so many other ecosystems around the world, is in trouble. The health of Caddo’s intricate system of wetlands is in jeopardy. We, as humans, need to reformulate our definition of ‘community’ to include all of the natural world rather than just humankind. We need to focus on the small details in order to gain perspective on the bigger picture. Our natural resources, besides having enormous recreational and spiritual value, form the basis of our entire economy. The exploitation of those resources is key to our standard of living, but we’re not doing it wisely. We are using up our natural capital, especially water, faster than nature can replace it. This is why we emphasize the concept of sustainability at the Caddo Lake Institute.”

Henley says he first became an environmental activist in the 1970s, “That was part and parcel of being in a band back then. The activism of some of my peers, including Neil Young, Jackson Browne, and Bonnie Raitt, was a big influence on me.”

His first benefit concert was for the Chumash Indians, a tribe native to Southern California. Gradually, he became more involved in the environmental issues the tribe represented, and soon started to concentrate on other areas of concern. His first real effort at doing something active came in 1982 with the establishment of Mulholland Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Santa Monica Mountains and foothills near Los Angeles. Since then he has been involved with a myriad of benefit concerts for the environment, often joining Sting and Billy Joel on stage.

“It’s about passion,” explained the singer. “Passion for building communities – at both the local and global levels. Nature is a part of my spiritual life. When I see nature, I see a divinity that sustains my heart and soul. Nature is a divine force in the universe.”

In 2000, Henley co-founded the Recording Artists Coalition with Sheryl Crow, to protect musicians’ rights against common music industry practices, and in this role testified before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary in 2001, and the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in 2003. In 2005, his wife, Sharon Summerall, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the couple is now actively involved with organizations that assist with treatment for the disease.

In 2007, Henley was made MusiCares Person of the Year for his commitment to conservation, and raised over $85,000 for the charity by auctioning hand written lyrics to his songs, as well as other memorabilia from his career.

But the singer still wishes he could do more to save the natural heart of the country he loves.

“I have an abiding sense of awe and curiosity about the world – and I care deeply about the future of it,” he said. “I don’t put a lot of thought into whether or not I am a role model for other people’s actions. My parents taught me that if something needed doing, you get up and do it. I’ve had a great deal of help with the Walden Woods Project, not only from friends and colleagues, but from people I hardly know. I do not like to ask for help and I really have an aversion to asking for money. I wish I had the resources to do all that I want to do – to do everything that needs doing.”

The signed Eagles guitars are only available from www.samsclub.com for $2,500 each.

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:11:47 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although the Northern Hemisphere is still gripped with winter chills, it has not stopped some celebrities from shedding their clothes… for a good cause, of course.

Latin American pop princess Shakira leads the pack by donating more than 40 items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation Tour to a massive internet auction.

There is an impressive list of garments from the hip-shaking performer’s wardrobe, including a lavender skirt with turqoise and coral beading and a blue tank top emblazoned with the words “For Those Who Love To Rock”. And the demand has been overwhelming, with one dress attracting bids of $10,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $1,126.

“We have bids from all over the world,” said Eric Ganzin, president of Auction Cause. “It’s very exciting.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s Pies Descalzos Foundation, and the money will be used for the construction of a school for impoverished children in North Colombia.

But bidders had better be quick – the eBay auction ends in just a few hours.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has pushed the envelope a little further by allowing naked photos of herself to be auctioned on eBay.

But before you get too excited, they are not all that they appear: the 30-year-old actress originally posed for the photos in a little black dress that was later removed digitally.

The proceeds from the photos will go to the Coalition of Skin Diseases.

And even Donald Trump is getting in on the act… although thankfully he is keeping his clothes on.

A tie signed by Trump is currently up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund, a fund established by radio station Warm 101.3 to help children in the Rochester area.

The story behind the tie is twisty and, you could say, knotty: When a Kodak executive arrived on set for a recent taping of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump objected to his tie. He ordered the executive to replace it with one belonging to one of the security guards.

There are only a few hours left in the auction, and bids have already reached $759.

But the biggest celebrity auction on the Net right now is the 50th Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay. Over 100 items from some of music’s hottest stars is up for grabs, with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

The auction, which runs until February 21, features exciting and priceless items such as the chance to visit the set of LL Cool J's next video, a guitar lesson with Joe Satriani, VIP tickets to concerts by Linkin Park, John Legend, and Rihanna, guitars signed by Richie Sambora, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and Neil Diamond, a microphone signed by Joss Stone, posters and photos signed by Rod Stewart ($167), John Mayer ($170), and Sting ($482), as well as items from Avril Lavigne, Slash, Reba McEntire, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Snoop Dogg.

The internet auction follows a live auction held on February 8 at Aretha Franklin's MusiCare’s Person Of The Year Award ceremony. Items that were up for sale on that night included a private painting lesson with Tony Bennett, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, sheet music to Stairway To Heaven signed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, as well as clothing and instruments donated by Elton John, Slash, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the group that gives out the Grammys, and focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

It's A Big Night In On Thursday

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:28:10 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The seasons may be changing, but there are still enough reasons to cuddle up on the couch in front of the television this week, especially on Thursday when two game shows see celebrities competing for charity. So grab a blanket, a cat, and a loved one, slip into some slippers, pour a drink, and put your feet up for a night on the couch.

The big attraction is NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, which comes to a conclusion this week, with the last two contestants battling it out for good causes and glory. Country singer Trace Adkins will go head-to-head with British media personality Piers Morgan for the finale, with Donald Trump awarding $250,000 to the winner’s chosen charity.

Adkins will perform his new single, You’re Gonna Miss This, during the show, and the song will be available on iTunes immediately after the program is aired. Proceeds from the song will go to FAAN (the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network), which is also the singer’s chosen charity for the show.

“I intend to conclude my time on this show with my dignity intact,” said Adkins. “I will try to be as respectful as Piers will allow me to be.”

But if country music isn’t your scene, and you spend your evenings reminiscing about torn jeans and long hair, then head over to the Fox Network for Don’t Forget The Lyrics. This week’s show will prove that the 80’s really was the best decade for music when REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin competes for MusiCares.

The show’s aim is simple – celebrity contestants compete to win $1 million for their favorite charity by recalling song lyrics from a variety of genres. So far, artists such as Boyz II Men, Kenny Loggins, and Poison’s Bret Michaels have all tried their luck with host Wayne Brady.

And no matter if Cronin wins or not, you are guaranteed to have “I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” still running through your head at 3am.

Celebrities Support SICK Artist Event

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:18:21 +0000

Written by Crystal A. Johnson

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tomiko Fraser, and cast members from MTV’s hit show Rock the Cradle – which features the sons and daughters of celebrities such as Bobby Brown (Landon Brown), M.C. Hammer ( A’keiba Burrell) and Al B. Sure (Lil B. Sure) – came out to support the Be-Do-Have Foundation's SICK Artist event held in Hollywood on Monday, April 13th. The foundation provides funds for uninsured actors, comedians and recording artists. This year there were eight fortunate recipients insurance.

The founders of Be-Do-Have state the foundation name means, “Be inspiring. Do what an inspiring person does so that you can have what an inspiring person has.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner states that the mission of the foundation to provide insurance to independent artists is “a ground breaking idea.” He refers to himself as an independent artist and adds, “…as a recording artist I am strictly independent. I see both sides of the fence. I have been fortunate enough early on to be in a position where I have got stuff taken care of, but I also understand independent artists who don’t have that.”

Mary J. Blige FFAWNs Over New Charity

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:58:25 +0000

Written by Linda Burton

R & B star Mary J. Blige, along with her partner Steve Stoute have announced plans to launch the Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN), a new charity initiative to inspire women from all walks of life to reach their individual potential.

FFAWN, which is based in Blige’s hometown of Yonkers, NY, is intended to help women gain the confidence and skills needed to achieve success.

“Most of my life was centered around living for the moment. I had very few resources and very little real life education to make good decisions,” Blige said. At a recent visit to Roosevelt High School in Yonkers she implored students to “Please get your education. Education is key. Education is power.”

FFAWN will initially focus its efforts in the Yonkers area, and will eventually expand its scope to include the Greater New York area and eventually the entire country.

Please visit FFAWN.org for more information.

Icons Of Music Rock On For Charity

Mon, 26 May 2008 11:12:57 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The second annual Music Rising Icons Of Music auction will be held on 31 May at NYC’s Hard Rock Café, and is to broadcast live by the Auction Network.

Music Rising is a charity founded by U2's The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, and Gibson Guitars CEO Henry Juszkiewicz to help replace musical instruments that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The auction will feature over 400 exciting lots, including one of The Edge’s famous 1976 Gibson Explorers (with an estimated price of $80,000), a Fender Stratocaster previously owned by David Gilmour, a snare drum signed by John Lennon, and Eric Clapton's Roland G-505 guitar used on his Behind The Sun album and on tour with Roger Waters.

The evening will also feature a very special performance from four-time Grammy Award winner Aaron Neville, who has helped bring major attention to some of the charity work being done in New Orleans today. Neville lost everything in the storms of Katrina and brings a unique personal experience to Music Rising, giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness his great musicianship when he brings the spirit of New Orleans to the auction.

A limited number of tickets for the event are currently available for $250.00 each through either Ticketmaster or Hard Rock Cafe New York, with all proceeds going directly to Music Rising. Tickets include entry into the evening portion of the event, special catered services, and a complimentary Icons of Music II collectible auction catalog.

Highlights from the Icons of Music II auction have already toured the world, and have been seen at The Museo De La Moda in Santiago, Chile, The Museum of Style Icons in Ireland, and the Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills. The auction lots will be on display at the Hard Rock Cafe New York from 11am to 10pm daily from Monday, May 26th – Friday, May 30th.

Other items include a hat once owned by Elvis Presley, Madonna's high school yearbook, Elton John's toaster, and Jimi Hendrix’s personalized guitar straps. The auction can be accessed at the Auction Network website.

Attention Country Music Fans: The Grammy Charities Auction Is For You

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of country music might want to head over to eBay to see their current “Grammy Charities Auction”.

Items up for offer include guitars signed by Miley Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, John Foggerty, and Jerry Lee Lewis, CDs signed by Taylor Swift and George Strait, and clothing donated by Rascal Flatts and Trace Adkins.

And if you’re not into country music, there’s a selection of items up for offer that might interest you too, including lots from John Legend, Alice Cooper, Billy Bob Thornton, Joss Stone, and Dave Matthews.

Money from the auction will go to MusiCares, which works to help those in need in the music industry, and the Grammy Foundation, which works with industries, cultural communities and the public to raise awareness of music and arts education.

Grammy Auction Has Something For Everybody

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Another incredible Grammy auction benefiting MusiCares is currently running on eBay, giving bidders the opportunity to pick up some very special memorabilia for a good cause.

The 51st annual Grammy Awards will take place in February next year, and to celebrate there are all sorts of exciting items on offer. Maybe you fancy books signed by Ringo Starr, John Legend, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett, Nelly Furtado, Little Richard, or Carole King, or postcards signed by Rihanna. Or perhaps you would be more interested in grabbing a guitar signed by Stevie Wonder, Coldplay, or the Eagles' Joe Walsh. Or, if strumming chords seems too hard and you want to hear real musicians play, you might want to make a bid on tickets to see Bette Midler, America, or 3 Doors Down. Whatever your taste, the auction has something for you.

So head over to the eBay Grammys Auction now to find yourself a once-in-a-lifetime bargain to raise money for MusiCares, an organization that works to help those in need in the music industry, and the Grammy Foundation, which works with industries, cultural communities and the public to raise awareness of music and arts education.

The auction runs until July 31.

Stars Keep In Time For Charity

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A new series of designer watches featuring memorabilia from rock stars and celebrities is raising money for charity.

California-based Nixon Watches has launched their 2008 LTD collection of watches which incorporates guitar frets, concert ticket stubs, and other items into quality timepieces. The brainchild of No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, the collection features watches designed by musicians such as Ringo Starr, Nikki Sixx, members of Fall Out Boy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Angels and Airwaves, and screen stars Jack Black and Joy Bryant. Proceeds from the watches will benefit the Tony Hawk Foundation, a children’s aid charity that seeks to foster lasting improvements in society, and the MusiCares MAP Fund to help musicians recovering from addiction.

According to the Nixon website, the collection ranges in price from $350 to $1,500, and is available from Barneys New York in Beverly Hills.

British Rockers To Go Acoustic For Mencap

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Kasabian, Stereophonics, Keane, and Razorlight have all signed up to perform at this year’s Mencap Little Noise Sessions which take place across eleven days in November.

The acoustic shows will take place at Islington’s Union Chapel to raise money for the charity, which works with people who suffer from learning disabilities.

“We are really looking forward to playing the show for the Little Noise Sessions on behalf of Mencap,” said Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics. “To be able to do an acoustic show in such an intimate venue and be able to support such a worthy cause will be a really special thing to do and something we rarely get the chance to do. It will be beautiful.”

Of course, there is always the chance of a big surprise at the Mencap Little Noise concerts. Last year, Bono and The Edge from U2 took to the stage unannounced and played four acoustic songs.

DJ Jo Whiley will once again host the event, and tickets are available from the Mencap Music website.

The Killers Play Surprise Charity Gig

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Killers played an unannounced acoustic set at the first of Mencap's Little Noise Sessions in London on Saturday night.

The British rockers made their surprise appearance at a show that also featured Glasvegas, White Lies and Cage The Elephant. They played 3 songs, including Human, Smile Like You Mean It, and an inspired performance of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

Surprise acoustic performances are a traditional part of Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions. Last year, Bono and The Edge from U2 took to the stage unannounced and played four acoustic songs.

The sessions take place over eleven nights at Islington’s Union Chapel to raise money for the charity, which works with people who suffer from learning disabilities. Kasabian, Stereophonics, Keane, and Razorlight are all scheduled to perform over the next week and a half, and tickets are available from the Mencap Music website.

Neil Diamond To Be Honored As 2009 MusiCares Person Of The Year

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

On February 6, 2009, Grammy-winning recording artist Neil Diamond will be honored as the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year during the 19th Annual Gala Benefiting the MusiCares Foundation.

Proceeds from the annual Grammy Week gala dinner and concert honoring Diamond will provide support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn to in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The legendary “Solitary Man,” “Sweet Caroline,” and “Song Sung Blue” singer/songwriter will be honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year not just for his artistic achievements, but for his philanthropic work as well. Diamond has been very generous in his charitable donations over the years and most recently has been donating 100 percent of merchandise sales from his October concerts in Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma City to the hurricane relief efforts in Texas for areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

“As we enter the next 50 years for The Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards, and approach the 20th anniversary of our MusiCares Foundation, it is fitting that we honor a most enduring artist and songwriter whose musical influence is truly unmatched — the extraordinary Neil Diamond,” said MusiCares Foundation President/CEO Neil Portnow.

The 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will include a special online auction – using real-time bidding technology – to be broadcast live worldwide on Auction Network. The silent/live auctions will be followed by the gala dinner, an award presentation and a tribute concert.

For information on purchasing tables and tickets to the event, contact Dana Tomarken at MusiCares, 310.392.3777 or go to the MusiCares website.

Mencap Gains New Celebrity Ambassador

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Written by Aime Pingi

UK charity Mencap – which works with people with learning disabilities – has just acquired a new ambassador, the English comedian and actor Mathew Horne, who will help promote awareness of learning disabilities.

30 year-old Horne was nominated for Best Male Comedy Newcomer at the 2007 British Comedy Awards and is best known for playing the role of Gavin Shipman in the BBC Sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

Horne revealed that he would be supporting the charity during the Little Noise Sessions at The Union Chapel of Union in London.

He also said he was looking forward to helping Mencap raise much needed funds, awarness and hopes to keep things humorous at the same time.

“I am absolutely honored to become an ambassador. It is a brilliant charity and one that is very dear to my heart,” he added.

Many other celebrities are involved with this charity, including actor Christopher Eccleston, investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre, actress Kellie Shirley, Newcastle-born actress and TV presenter Donna Air, Paula Sage – who became an ambassador after she won a Bafta award for her role in the film Afterlife – actor and singer Will Young, and Lisa Scott Lee.

It's Business Time For The Flight Of The Conchords

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Grammy award-winning comedy duo Flight of the Conchords are part of a huge new auction being run to raise cash for charity.

The Conchords shot to fame in 2007 when their quirky television series debuted on HBO and immediately received ratings and critical acclaim. Originally from New Zealand, the duo uses a mix of music and comedy to make witty and deadpan observations on society. Their new series starts next month.

Now – as part of the annual Grammy Charities Auction – you have the chance to bid on an acoustic guitar, DVD and CD signed by “New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.”

The auction is raising money for MusiCares – which works to help those in need in the music industry – and the Grammy Foundation, which works with industries, cultural communities and the public to raise awareness of music and arts education.

Also up for auction are guitars signed by the Jonas Brothers, Slash, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mayer. But if you don’t know one end of a guitar from another, don’t worry – there are plenty of other great items, such as signed posters from the Dixie Chicks and Robert Plant, clothes from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood, and the chance to have lunch with John Stamos or meet Donny and Marie Osmond.

But wait – there’s more!

Maybe you would be interested in handwritten lyrics from Annie Lennox, a sketch by Anthony Kiedis and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or a photo signed by Good Charlotte. There are also a stack of CDs and other items signed by Steven Tyler, Rascal Flatts, Richie Sambora, Avril Lavigne, and many others.

The auction is live right now on eBay and ends on December 11.

Project Angel Food Hosts Celebrity Shopping Spree

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:30:00 +0000

With the Holidays around the corner, Project Angel Food kicked off their annual DIVINE DESIGN on Thursday December 4th, celebrating style and philanthropy with a big dose of holiday shopping.

David Arquette, Eric McCormack, and Elton John's partner David Furnish were some of the stars who helped out during the weeklong event, in which top designers sold fashion, furniture, beauty and gift items, with proceeds going to provide meals for victims of HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. For every $5 spent at Divine Design, Project Angel Food can cook and deliver a meal to someone facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses.

Divine Design kicked off in the heart of Beverly Hills with a special gala evening held at the Beverly Hilton, featuring a runway show presented by Divine Designer honoree, Tadashi Shoji, and an awards presentation. Honors were also given to Man of Style, David Furnish and Woman of Style, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Over 500 celebrities, designers and supporters of Project Angel Food attended the opening night which also included a live fantasy auction and an exclusive night of VIP shopping. Following the awards ceremony, the gala attendees returned to shopping in the marketplace at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard (formerly Robinson’s May building and generously donated by Candy & Candy), where cash registers rang in the holiday shopping season all in the name of love. The Divine Design marketplace opened to the public on Friday December 5th at 11am.

Opening night attendees enjoyed NUVO Cosmopolitans and listened to jazz and blues by KJAZZ.This year’s gala night also featured one-of-a- kind Live Auction items to bid on including a unique BARBIE Holiday Tree donated by Mattel and created by the lead designer for Barbie; a New York Fashion Week package which includes first class airfare for two on American Airlines, front row tickets to the Tadashi Shoji Show at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park and a dress made especially for you by Tadashi Shoji himself; sponsor a day of meals for Project Angel Food clients. These fantastic auction items and others were auctioned off by the vivacious auctioneer, Ed Beardsley of Bonhams & Butterfields and the beautiful actress and Project Angel Food supporter, Lisa Rinna.

One of the companies that donated items to the event was luxury bag designers Trina, who provided over $20,000 worth of products to the event. For anyone who wasn’t able to make it to the shopping event last week, Trina are currently auctioning off some celebrity-sign bags online, with all proceeds to go to Project Angel Food.

Visit eBay to bid on bags autographed by John Mayer, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Neil Patrick Harris, and the casts of Ugly Betty and Lost.

Divine Design was born 16 years ago in response to the devastation the design community was experiencing from HIV/AIDS. Since its inception Divine Design has raised more than $13 million to help fund Project Angel Food’s meal-delivery program throughout Los Angeles County. Founded in 1989, Project Angel Food provides life-sustaining meals and nutritional counseling each day to more than 1,400 men, women and children disabled by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Thanks to a devoted core of 1,500 volunteers, meals are cooked and delivered daily to people’s homes throughout Los Angeles County.

(Photos copyright Alex J. Berliner)

Look To The Stars News: Unemployment/Career Support

Fats Domino - Alive and Kickin'

Related past articles

The Edge's Music Rising

Related past articles

Green Day and U2 single to benefit Music Rising

Related past articles

Chris Cornell To Be Honoured For Charity Work

Related past articles

Music Memorabilia Charity Auction Raises $2.4 Million

Related past articles

eBay Busy With Charity Auctions

Related past articles

“Stairway to Heaven” Guitar to Benefit MusiCares

Related past articles

Lil' Kim Cares About Charity

Related past articles

Red Versus Blue

Related past articles

Billy Joel - A Philanthropic Man

Related past articles

Don Henley Gets To The Heart Of The Matter

Related past articles

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Related past articles

It's A Big Night In On Thursday

Related past articles

Celebrities Support SICK Artist Event

Related past articles

Mary J. Blige FFAWNs Over New Charity

Related past articles

Icons Of Music Rock On For Charity

Related past articles

Attention Country Music Fans: The Grammy Charities Auction Is For You

Related past articles

Grammy Auction Has Something For Everybody

Related past articles

Stars Keep In Time For Charity

Related past articles

British Rockers To Go Acoustic For Mencap

Related past articles

The Killers Play Surprise Charity Gig

Related past articles

Neil Diamond To Be Honored As 2009 MusiCares Person Of The Year

Related past articles

Mencap Gains New Celebrity Ambassador

Related past articles

It's Business Time For The Flight Of The Conchords

Related past articles

Project Angel Food Hosts Celebrity Shopping Spree

Related past articles