Look To The Stars News: Norah Jones

Paul McCartney Honored As MusiCares Person Of The Year

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Beatles legend Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year at a special event in Los Angeles on Friday, celebrating his exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work.

The sold-out tribute to McCartney benefits MusiCares’ emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs. Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute — now in its 22nd year — provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that members of the music community have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

Hosted by Eddie Izzard, performers included Cirque du Soleil, Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Duane Eddy, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Sergio Mendes and Katy Perry. The evening also featured a special performance by 14-time GRAMMY winning artist and 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Paul McCartney.

Stars To Come Out For Paul McCartney At Charity Gala

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0000

An impressive star-studded cast will come together to honor 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Paul McCartney during a sold-out gala on Feb. 10 in Los Angeles, two days prior to the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Hosted by actor/comedian Eddie Izzard, artists set to perform are current GRAMMY nominees Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, and Katy Perry; GRAMMY-winning artists Duane Eddy, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Diana Krall, James Taylor, and Neil Young with Crazy Horse; two-time Latin GRAMMY-winning artist Sergio Mendes; and the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s “Love” Beatles tribute show. The evening will also feature a special performance by McCartney.

The 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which will celebrate McCartney’s exceptional artistic achievements and philanthropic work, will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction sponsored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation that will offer an exclusive selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The auction will be followed by a gala dinner sponsored by AEG Live, and a star-studded tribute concert sponsored by Acura/ELS. This year’s red-carpet press arrivals will be sponsored by Kinect for Xbox 360 and Dance Central 2. Other event supporters include CenterStaging — A SoundCheck LA Company, Classic Wines of California, Delta Airlines, Double Platinum, Gibson, Global Art, Heineken, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Jackson Limo, Korbel, Patron Spirits Company, Pepsi, and Sweetwater.

Alicia Keys To Honor George Harrison At Celebrity Charity Concert

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Alicia Keys will host her annual Black Ball for charity in New York next month, in honor of former Beatle George Harrison.

Keys’ charity, Keep A Child Alive, will benefit from the concert, which will feature appearances by Usher, Norah Jones, will.i.am and Mary J. Blige, as well as Gary Clark Jr., Jay Sean, Midival Punditz with Karsh Kale and Alicia Keys herself.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of George Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh, the first time artists came together for a concert to benefit single cause. Today, the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support UNICEF programs that provide lifesaving assistance to children, including health, education, nutrition and emergency relief. In the tradition established by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues to support UNICEF programs in Bangladesh while expanding its influence to include other countries where children are in need.

EMI Artists Band Together For Japan

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Artists and songwriters from one of the biggest music companies in the world, EMI, have united for an incredible worldwide celebrity charity auction of personal items and memorabilia to raise funds to help the Red Cross support people affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The charity auction, which will be managed by eBay, features items from some of the world’s biggest stars, including Coldplay, Norah Jones, Katy Perry, Garth Brooks, George Harrison, Darius Rucker, John Lennon, Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Jane Birkin, the Beach Boys, David Guetta, Michael Franti, Lady Antebellum, The Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode, Celtic Woman, 30 Seconds To Mars, Rosanne Cash, Daft Punk, Herbert Grönemeyer, Angela Gheorghiu, Keith Urban, Good Charlotte and The Beatles.

Songs For Japan: Stars Donate Tracks To Charity Album

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 04:30:00 +0000

In what stands as a major global music relief effort to benefit those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, over 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music have joined together for the worldwide release of “Songs for Japan,” an unprecedented compilation of 38 chart-topping hits and classic tracks.

The digital album is available worldwide on the iTunes Store for $9.99. Proceeds from the album’s sale will benefit the disaster relief efforts of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The “Songs for Japan” track listing features an all-star lineup:

Party with Jimmy Fallon on Grammy's Eve

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Jimmy Fallon is set to host this year’s Roots Jam Session on Friday, February 12th, benefitting OpportunityNation, and you could be there, too!

Every year, award season brings the usual array of star-studded parties, but rarely do any of these become a celebrated institution. The Legendary Roots Crew, named one of the greatest live bands around by both Spin and Rolling Stone, have created the ticket to one of the most coveted and exclusive experiences of the season, delivering an innovative and unforgettable mix of musicians performing under one roof.

Jimmy Fallon will act as this year’s host, following in the footsteps of Don Cheadle, John Legend, Jada Pinkett Smith and Dave Chappelle, while Hennessy Artistry will serve as presenting partner. The announcement comes on the heels of The Roots’ 6 GRAMMY nominations, which are split between their two 2010 releases, Wake Up! (with John Legend) and How I Got Over.

Music Legends Support Hungerthon Celebrity Charity Auction

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Some of music’s legendary performers have come together as part of a special celebrity charity auction for Hungerthon.

Hungerthon was started in 1975 as a partnership between WhyHunger and Infinity Broadcasting and has since expanded to become an autumn radio tradition among the New York tri-state area radio stations in the CBS, Clear Channel and Emmis Radio Groups, and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, with support from Citadel New York stations, Last.FM and more.

WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by the singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and radio talk-show host and current Executive Director Bill Ayres.

Farm Aid Launches Celebrity Charity Auction

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Farm Aid 25 takes place in Milwaukee on October 2, and a number of ticket packages are going under the hammer in an online auction to raise money for the charity event.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family-farm centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $37 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

This year’s concert will be held in Milwaukee on Saturday, October 2 at Miller Park. The performing artist line-up includes: Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Kenny Chesney, Norah Jones, Jason Mraz, Jeff Tweedy, Band of Horses, The BoDeans, Amos Lee, Robert Francis, Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real.

Good Morning America Launches Summer Concert Charity Auction

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000

“Good Morning America’s” 2010 Summer Concert Series returned for the second straight year to the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, where music’s biggest names performed live every Friday, from May 21 through August 27. And now you can bid on some special items signed by the bands that took part to benefit Stand Up To Cancer.

Each week, the concert series featured one of the hottest chart-topping acts in the country, including The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Usher; pop sensations Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cyrus; country superstars Sugarland and Lady Antebellum; and the top ten finalists from this season’s “American Idol.”

Each of the artists autographed a special GMA 2010 Summer Concert Series poster on the day they performed and now YOU have the opportunity to own one! All fifteen posters will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit Stand Up To Cancer, a groundbreaking initiative raising much-needed funds for cutting-edge cancer research. The posters, plus photos of many of the artists signing them, are available now.

Top Stars Donate Songs For Tsunami Relief Album

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

The tsunami? Wasn’t that fixed years ago? Not so, says Los Angeles-based non-profit Aid Still Required (ASR), citing tens of thousands who are still looking to restore their lives in Southeast Asia following the disaster.

With an endorsement from former President Clinton’s United Nations Office for Tsunami Recovery, ASR has enlisted the help of many of the World’s favorite musicians to champion this forgotten issue, including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Sarah McLachlan, Maroon 5, John Lennon (estate), Avril Lavigne, Shawn Colvin, Phantom Planet, Ani DiFranco, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Ray Charles (estate), Hunter Payne and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

“We’ve all seen it,” says Bonnie Raitt. “Money pours in when a disaster first occurs. But then the World’s attention turns to other matters and the real work of rebuilding goes underfunded. I’m involved with this project because it will help thousands restore their lives in a sustainable manner.”

Sheryl Crow And Norah Jones Raise Hope For Congo

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Damien Rice, Angélique Kidjo and Mos Def feature on a new 18-track compilation album that aims to raise hope, educate and empower individuals to be a part of the solution to the Congolese conflict.

In the Congo, rape has been used as a weapon of war to perpetrate the deadliest conflict since World War II. For many, the situation in Congo is too bleak, or too distant, to approach. The ENOUGH Project and Mercer Street Records (a signature label of Downtown Music) are seeking to change that attitude with the compilation album “Raise Hope for Congo.”

The idea for the compilation CD was conceived by Shahin Shahida — Unison Agency consultant and the executive producer of the album — after reading Not on Our Watch, a book by John Prendergast, co-founder of the ENOUGH Project, and Don Cheadle, co-founder of the Not On Our Watch organization. Shahida saw the critical need for a compilation to help open the world’s eyes to the crisis.

Female Stars Line Up For Charity On Lilith Fair Tour

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair concert tour has been finalized, with artists such as Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Kelly Clarkson and Missy Higgins joining the bill at selected shows.

The tour will raise funds for women’s charities in each city it visits, and organizers have launched Choose Your Charity on Facebook to help decide the beneficiaries. According to the organizers: "By becoming a fan of the Lilith Facebook page, users can participate in the Lilith-Involver Choose Your Charity campaign, where they’ll have the chance to vote on the pre-selected local women’s charities in their cities.

“The first round of voting goes until 11:59 PM PST on Monday, May 3, 2010. At that time, the top five charities from each city will move on to a second round of voting beginning at 10:00 AM PST on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 and ending at 11:59 PM PST on May 31, 2010. The Lilith founders—Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser and Marty Diamond—will hand pick the local charity winners from the top three charities with the most votes in each city. The 2010 Lilith Tour promises to donate $1 from every ticket sold in a particular city to its chosen local charity, and Sarah McLachlan will personally present a check for the amount raised to charity representatives in each city.”

Stars Added To MusiCares Person Of The Year Charity Event

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Ben Harper and Lucinda Williams have been added to the all-star lineup for the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Neil Young on Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.

They join other performers Jack Black, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, KD Lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor and Wilco. The dinner co-chairs are Warner Bros. Records Chairman Emeritus Mo Ostin, Lookout Management President and Founder Elliot Roberts, and Warner Bros. Records Chairman/CEO Tom Whalley. Two-time GRAMMY-winning producer Don Was will be the evening’s musical director.

Neil Young’s philanthropic work is as renowned as his musical legacy. He was one of the original founders of Farm Aid in 1985, and continues to be an active member on the organization’s board of directors. Each October, he and his wife Pegi organize and host the Bridge School Concerts, a benefit for the Bridge School that he and Pegi helped found. The school ensures that children with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities through the use of assistive technology and the development, implementation and dissemination of innovative educational strategies. These weekend concerts have drawn an international array of musical artists and have raised significant resources for the school.

Stars Stand Up To Cancer On Demand

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Comcast Corporation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together to create the first-ever video-on-demand (VOD) initiative Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand to broaden awareness and raise critical funds for innovative cancer research.

Debuting exclusively on Comcast beginning December 15th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature an extraordinary library of musical entertainment including hundreds of music videos from many of the world’s biggest stars and groups.

Available for no additional cost to viewers in more than 18 million Comcast homes through March 14th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature more than 60 of the viewers’ favorite artists including Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Idina Menzel, Jack Johnson, Sting, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo and other stars of the Metropolitan Opera.

Stars Join Together To Raise Money For Emerging Artists

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Rufus and Martha Wainwright will appear alongside Norah Jones at the second annual Watermill Summer Concert to raise funds for emerging artists.

The show, called ‘Last Show of Summer,’ will take place on Saturday 29th August in the Hamptons and will commence at 5pm. Whilst Martha Wainwright will perform a selection of material from her new project of rare Edith Piaf songs, it is reported that her brother Rufus Wainwright will sing with Norah Jones on stage for the first time.

30 Rock Spoof To Raise Real Cash For Charity

Wed, 20 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A star-studded charity spoof song recorded for television series 30 Rock is set to raise cash for a real-life charity organization.

He Needs A Kidney is a song written and recorded for the comedy series that features hilarious appearances by Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Michael McDonald, the Beastie Boys, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper, Moby, Clay Aiken and many more.

The song is now available for sale as a download on iTunes.com with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation.

Stars To Gather For Iraq War Anniversary Concert

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:53:39 +0000

Next Tuesday, March 18, will see an eclectic array of New York-based musicians gather for a benefit concert on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq.

SPEAK UP! will be a powerful evening of music and activism, featuring performances from Norah Jones, Moby, David Byrne, the Scissor Sisters, Damien Rice, Lou Reed, and many more.

The event, which will also feature an exhibition of injured soldiers by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, is intended to provide people with defined options for action against the war.

Natalie Portman - Beauty, Brains, And Heart

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:01:00 +0000

She may have made her name as Luke Skywalker’s mother in Star Wars, and has since gone on to make some of the most interesting art-house films produced in the last five years, but young starlet Natalie Portman is more than just another Hollywood bimbo. Under the beauty lies a brain and heart many people only dream of possessing.

Born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem, Israel, to an Israeli father and an American mother, the 26-year-old actress comes from a family with a long history of social and political activism. Her grandfather, for example, was a socialist economics professor of the developing world who set up one of Israel’s first Kibbutzes. It was an atmosphere that left its lasting mark on Portman – she became a vegetarian at the age of eight, and joined an environmental dance troupe at the age of 12.

The star of the Star Wars prequels, as well as independent films such as “Closer” and “Garden State”, is an enthusiastic advocate for animal rights, and refuses to wear products made from fur, feathers, or leather. In 2007 she even launched her own range of vegan footwear, and she has also appeared in a documentary in which she trekked through a Congolese national park in search of the endangered Rwandan Mountain Gorilla.

Celebrities Offer Support To Darfur

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:29:43 +0000

The Sudanese region of Darfur is benefiting from several new initiatives this month, all designed to raise awareness and money for the war-torn area. And the biggest effort comes from an independent record label that has waded into the music industry to put its money where its mouth is.

Waxploitation, established in 1997 by Jeff Antebi, is a label for innovative artists that has broken with the tradition of managing “producer/engineers” and instead manages artists as record producers – a huge difference in the industry, and one that has led to a huge shift in industry interests.

But not only are they challenging the way record companies operate, Waxploitation is leading the way with programs to fight poverty and hunger, especially in war-affected Sudan. The label has just released a compilation CD, featuring a host of artists who have donated songs to the effort, which has debuted at number 32 on the iTunes chart and almost sold out its first physical CD printing.

Bid Now For Christmas Gifts

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:21:00 +0000

The countdown to Christmas has begun, and celebrities are doing their best to make holiday shopping easy this year. Several charity auctions have already kicked off to raise money for good causes, including one that may be eBay’s largest sale of celebrity items… ever!

The BID 2 BEAT AIDS online auction will open on December 1, World AIDS Day, and will feature over 1000 specially signed items, ranging from posters to iPods. The annual auction will raise money for LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS fundraising and service charity, and in the past has raised up to $175,000.

The array of memorabilia up for sale this year is simply colossal, with perhaps the most interesting items being a series of “Lend a Hand to LIFEbeat” cards that feature the handprints of over 100 celebrities. Stars such as Britney Spears, Jack Black, and Kathy Griffin traced around the outlines of their hands and decorated their artworks for the auction, and the finished products will make a unique addition to any Christmas stocking.

Natalie Portman teams with iTunes to help FINCA

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:45:21 +0000

Award-winning actress Natalie Portman teamed with iTunes to help the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA).

Portman, who is an Ambassador of Hope for the FINCA organization, was invited by Apple iTunes to produce FINCA’s first charity album. The proceeds from this album will benefit FINCA’s Village Banking Campaign. The album, titled Big Change: Songs for FINCA, is a collection of 16 songs. Some of the artists on the compilation has both old and new tracks from Norah Jones, Tom Brosseau, Sean Hayes, Brett Dennan and many others. It is available now exclusively at the iTunes store for $7.99. The net proceeds will benefit FINCA.

FINCA is an organization that promotes the use of micro-finance to provide financial services to the world’s lowest-income entrepreneurs. In this way they help these entrepreneurs create jobs, acquire assets, and improve their standard of living. Portman has been active in promoting micro-finance for a few years now. She has visited FINCA programs in Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Uganda. She has also taken the message of micro-finance to many schools and organizations by speaking on behalf of the organization.

London and Austin host GuitarTown for charity

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:12:00 +0000

Sir Paul McCartney is among a group of celebrities who have donated giant guitars to exhibitions in both America and England, to be auctioned off over the next few months.

The exhibitions are part of the Gibson GuitarTown Galas And Auctions being held in London and Austin, and feature both 10-foot-high and regular-sized guitars designed and signed by artists and musicians. The sculptures have been on show in the cities for 10 weeks, and will soon be removed in preparation for the auctions, which will benefit a variety of local charities.

“I just fancied playing a big guitar!” joked Sir Paul, who signed a sculpture designed by cartoonist Rosie Brooks entitled And The Crowd Goes Wild. “I think this one will hopefully catch the imagination of the public and whoever is going to buy it at the auction, and raise money for The Prince’s Trust, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy – which are all great charities.”