Look To The Stars News: Eric Clapton

Guitarists Sign Cards For Charity Auction

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Some of the greatest guitarists in the world have taken the time to sign cards for a new charity auction starting this week.

StarCards.org will auction a collection of signed Great Ormond Street Hospital playing cards by legendary & renowned guitar players from the 5th November 2009, including Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Steve Vai, Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Phil Hilborne, Neil Murray, Paul Carrack, Joe Brown, Scott Mckeon, and Ramon Diaz.

The highlight of the auction is a Fender Stratocaster Mark Knopfler signature model guitar donated by Fender UK and Bonnersmusic.co.uk of Eastbourne with a hard case as well as a unique display cabinet donated by Wallsoffame.co.uk. The Fender will be signed and personalised by Mark for the winning bidder and will be on display at Bonners until the 15th November.

The auction starts on the 5th November and finishes 10 days later on Sunday 15th November. To take part in the auction, click here.

Eric Clapton To Hold Annual Charity Cricket Match

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Guitar legend Eric Clapton will lead a group of celebrities and professional sports people in a charity cricket game this weekend.

The annual cricket match will take place on Sunday, July 12, at a school in Surrey, England. The guitarist will be joined by former Rolling Stones member Bill Wyman and cricket stars Wasim Akram and Ryan Sidebottom. Proceeds from the game will go to the Crossroads Centre, a facility set up by Clapton on the island of Antigua to help people and their families whose lives are controlled by alcohol, drugs or other compulsive behaviors make the changes necessary to find new health, a new sense of well- being and a new life of recovery. Additional proceeds will go to the English Schools Cricket Association.

The event will also include net sessions with the players, autograph and photograph opportunities, and an auction that features a guitar signed by Clapton and the opportunity to play in the match.

Tickets to the event – to be held at Cranleigh School – must be pre-booked. Prices are £12.50 for adults and £2.50 for children under 12. Call 01483 542118, e-mail events@cranleigh.org or visit www.cranleigh.org.

Stars Sign Mini For British Forces Morale

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A car signed by some of Britain’s favorite stars will go up for auction at Bonhams Auction House tonight, July 3, to raise money for the British Forces Foundation’s Lap of Honour charity, which aims to boost morale in Britiain’s Armed Forces.

For the last year, the Mini cooper – adorned with a Union Jack on the roof – has been traveling around Britain, gathering autographs from well-known faces such as Michael Caine, Richard Branson, Sienna Miller, Simon Cowell, Terry Wogan, Joan Collins, Roger Moore, Michael Parkinson, Cliff Richard, Ranulph Fiennes, Tom Jones, Hugh Grant, Judi Dench, James Blunt, Katherine Jenkins, Jackie Stewart, Rod Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, Kate Moss, Joe Calzaghe, Elton John, David Beckham, Magaret Thatcher, Eric Clapton, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, Joanna Lumley, Helen Mirren, Gordon Brown, Paul McCartney and many more.

“This fantastic car has been on an amazing journey during our tenth anniversary year,” said Mark Cann, director of the BFF. “It will be a unique addition to any car collection and we’re delighted that Bonhams offered so generously to help us achieve the best bid and raise as much money as we can. The very act of demonstrating support will send a clear message of solidarity to those on the frontline, which will in itself be a significant boost to their morale.”

Proceeds will go to the well-being and esprit de corps of all serving personnel.

To find out more, click here.

Buy Guitar String Bracelets And Support Charity

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Music fans now have the chance to wear their love of Rock on their sleeves for charity.

Wear Your Music is a New York-based organization that creates 100% eco-friendly jewelry that rocks – literally. The company makes used guitar strings from artists spanning the musical spectrum into stylish bracelets. 100% of the proceeds from the bracelets goes to charities of the artists’ choice, such as UNICEF, Rock the Vote, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nordoff-Robbins, MusiCares, PETA, HeadCount, The Nature Conservancy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Keep A Child Alive, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Smile Train and many more.

Over 150 musicians have personally donated guitar strings to the initiative, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Metallica, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Carlos Santana and Death Cab for Cutie.

“These are strings that these musicians have used and would normally throw away,” says co-president and designer Hannah Garrison, “It’s great that we can recycle them and also offer people a chance to wear rock n roll on their wrists.” In addition, the fine silver used on each bracelet is also 100% recycled, as is the DVD case each bracelet comes in. "Supporting good causes and the environment have always been important, but even more so now.”

To check out the bracelets and make a purchase, visit the official Wear Your Music website.

The Big Bid Raises Cash For Charities

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Big Bid – one of the biggest celebrity charity auctions to be held in 2009 – is on right now.

For the entire month of May, items from stars such as Bono, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Ricky Gervais, Cliff Richard, Girls Aloud, Eric Clapton, McFly, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Schumacher, Lulu and many more.

The Big Bid kicked off on May 4 with an event that benefited the Mildmay HIV+AIDS Charity based in East London, in which someone paid £4,200 for the chance to meet Sir Cliff Richard. Other charities that will benefit from the auction include Help for Heroes, Amazing Daisy, CLIC Sargent and more.

To find out more about the auction and start bidding, visit the official Big Bid website.

Eric Clapton Signs Guitar For Leukaemia Children

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A guitar signed by Eric Clapton was just one of the items that were featured in a charity auction held in the UK last weekend that raised over £6,000 (US$8,500) for Children With Leukaemia.

The guitar – which was also signed by Mike Rutherford from Genesis and Procol Harum singer Gary Brooker – went under the hammer for £500 at the event, held in Norwich. Also up for auction was a guitar signed by Green Day, which sold for £840, and a Clapton-signed DVD of a Cream reunion at the Albert Hall that sold for £200.

Children With Leukaemia is the UK’s leading charity dedicated exclusively to fighting Britain’s biggest childhood cancer. For more than 20 years, they have been helping children affected by leukaemia. They fund research into causes and treatments, support families through welfare programmes and campaign on their behalf. Their current fundraising campaign is being fronted by British celebrity Chris Tarrant, and the charity also enjoys support from Jonathan Ross, Judi Dench, Phil Collins, Joanna Lumley, Paul McCartney and many more.

To find out more about the charity, check out their website.

Bid On Celebrity Autographs At Heart Ball

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Autograph Store, a leading online auction dealer of celebrity signed collectibles and memorabilia, is pleased to sponsor the American Heart Association’s charity auction at the Heart Ball on February 7, 2009.

The Heart Ball will be held at the Oasis Convention Center, Springfield, MO at 6:00 p.m. The theme for this year’s Heart Ball is “Heart & Soul Tour 2009.” In addition to bidding on the unique signed celebrity collectibles in the charity auction, attendees can dance to the music of The Allie Catz, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind “World Tour Buffet” provided by Fire & Ice, Touch, Restaurante’ Gilardi, Kai and Bijan’s with dessert provided by Hiland Dairy.

Autograph Store is proud to be the supplier of autographed celebrity memorabilia items for this fundraiser. The Heart Ball charity auction will feature a variety of unique celebrity autographed memorabilia from Autograph Store including albums signed by Aretha Franklin, Billy Idol, Carlos Santana, and Yusuf, and a photo signed by Eric Clapton.

Anthony Nurse, CEO of Autograph Store, is pleased to partner with the American Heart Association for this event. “Autograph Store strives to assist celebrity charity auctions as often as we can throughout the year. It is Autograph Store’s pleasure to be associated with such a vital organization. This is a big event and it is another example of how Autograph Store Charity Fundraising supports charities in increasing their fundraising through our silent and live auction program."

The Heart Ball will raise funds to support American Heart Association cardiovascular disease research which will improve the lives of Springfield community residents. The American Heart Association has allocated over $21 million for 179 research studies at seven institutions in Missouri in the past five years. The vital issue of children’s heart health will also be highlighted at the Heart Ball through the American Heart Association’s Learn and Live Special Appeal. This special campaign focuses on a number of issues including teaching kids about the dangers of smoking, childhood obesity and heart-related birth defects.

Tickets are $125 and for more information interested parties can contact Candy Letterman by phone at (417) 881-1129, or via email at Candy.Letterman@heart.org. Check out the Autograph Store here.

Pick A Guitar For Charity

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:30:00 -0000

A new charity auction featuring rare guitars will take place in New York next month.

Christie’s and C.F. Martin Co. are thrilled to announce the Fine Musical Instruments sale on October 10, featuring a remarkable collection of Martin guitars. In honor of the legendary guitar makers’ 175th anniversary, the sale will include 49 guitars – the majority of them are limited edition prototype guitars culled from the vault of Martin Guitar and have never been offered to the public.

Embraced by artists all over the world, these guitars have helped define every music genre, from country and blues to rock and roll. The sale will pay tribute to this great musical tradition with all proceeds from the 49 lots benefiting The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, an initiative established in 1996 to encourage and support charitable organizations that have a positive impact on the acoustic music community and also provide programs and services that benefit the greater Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania.

“The artistry and craftsmanship of the Martin brand are without equal,” said Kerry Keane, Head of Musical Instruments at Christie’s. “Christie’s is excited to offer a remarkable collection and to support the ongoing work of the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation.”

Highlights of the sale will include an exciting assortment of limited edition proto-types, unique experimental editions, inactive models and signature series. Featured guitars include the D-50 Deluxe (estimate: $24,000-35,000), a D-28 Authentic (estimate: $15,000-25,000), a 00-45ST Stauffer commemorating the 200th birthday of C.F. Martin Sr. (estimate: $4,000-6,000) and a D-50 Koa (estimate: $20,000-30,000). Additional artist signature models Christie’s will be offering include those from Hank Williams (estimate: $10,000-15,000), Eric Clapton (estimate: $1,500-2,500), Sting (estimate: $1,500-2,500), Graham Nash (estimate: $1,600-2,800), Sir George Martin (estimate: $2,400-3,500), and Woody Guthrie (estimate: $1,200-2,000).

More information on the auction can be found at the Christies website.

Angelina Jolie Donates Jacket To Charity Auction

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Angelina Jolie is auctioning off clothes she wore in her latest film to benefit a charity established by Morgan Freeman.

Plan!t Now is an organization that provides people, communities, and companies with the information they need to protect their families, homes, businesses, resources, and documents from the effects of storm and hurricane-related disasters, and the new online auction features a range of celebrity-donated items to raise money to help those in need.

Jolie has donated the jacket she wore onscreen during her up-coming feature Wanted to the cause, and Freeman – her co-star in the movie – has put up opportunities to meet him at his latest theatre appearance and also to join him in a round of golf. George Clooney has donated an autographed pair of boots, and there are also chances to attend concerts by Keith Urban and Eric Clapton.

The auction, which runs on the Charity Folks website, runs until July 1.

Fans of the Eagles should also head over to Charity Folks to check out some of the signed merchandise up for grabs from the classic rockers. There’s a signed guitar, poster, and Long Road Out Of Eden CD on offer, with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation. But be quick, that auction ends tomorrow.

Eric Clapton Donates Paintings To Red Cross Shop

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:32:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton donated over 20 paintings to a sale in Britain last week to raise money for the Red Cross.

The Chelsea Red Cross charity shop – famous for its stock of vintage and designer clothes – has held many successful sale events in the past, although not as successful as this one: over $7,800 was raised.

“The sale was a huge success,” said Cathy Shimmell, store manager. “My wonderful customers and other kind people have been so generous in donating art works to support the Red Cross. I’m very grateful to Eric Clapton, who donated 23 pieces of art work, which turned out to be very popular."

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.

Naomi Judd Heads Up Exciting Auction

Mon, 26 May 2008 11:08:45 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Now here’s something really exciting: Country singer Naomi Judd has teamed up with The Autograph Store, a leading online auction dealer of celebrity autographed photos and signed memorabilia, to sponsor the Huntington, West Virginia, Ronald McDonald House’s Charity Auction.

The auction, which also includes a dinner and dance, will be held on May 31 at the Bellefonte Golf and Country Club in Ashland, Kentucky, and will feature some awesome items including guitars autographed by the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, CDs signed by U2 and Madonna, and photos autographed by Johnny Depp and others.

The Huntington Ronald McDonald House has served more than 8,300 families from southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio, and the Autograph Store is proud to be the exclusive supplier of all celebrity autographed items for this fundraiser.

“We are extremely excited to partner up with a wonderful organization such as the Ronald McDonald House Charity and Naomi Judd,” said Matthew Raines, Executive Vice President of the Autograph Store. “We look forward to furthering our relationship with this organization that gives so much back to its community. The mission of the Ronald McDonald House is to provide families of seriously ill children a place to stay while their child is in the hospital…a home-away-from-home that will enable them to remain together and function as a family in an environment of love, strength and support…an expression of the warmth and caring of the community. It is our distinct honor to help them take another step toward achieving their mission.”

More information can be found at www.autographstore.com.

Eric Clapton - Standing At The Crossroads Of Addiction

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:16 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although regarded by many as one of the best rock and blues guitarists to ever live, Eric Clapton is a man who has suffered for his art. But the succession of addictions and the tragic personal dramas have not stopped the legend from becoming one of the most successful performers in the world today, and have fueled his desire to help those who face the same problems in their daily struggle to survive.

Clapton was born in 1945, in Surrey, England. He was raised by his grandmother and grew up believing his mother was actually his older sister – she was only 16 when he was born. He eventually found out the truth when he was 9 years old, and he took it hard. He became shy and lonely, and took solace in the only thing he could find stability in – blues music.

A proficiency with the guitar led the young teenager to join a band called The Yardbirds in 1963, and the group started to attract a large cult following when they took over the Rolling Stones’ residency at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. Clapton played on The Yardbirds first hit record, “For Your Love”, before leaving the band in 1965 due to their pop-orientated musical direction.

Before he left, however, Clapton started his long association with benefit concerts by joining Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page for a series of 12 gigs in support of Action For Research Into Multiple Sclerosis, a cause he has continued to support over the years.

A brief stint in “John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers” was followed by Clapton’s first shot at the big time – he formed “Cream” with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. A string of hits – such as “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, and “Crossroads” – was unleashed on a music scene where the likes of Jimi Hendrix and The Who were creating a psychedelic stir. Drugs fueled the industry, and Clapton started to feel their attractive lure. It was a relationship that was destined for disaster.

Cream disbanded in 1968, and Clapton spent his time in bands such as “Blind Faith” and “Derek And The Dominos”. He also found a solid friendship with George Harrison, guitarist for The Beatles.

By the time Clapton kicked off his solo career in 1970, he was drinking heavily and was addicted to heroin. His personality became erratic and his live shows suffered as a result. He became reclusive, only leaving his house to secure more drugs and to perform at the occasional benefit concert – during George Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh in 1972, Clapton passed out on stage.

If something was not done quickly, Clapton’s friends could see that he would go the same way as Hendrix and many other stars caught up in the drug culture. Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who, organized a comeback for Clapton to help him beat his addictions in 1973. Although Clapton returned to his art for the rest of the decade, releasing some of his greatest hits, he would not truly kick his alcohol and drug habits until the mid-1980s. He contemplated taking his own life on several occasions, but was only stopped by the realization that if he were dead, he would not be able to drink anymore.

“I thought there was something otherworldly about the whole culture of drinking, that being drunk made me a member of some strange, mysterious club,” Clapton told The Today Show recently. “The stuff that happened to me as a child made me totally insular — I thought I could do all of this on my own. It wasn’t until I was quite a bit older that I finally did ask for help.”

Help came through the continuing support of friends such as Phil Collins, who reestablished a love of music and a sense of self-worth in the artist. In 1989, after two decades of struggling to take control of his inner demons, Clapton declared himself sober and released “Journeyman”, a critically acclaimed album that proved he was back at the top of his game.

Throughout the 1990s, Clapton worked quietly to help others who had fallen into the dark world of addiction. In 1998, he opened the doors to the Crossroads Centre, a facility located on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua, dedicated to helping those who suffer from chemical abuse.

“My vision was to create a centre of the highest caliber to treat people of the Caribbean and throughout the world,” he said. “The centre would be staffed with experienced and internationally recognized professionals. The cost of treatment would be held to the lowest possible level, ensuring affordability and accessibility. And most importantly, this non-profit centre would provide treatment scholarships for people of the Caribbean region and around the world.

“Crossroads is like no other treatment centre. It is the perfect place to begin the road of recovery and utilizes a combination of effective therapies to address addiction and recovery, while capturing the spiritual serenity that many have found unique to Antigua. Within the serene, healing atmosphere individuals participate in a structured 29-day residential 12 step based program that allows clients to experience a whole person wellness approach to recovery.”

Since the Crossroads Centre was opened, Clapton has held two sales of his own guitars to raise money for the non-profit venture – which generated a total of $12 million – and he has also organized two Crossroads Guitar Festivals, featuring stars such as Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. To kick off 2008, Clapton joined Pete Townshend, Ringo Starr, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh at a gig held in a bar in Surrey, to raise money for various Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

As a human being, Clapton will never forget the struggle to beat his addictions, but he believes the only way to get through it all is to keep moving forward.

“In the last couple of years there’s been more action in my life, and drama, than I would have wished for. But I think I’ve learned something from it all. I can’t say tangibly what it is, except that I’m happy to be me and to have survived.”

For more information on how to help those who suffer from addictions, visit www.crossroadsantigua.org.

Bono's Fishy T-Shirt Benefits African Farmers

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:41:01 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bono has designed a new T-shirt for charity, joining a host of other celebrities in an on-going and major charity campaign.

The 47-year-old singer from U2 is the 25th artist to design a shirt for Hard Rock Café’s Signature Series clothing line, an initiative started in 1990 as a way for musicians to raise money for charities of their choice. Sales from the shirts have raised over $6 million for a variety of causes.

Bono’s creation, available for $26 from the Hard Rock website, features his stylized drawing of a fish soaring past the moon, and is adorned with the words “Fish Can Fly”, as well as his signature. 15% of the proceeds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Conservation Cotton initiative – a scheme designed to lift African farmers out of poverty by providing education on proper land management, organic cotton growing techniques, and wildlife conservation. The shirts will also support the trade for aid ethos of EDUN, the conscious consumerism fashion label founded by Bono and his wife in 2005, by being made from 100% African cotton and manufactured by African garment workers.

Other artists to have designed shirts for the initiative in the past include Green Day, who raised money for Amnesty International’s Campaign To Save Darfur, Shakira who chose to benefit Pies Descalzos, Ozzy Osbourne for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, Bruce Springsteen for World Hunger Year, Eric Clapton for the Crossroads Centre, Peter Gabriel for Witness, Sting and Elton John for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Michael Stipe for Artists for a New South Africa, Don Henley for the Walden Woods Project, John Mellencamp for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, and Stevie Nicks for the Special Olympics. Carlos Santana and Aerosmith have also contributed designs. Many of these shirts are still available from the Hard Rock website.

Bono’s “Fish Can Fly” is more than just a phrase – it is a message that tomorrow can be better than today.

A Very Special Christmas

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:14:56 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Christmas may already be upon us, and Santa may at this very moment be squeezing his way down your chimney, but there is still time for one last fix of Christmas shopping.

Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, U2, and Eric Clapton are just some of the stars to be featured on the first ever DVD collection from the “A Very Special Christmas” holiday music series to benefit the Special Olympics.

“A Very Special Christmas – 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection” is out now, and is the latest release in the series that has already raised more than $100 million for Special Olympics programs around the world.

“A Very Special Christmas is a fitting way to spread holiday cheer,” said Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics chairman. “But more importantly, this gift will help bring the joy of Special Olympics to many more children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing them the chance of a new life – a life of participation, pride, friendship, and joy.”

The project was launched in 1987, when record producer Jimmy Iovine decided a Christmas album would be a suitable memorial to his father. His wife Vicki suggested that the album benefit the Special Olympics, which she was working for as a volunteer. Bobby Shriver, son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Shriver, signed on as producer, and A&M Records backed the project with an agreement to cover all costs.

Over the years, A Very Special Christmas has attracted a plethora of heavy-weight artists, and past releases have featured songs donated by Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, the Smashing Pumpkins, Stevie Nicks, Enrique Iglesias, Aretha Franklin, Tom Petty, and Reba McEntire.

“I am full of admiration for the many artists who have helped us,” said Eunice Shriver. “It’s a great tribute that these men and women say to themselves ‘I’ll use my talent to help others’.”

The full list of songs on the 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection is:

Run DMC – Christmas In Hollis
U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Here)
No Doubt – Oi To The World
John Mellencamp – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Sting – Gabriel’s Message
Jon Bon Jovi – Please Come Home For Christmas
Vanessa Williams – What Child Is This?
Eric Clapton – Christmas Tears
Tracy Chapman – Oh Holy Night
Sheryl Crow – Run Rudolph Run
Wyclef Jean – Little Drummer Boy/Hot Hot Hot
Stevie Wonder – Merry Christmas Baby

Clapton Hits the Right Notes for Treatment Center

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:06:15 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Twenty of the world’s greatest guitarists and musicians are teaming up for the Crossroads Guitar Festival, a charity concert taking place in Chicago on July 28th.

The event has been organized by bluesman Eric Clapton to raise money for the Crossroads Centre, a treatment facility set up by Clapton for those who suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. Popular musicians such as Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, and Willie Nelson will join Clapton on stage for the day long concert, to be held at Toyota Park.

Clapton’s vision is to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can “have fun and jam together for the benefit of a good cause.” It is the second time he has organized a Crossroads Guitar Festival. The first was held in Dallas in 2004.

Also as part of his fundraising efforts, Clapton has joined forces with guitar manufacturer Fender to create a series of limited edition guitars and amplifiers. 100 Crossroads Fender Stratocasters and 50 Crossroads Fender ’57 Twin-Amps have been produced, and all proceeds will go towards the Crossroads Center. The amplifiers are being sold as a set with the guitars, and are priced at $30,000 pair. The remaining 50 guitars cost $20,000 each.

Clapton, who suffered from alcohol and drug dependency for many years, opened the Crossroads Center on the Caribbean island of Antigua in 1998. It takes its name from a line in one of Clapton’s most famous songs – “Standing at the crossroads, trying to read the signs to tell me which way to go to find the answer”.

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