Cray, BSBs Aid Red Cross

In response to this week's terrorist attacks, many artists, from the Robert Cray Band to the Backstreet Boys, have offered up donations to the American Red Cross and are calling upon fans to do the same.

The Robert Cray Band will go on with a scheduled show on September 15th in Seattle and donate all proceeds from the show to the Red Cross. Concert organizers are all donating their services to the event in order to make the full amount of proceeds available to relief efforts. Tickets not already sold for the event will be offered on a two for one basis in hopes that ticket buyers who save on their second ticket will use that money as a donation to the Red Cross. Local station KMTT will work with the Red Cross to collect donations. "We, along with everyone else, are shocked and saddened by this week's events on the East Coast," Cray said, "and we hope that contributing the proceeds from this show can be of some help."

Clear Channel Entertainment, who produce most live entertainment events in the U.S. set up the Clearchannel.com Relief Fund where minimum donations of $10,000 from ticket sales to Clear Channel affiliated events will be donated to relief efforts. So far, the Backstreet Boys, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are among the artists who've made donations of $10,000 from their respective concerts on September 12th. Prior to the Backstreet Boys' show on September 12th in Toronto, the entire group, their crew and opener Sisqo took the stage and had a moment of silence for the victims of the attacks. One of those victims was Daniel Lee, a crew member for the BSBs who was on one of the hijacked flights from Boston to Los Angeles, heading home to be with his pregnant wife.

Incubus have also announced that they will donate all proceeds from their two sold out shows at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom this weekend to relief funds set up to help the city and those effected by the tragedy. The promoter for the shows, Metropolitan Entertainment Group, and local radio station K-ROCK will also donate their proceeds from the two performances.

A post on U2's official Web site www.u2.com reads: "The people of the U.S. have always been close to U2 and at u2.com . . . we extend our sympathy and condolences to all those affected." The site contains a link to the American Red Cross Web site where donations can be made.

Dave Navarro will have mobile units for blood as well as monetary donations available at his upcoming shows in Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta on September 15th and 21st respectively.

Lonestar, who are national spokespersons for the American Red Cross, are urging Americans to donate to the relief effort. "On this incredibly sad day we ask ourselves, 'What can we do?'" the band said in a statement. "We can make a donation the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW, donate blood and continue to pray for our nation."

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(September 14, 2001)