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Super Stars Unite For Super Storm Relief
On Friday, 11/2/2012, the NBC Universal Television Networks broadcast a one hour star-studded telethon to raise money for the American Red Cross relief effort for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Millions of people were affected by the Super Storm which ripped across the eastern shore of North America causing the most damage from the Carolinas to New England just a few days before Halloween. Even as the telethon aired, millions of people were still without power and in need of common necessities like food, water and shelter.
Among the luminaries that participated in the telethon were Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford from the legendary rock band Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige, Sting, Christina Aguilera, Mark Rivera of Foreigner, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Bon Jovi, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Joel, Jon Stewart and Matt Lauer. The show aired on the NBC Universal Networks from eight o’clock until nine and was offered freely to any other networks that agreed to air it. Most of the other major broadcast and cable networks declined that offer, but ran their own appeals for the American Red Cross at various times during their regularly scheduled shows.
Matt Lauer, co-host of The Today Show on NBC, came up with the idea for the fund raising event while touring the Sandy ravaged area of Breezy Point, Queens, New York City. Over one hundred homes in that area were destroyed by a fire which started shortly after Sandy hit. Firefighters and other First Responders could not gain access to the area due to flooding. Ironically, that is an area of Queens where many Firefighters live. It’s also an area that lost over 80 residents to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and a plane crash that occurred there a short time later.
Viewing the the utter devastation first hand, Matt Lauer saw the need to help the American Red Cross raise funds to help all the victims of Sandy. Knowing that the New Jersey coast was also decimated by Sandy, he called musical superstar, philanthropist and New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi to find out if some sort of a relief concert could be organized. Lauer had no idea that Bon Jovi was in England at the time, but the rocker immediately boarded a plane and headed back to the USA to help. After touring Sayreville (where he grew up) to raise awareness of the needs there, Bon Jovi began contacting other musical legends to help Lauer put together the telethon.
In less than 24 hours the event was organized and approved by NBC. On Friday morning the legendary rock band Aerosmith performed in Rockefeller Plaza. The event was attended by thousands of fans and broadcast live during The Today Show. While appearing as a guest on the morning program to promote the telethon, Jon Bon Jovi spoke to Steven Tyler and asked if he would participate in the event? Tyler immediately agreed, followed shortly afterward by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. By show time on Friday evening the hour was filled with an amazing array of talent.
Christina Aguilera who was born in the Sandy devastated area of Staten Island introduced the program and then gave a powerful rendition of ‘Beautiful’ backed by a pianist. Mary J. Blige, born in the Bronx, New York City, also offered some encouraging words before singing her upbeat ballad “The Living Proof”. Long Islander Billy Joel performed a re-worked version of ‘Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway” with new lyrics to fit the current disaster in the New York and New Jersey areas. Sting who has made his home in New York City from time to time played an amazing acoustic version of The Police hit “Message In A Bottle”. In a truly WOW moment, Steven Tyler played the piano and sang “Dream On” while being backed up by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band finished off the evening by rocking the house with “Land of Hope and Dreams”.
Although many of the people that will be helped by the tens of millions of dollars raised during and after the telethon were not even able to watch it because they had no power, there is no doubt that the word will get back to them that people care thanks to the talented artists who participated in the special event. With months of painful recovery ahead for the Sandy stricken areas, the Red Cross can use every dollar anyone can donate to their relief effort. Donate by visiting http://www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999.
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