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above: Enjoying the pre-concert artists reception are (from r.) MFY president Charlie Feldamn, Destiny Child's Michelle Williams, MFY executive director Jon Marcus and executive vice president Karen Sherry.
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Tribute to Joni Mitchell Raises $130,000 for Music for Youth Foundation
On February 1, 2006, a sold-out Carnegie Hall audience cheered 23 artists saluting singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. The roster of performers was as eclectic as it was impressive:
Laurie Anderson
Assembly of Dust featuring Sonya Kitchell
Shawn Colvin
Marc Cohen
Judy Collins
Cowboy Junkies
eels
Amy Grant
Richie Havens
Landmark Coalition High School Jazz Trio of Midori and Friends.
Bettye LaVette
Jesse Mallin
Nellie McKay
Me'shell N'degeocello
Pharoah's Daughter
Tom Rush
Jimmy Scott
Neil Sedaka
Martin Sexton
Joanne Shenandoah
Suzanne Vega
Michelle Williams (of Destiny's Child)
Wood Brothers
In addition to the financial accomplishments, the event was a critical success. Here's a sampling of the reviews:
"(A) night adventurous enough to deserve Mitchell's difficult, hungry spirit." - New York Daily News
"Songs…flaunt their staying power…fascinating…" - The New York Times
"(A) dazzling tribute…" - Reuters
"The legendary singer-songwriter would have loved it." - Newark Star Ledger
"(A) tribute concert that was a model of its kind." - Hollywood Reporter
The salute to the music of Joni Mitchell was conceived and produced by Music for Youth Foundation board member and impresario Michael Dorf.
The concert was preceded by a gala artist reception at Carnegie Hall attended by many of the performers and by guests who purchased benefit tickets. Other luminaries in attendance included country superstar Vince Gil, New York rocker Lou Reed, the driving force behind Destiny's Child, Beyonce's dad, Mathew Knowles and recording artist, Phoebe Snow.
The Music for Youth Foundation extends its thanks to all of the artists and to our sponsors and donors, as follows:
Diamond
Carol and Sam Nappi
Platinum
American Express
New York Health & Racquet Club
Gold
ASCAP
BMI
e-music
Larry Miller
Oliebollen.com
Larry Miller
Tim Olper
Vector Research Management
WFUV-FM
Be sure to visit our Photo Gallery from this event >>
About our Gala Events in partnership with the
UJA-Federation of New York:
MFY fundraising efforts were expanded through benefit luncheons honoring BMI’s Frances Preston in 1997 and MTV Network’s Tom Freston in 1998. As a result, the Tom Freston Musical Instrument Lending Library was established at Bronx House, a community center in the northeast Bronx. The Foundation continued to enhance fundraising efforts with the first Spirit of Music Award in 1998, honoring Atlantic Recording Corporation’s Ahmet Ertegun. The Spirit of Music was next bestowed upon Russell Simmons, founder, chairman, and chief operating officer of Rush Communications, and Lyor Cohen, then president of The Island Def Jam Music Group and currently the head of Warner Music Group’s U.S. operations. John Frankenheimer, co-chair of Loeb & Loeb LLP, received the 2000 Spirit of Music Award for his outstanding record of achievement in entertainment law, with a special appreciation for his efforts on behalf of musicians worldwide. In 2003, the Spirit of Music Award was bestowed upon Joel A. Katz, chairman of law firm Greenberg Traurig’s international entertainment practice, at a gala dinner chaired by Roger Ames, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Group, Alain Levy, Chairman & CEO, EMI Recorded Music, Doug Morris, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group, Thomas D. Mottola, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, and Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chairman & CEO, BMG. Joe Galante, Chairman of the RCA Label Group, served as the journal chair, while Jeffrey T. Dunn, President and COO of Coca-Cola North America and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, then President & CEO of Arista Records were the national committee chairs.
In 2002, the Music for Youth Foundation and the UJA-Federation of New York inaugurated the Music Visionary of the Year Awards Luncheon honoring Fred Davis, Founder and co-partner, Davis, Shapiro & Lewitt, and Daniel Glass, President, Artemis Records for their dedication to family, friendship, and philanthropy. Music leaders in the mix at that event included luncheon chairs Polly Anthony, Charles Goldstuck, Craig Kallman, Jeff Kwatinetz, Guy Oseary, Kedar Massenburg, David Munns, L. A. Reid, Sylvia Rhone, Andy Slater, Mitch Slater, John Sykes, Van Toffler, Barry Weiss, and Tom Whalley; tribute journal chairs Lyor Cohen, and Monte Lipman; auction chair Ken Lane; east coast chairs Charlie Feldman, Jason Flom, and Evan Lamberg; and event hosts Danny Goldberg and Steve Shapiro. Clive Davis, chairman and CEO of J Records, made a special toast and Wyclef Jean presented a $25,000 check to 18 year-old soprano Briana Shaw Rossi, one of 2002's winners of the Music for Youth Foundation’s scholarships recognizing musical excellence. The Music Visionary of the Year Awards were bestowed in 2003 upon Kevin Liles, President of Def Jam Music Group and Executive Vice President of the Island Def Jam Music Group, and Charles Goldstuck, President and COO of the RCA Music Group.
The Music for Youth Foundation and UJA-Federation of New York Entertainment, Media & Communications Division hosted the 2004 Music Visionary of the Year Awards Luncheon honoring David Munns, Vice Chairman, EMI Music Worldwide, and Chairman and CEO, EMI Music North America and Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc., at the opulent Pierre Hotel Ballroom in New York City.
Hosted by Jeff Garland, the spectacular event featured special performances by the Young People's Chorus of New York City, EMI's S-Curve Recording Artist Joss Stone, and the legendary Anita Baker.
As part of the event, Music for Youth awarded $25,000 Scholarships to two very worthy recipients, Tim Michael Sawyier and Matthew J. Marantz. Click on their names to see more about the winners.
The most recent recepient, in 2005, was Chairman of Warner Music Group, Edgar Bronfman, Jr . Once again, the event was held at the Pierre. Hosting the event was Sean "Diddy" Combs with the audience thrilled by a stellar performance by James Blunt.