USA: MUSICAL SUPERSTARS SHARE THE STAGE AT CARNEGIE HALL FOR A CONCERT BENEFITING THE RAINFOREST

Record ID: 387566

  • Title: USA: MUSICAL SUPERSTARS SHARE THE STAGE AT CARNEGIE HALL FOR A CONCERT BENEFITING THE RAINFOREST
  • Date: 27th April 1998
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SIDNEY POITIER SAYING, "WE ASK OURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE OUR WORLD BETTER AND SAFER. IT HAS TO BEGIN WITHIN OURSELVES."
  • Embargoed: 12th May 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA10JSBTV9TTGNL3BJWWPSOZ3VJ
  • Story Text: New York's Carnegie Hall has seldom seen a stronger musical line-up.Heavy-weights Elton John, Billy Joel and Sting shared the stage to raise cash for the preservation of rainforests.

    Elton John and Emmylou Harris belted out a playful rendition of the late Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man" at the Rainforest Foundation International's (RFI) ninth annual benefit concert.

    John, wearing his trademark sunglasses and a huge cowboy hat, danced with RFI co-founder Sting, a long-time environmental campaigner.

    Sting and his wife Trudie Styler started RFI in 1989 after a trip to the Amazon where they were asked by a native leader to help save the threatened forests.RFI aims to raise money for various forest conservation projects and to increase public awareness about rainforest destruction.

    Styler, who produces the annual concert, told the audience the last 12 months would be remembered as the year the world caught fire, citing blazes in Brazil and Indonesia.

    She also paid tribute to friends who had died in the last year, especially Linda McCartney for her environmentalist beliefs.

    Sting sang his song "Fragile" in tribute.Other performers included Billy Joel, James Taylor, Roberta Flack and Joe Cocker in a concert expected to raise about two million U.S.dollars.

    Actor Sidney Poitier also spoke, saying the motivation to improve global environmental issues had to come from individuals themselves.

    He was followed by a colourful performance from the cast of Disney's Broadway show "The Lion King".
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