USA: Sting joined by friends Billy Joel, James Taylor and Brian Wilson at his annual benefit concert to help the Rainforest Foundation

Record ID: 863224

  • Title: USA: Sting joined by friends Billy Joel, James Taylor and Brian Wilson at his annual benefit concert to help the Rainforest Foundation
  • Date: 9th May 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BILLY JOEL SINGING "INNOCENT MAN" AUDIENCE LISTENING TO BRIAN WILSON VARIOUS OF BRIAN WILSON PERFORMING "CALIFORNIA GIRLS"
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVAC8JZRUPMAVF2DBJMD8P1IT5AX
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  • Story Text: Sting is joined by friends Billy Joel, James Taylor and Brian Wilson at his annual benefit concert to help the Rainforest Foundation. Their children sing along with them.
    It was a family affair at Sting and Trudie Styler's annual benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on Thursday (May 8). Billy Joel, James Taylor and Sting all hit the stage with their children by their sides singing both with them and without them. For most of the performers that was the highlight.

    "I think having our children perform with us - James Taylor had two of his children, we had Coco our daughter perform and Billy Joel had Alexa Ray - it was very emotional," said Sting after the concert that was attended by Dustin Hoffman, Howard Stern and other celebrities.
    The concert, which has been staged at Carnegie Hall for the past 15 years, is to benefit the Rainforest Foundation Fund that was started by Sting and Trudie Styler after they visited the rainforest in Brazil 20 years ago.
    Its mandate is to help indigenous people around the world stand up for their rights and protect their land. Initially, it sought to protect the rainforest in Brazil but it has since taken up projects in other countries in Asia, Africa and Central America.
    The three hour affair consisted of more than 25 songs including some of the artists' biggest hits like Sting's "Englishman in New York", Billy Joel's "Innocent Man", James Taylor's "Caroline On My Mind" and Brian Wilson's "California Girls" from his time with the Beach Boys.
    Many of the singers performing on Thursday have a history of working together and there was a strong sense of camaraderie on stage.

    "I just wouldn't miss it at this point," said Taylor. "I think of it as...it's one of those rare things that continues and to be able to throw a party like that - put together a performance like that and do it in one night - two days of rehearsal and one night's performance, it's remarkable. Nobody else can do that, that I know of."
    Relative newcomers Feist and Chris Botti also participated in the concert.
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