Carrie Underwood, Diana Krall, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder Set to Join Tony Bennett at AARP's Drive to End Hunger Benefit Concert
One-Night-Only Benefit Concert Set for September 24th at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP today announced that Carrie Underwood, Diana Krall, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder will join American icon Tony Bennett for a landmark concert event in Los Angeles to benefit Drive to End Hunger, a national effort by AARP and AARP Foundation to end hunger among older Americans. This musical spectacular will take place at the STAPLES Center on Saturday, September 24th and also celebrates the singer's milestone 85th birthday. To date, Drive to End Hunger has organized food and cash donations to provide more than 2.7 million meals through local hunger relief organizations.
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Billed as AARP Presents: TONY BENNETT LIVE IN CONCERT – Benefit for Drive to End Hunger, this one-night-only event will feature songs from Bennett's anxiously awaited new album, Tony Bennett: Duets II, slated for a September 20th release.
"It is terrific to be working with AARP once again, especially for a cause like ending hunger among older Americans, which often does not get much attention. I know this event will make a big difference and I am thrilled to be a part of it and have some of my favorite musical performers join me for the concert," said Bennett.
In celebration of Bennett's birthday, AARP will also construct a 16-foot high electronic "cake" on the STAPLES Center plaza that will allow people to write birthday greetings to Bennett and will show videos of the singer. A vital musical artist at the peak of his career, Bennett is living proof that you can do anything you want—no matter your age—if you're young at heart.
"Tony has successfully captured a whole new generation of listeners and at age 85, he's still a consummate performer at the top of his game," said A. Barry Rand, CEO, AARP. "Not only is he a living legend in the world of music, his dedication to giving back to the community is inspiring, and we're thrilled to have him join AARP in our goal to end hunger for older people in America."
Drive to End Hunger is AARP and AARP Foundation's multi-year commitment to ending hunger for older Americans, nearly six million of whom do not have enough to eat every day. Core components of Drive to End Hunger include building awareness of the issue of senior hunger; collaborating with national partners who share a goal of ending hunger by working to enhance and supplement distribution networks—like food banks and food pantries; generating resources for the cause through individual and corporate fundraising campaigns; local SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) outreach and enrollment assistance; and developing solutions to senior hunger through grant-making.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1.800.745.3000. Visitors to www.drivetoendhunger.org/tonybennett will have exclusive access to performance videos, free song downloads, behind the scenes video footage of Bennett and his singing partners from recording sessions and more.
Alone, Tony Bennett is legendary. In partnership with another singer, he's extraordinary. With worldwide record sales in the millions, and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received fifteen Grammy Awards including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I love the Great American songbook and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to introduce many of these songs to the public. It is a thrill to perform them once again with artists that I admire to create new interpretations of the music I love so much. Add to that the fact that we're going to be able to help millions of Americans through this concert and it's a home run," added Bennett.
Additional information on Bennett's upcoming album release can be found at www.tonybennett.com. For more information about Drive to End Hunger or to get involved, visit www.drivetoendhunger.org.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity. The Foundation is dedicated to serving vulnerable people 50+ by creating solutions that help them secure the essentials and achieve their best life. AARP Foundation focuses on: hunger, housing, income and isolation as our key mission areas. The Foundation envisions: 'a country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable.' Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP. For more information about AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarp.org/foundation.
About Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an artist who moves the hearts and touches the souls of audiences. He's not just the singer's singer but also an international treasure honored by the United Nations with its Citizen of the World award, which aptly describes the scope of his accomplishments. He has placed two-dozen songs in the Top 40, including "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)" and his signature hit, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." Thus far, Tony has earned 15 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as well as multiple Emmy Awards. Named a Kennedy Center Honoree and NEA Jazz Master, The United Nations also presented him with their 2007 Humanitarian Award.
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SOURCE AARP
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