Mayer and Raitt Raising Another Kind of Green Consciousness:Katrina Aftermath Week in Review

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(More…) While in the afterglow of this past Sunday’s New York Times full dedication to the topic of Katrina Relief and having examined other areas of the matter, including delayed rebuilding efforts,and the right of residents to return to their homes,I have some additional observations to share.

It seems in addition to “greening” the environment and educating fans about the procees,both John Mayer and Bonnie Raitt have been traveling around to Blues Festivals in areas hard hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,including this past April at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The Festival generated revenue and lots of good times and music for the much beleagured area.

Observed All About Jazz reporter Sandy Ingham:

“None of this extramusical context seemed to sap the spirits of the 375,000 paying customers at the Fair Grounds, who made this the biggest Jazzfest since 2003. Most were drawn by superstars such as Van Morrison, Lucinda Williams, Rod Stewart, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, the Allman Brothers and John Legend. Not to mention Harry Connick Jr. It is, after all, JAZZfest.”

Blues Festival e-Guide observed that Raitt’s track record of sharing and giving back is exhausting — from her environmental activism in the mid-’70s to her current efforts to help those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. While touring last year Raitt said of her Bio Diesel powered tour buses: “We’re basically promoting a way to get the economy and the environment and our foreign policy solved in one fell swoop by figuring out why we have to be addicted to oil. Why can’t we switch over to something that’s going to help our economy and help the farmers?”

“Ban the bomb and the civil rights movement and the native American struggle for justice — those things were very, very front-burner in my childhood, as were the ideas of working for peace and if you have more than you need, then you share it with people who don’t.”

John is simply put the “people’s musician”. I dubbed him that several years ago after observing how he engages his fan base.He has a pulse on the tastes,opinions and feelings of his fans who are pretty much like family to him… He is the “people’s musician” because he caters to their tastes,concerns and opinions without losing himself in the process. I would say,that’s either a skill that comes naturally or is developed with painstaking attention paid to detail through listening and observation.

He has also given a lot of his time and talent in support of the Global Warming issue and voter education,setting up booths on his current summer tour and has supported similar efforts in the past through Heavier Octaves. In addition, he has played benefit concerts to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims,in both the ReAct Now and Hurricane Relief:Come Together Now Benefits,as well as the Tsunami Benefit: Concert of Hope.

Bonnie Raitt,John Mayer have lent more than their fare share of time to hurricane relief efforts and other much needed programs for humanitarian focus.,including global warming and the conversion of fuel to more sustainable modes of production and consumption.John’s sunner tour is being greened by Reverb the same organization which handled Raitt’s Green Highway program.

Both musicians were also a part of the Hurricane Relief,Come Together Now Benefit CD compilation project . Along with a hostt of others, they contributed their time,talent and energy making it possible for the RIAA to raise funds on behalf of Katrina victims. Mayer performs a duet with Aaron Neville entitled “Heart So Heavy” and Bonnie Raitt performs “I Will Not Be Broken”. Fred Hammond,P.Diddy,James Brown,Kanye west and others are also on the disc:

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Hurricane Relief:Come Together Now A magnificent 2-CD multi-artist benefit album to aid the Gulf Coast victims devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.This special compilation contains new, previously unreleased material by some of the most popular artists from all genres of music as well as classic recordings from New Orleans natives Louis Armstrong and Dr. John. Coldplay, Norah Jones, Wyclef Jean, John Mayer, James Brown, Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt, R. Kelly, Barbra Streisand and Elton John are just a few of the many remarkable artists appearing on this release.

RIAA will donate 100% of its net proceeds from the sale of this CD – at least $15 – in equal parts to the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and MusiCares Hurricane Relief 2005, for their hurricane relief efforts. For more information, please call/email: American Red Cross at 1-800-797-8022/info@usa.redcross.org; Habitat for Humanity at 1-800-HABITAT/publicinfo@habitat.org; MusiCares at 1-877-626-2748/musicares@grammy.com. BET SOS Relief Telethon

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, BET aired SOS: Saving Our Selves, a hurricane relief telethon concert on September 9, 2005, to raise funds for those affected by Katrina. More than $11 million was raised for Katrina victims.

Shelter From the Storm-A Concert for the Gulf Coast

The concert was a cooperative and collaborative global effort between ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, and The WB. Several cable stations have also cleared space for the concert. It featured appearances and musical performances by celebrities from the world of film, television and music. Approximately $30 million was raised for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

VH1-ReAct Now:Music and Relief

ReAct Now: Music & Relief was a four and a half-hour long benefit concert which aired on September 10, 2005. MTV, VH1 and CMT broadcasted the concert, which raised funds for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. John Mayer and Alicia Keys are featured along with other performers.

Jazzfest: Big Boost for Battered New Orleans

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Each Friday I give an audio summary of important developments during the week.Here is a link to my “Week in Review” for June 24-29,2007.Public Service Announcements are also included.

Have a great weekend,

Cynthia