Michael Dorf has already raised $350,000 for music education via tribute concerts honoring Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, and R.E.M. On March 2 the New York concert promoter hopes to up the ante with an eclectic lineup saluting the Who. (Surviving members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend are pictured at left with new rhythm section.)
The event takes place March 2 at Carnegie Hall. So far Bettye LaVette, Jason Isbell, Bobby McFerrin, Bob Mould, Gaslight Anthem, Matt Nathanson, Sondre Lerche, The Postelles, Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule, Living Colour, Robyn Hitchcock, the Smithereens, Asaf Avidan, Vanessa Carlton, the Fab Faux, Willie Nile, Nicole Atkins Mose Allison (author of The Who hit "Young Man Blues"), and house band Steven Bernstein & the Music Unites Choir will participate in what should offer cleverly toned-down arrangements of The Who's loud proud legacy.
The tribute will benefit these worthy endeavors:
FIKS (Fixing Instruments for Kids in Schools), which provides funds to repair donated instruments and matches them up with schools in poor neighborhoods with under-funded music programs;
Church Street School for Music & Art, which provides affordable arts education programs for the local community in Lower Manhattan;
The PinWheel Project, which provides activities, diversions, and emotional support for children experiencing a hospital stay;
Music Unites All-Youth Choir, which attracts inner-city high school students from all five boroughs to join an all-city choir, providing high-quality vocal training;
The American Symphony Orchestra's Music Notes Program, which trains teachers throughout New York City to integrate the study of music and concerts into their classrooms; and
Young Audiences of New York, which for 57 years has provided arts and cultural programming to over 300,000 children from pre-K through grade 12.