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Musicians to give concert for disaster relief

By wire services
Published September 2, 2005

James Connors, principal cellist of the Florida Orchestra, and pianist David Matthews will give a concert for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief at 6 p.m. Sunday at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, 3501 San Jose, Tampa. Matthews said the concert will last about an hour and include light classical favorites by Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Saint-Saens, Chopin and others. Donations accepted. Proceeds will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for victims of the hurricane. Information: (813) 253-6047.

BET announces telethon for Katrina victims

BET is the latest network to announce a telethon to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, airing as a two-part, four-hour broadcast Sept. 9.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the network will present a special edition of 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live, followed by the telethon, which continues until 10 p.m.

Russell Simmons, Chris Rock, Wynton Marsalis and rappers Master P, Juvenile and David Banner are among those scheduled to appear.

Announced Thursday, the initiative is in partnership with the National Urban League and the American Red Cross.

Other previously announced efforts include:

- "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," airing on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC at 8 p.m. today. The hourlong special, hosted by Today show co-host Matt Lauer in New York, is scheduled to include performances by Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and Tim McGraw. Leonardo DiCaprio and other celebrities are expected to participate.

- Jerry Lewis' telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, whose first four hours and concluding four hours will feature celebrity appeals for donations for hurricane victims. The annual Labor Day weekend broadcast begins at 9 p.m. Sunday and ends at 5:30 p.m. Monday (check local listings for stations).

- An aid effort by MTV Networks, starting with a Sept. 10 music special airing on MTV, VH1 and CMT. Scheduled performers include Green Day, Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, the Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas and Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. The special also will be available on MTV2, mtvU and VH1 Classic, as well as broadband video networks MTV Overdrive and VSpot.

The Rolling Stones will be the featured Super Bowl halftime performer at Ford Field in February. The Detroit Free Press reported that the Stones have agreed to perform at the Feb. 5 game, the Super Bowl's 40th anniversary.

Vocalist Mick Jagger confirmed to the Detroit Free Press last week that the band was asked by the National Football League to play the Super Bowl, but said no decision was set.

NFL film crews were on hand for the band's Wednesday night show at Comerica Park in Detroit, shooting footage to be aired next week during the NFL's opening weekend, which includes the Detroit Lions' season kickoff Sept. 11.

The Stones also filmed clips backstage before the show, including a teaser to the season-closing extravaganza. The band signed on last month to a season-long promotional campaign with the NFL, which will include use of the Stones' songs and images during football broadcasts.

The Super Bowl has become one of the world's most-watched annual TV events.

MTV's long-running Real World show is no hit with tour magnate Edwin O. Swift III.

Swift, the owner of Historic Tours of America and a Key West resident, is suing to stop the show from filming its 17th season at the house and property next to his in the exclusive Key Haven neighborhood. The show's premise is to bring together seven strangers and film them at all hours to see how they get along.

The exterior lighting installed by the production company, Swift says in the suit, is brighter than that used at the local high school football stadium and will interfere with his family's activities "such as relaxing and sleeping."

Not only that, Swift says that video cameras set up to record every move of the cast members outside appear to be pointed at his house. He and his children "can no long enjoy entire sections of their home for fear of ending up on national television," the suit says.

Finally, dozens of cars and trailers are parked at all hours in property adjacent to the Real World house, which the suit calls an "unavoidable eyesore."

Swift is asking a Monroe County judge to halt production of the show, with a hearing likely later in September, his attorney Derek Howard said Thursday. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from MTV or its parent, Viacom Inc.

Swift's company operates the Conch Train and sailing tours in Key West and similar operations in Boston; San Diego; St. Augustine, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; and Washington, D.C.

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art announced Thursday that it has changed the closing date for "Fragile Florida: Watercolor Paintings by Taylor Ikin." The show, which was to be on exhibit through Sept. 11, now will close Sunday.

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]