I was listening to the Concert For Bangladesh the other day and George makes a point of telling the audience that no one is getting paid to play and the proceeds go helping the people of Bangladesh. Such concerts are common now but I was trying to think of one that came before and drew a blank. Can anyone think of an earlier benefit concert?
From Wiki:
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The Monterey Pop Festival (1967)
June 16 to June 18, 1967. The Monterey Pop Festival was a benefit concert to raise money for the MIPF Foundation, and took place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. Performers included: Eric Burdon & The Animals, Simon and Garfunkel, The Byrds, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and The Who.
But I can’t help but believe that various Big Bands were getting together for benefit concerts during WWII and earlier.
The same Wikipedia article also says, “There have been benefit concerts dating back to the eighteenth century, a notable example is the one held on December 28, 1791 for the benefit of Mozart’s family after his death on the 5th of the month. Many prominent musicians of the day attended and performed his works.” So it’s hardly a new idea.
As far as benefits for a “cause”, I am reading Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, the second volume in Peter Guralnick’s Elvis series.
It mentions that Elvis put on a concert to raise money to build the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. This would have been in 1961 or 1962.
It also mentions that Colonel Parker contacted the then Vice President (of the U.S.) to offer Elvis’ talents to more fundraising if needed.
This book and the first one, Last Train To Memphis, are first rate biographies, BTW.
By the way, don’t assume that a “benefit” billing means nobody is being paid to appear. Even a statement that “all profits” go to a stated cause isn’t definitive. For example, Wyclef Jean’s charity Yele Haiti paid Wyclef Jean’s production company $100,000 (2.5 times his going rate) for an appearance by Wyclef Jean at a concert to benefit Yele Haiti. And Wyclef Jean. And the people of Haiti, possibly.
Thanks for the heads up on the Elvis books. I knew about Last Train To Memphis but have yet to get around to reading it but I appreciate the review on Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. I loves me some Elvis bio.
Benefit performances used to be standard for plays. Usually there would be an extra performance or two added to a long run that was specifically for the benefit of one or more of the performers, meaning they received the profits from that one, almost like a tip. The night Lincoln was killed the performance of Our American Cousin was an extra one added for the Benefit! and Last Night of Miss Keene (the leading lady who had toured and performed in the show more than 1,000 times and was more than ready to move the hell on but wanted a little extra cash), and of course the Pablo Fanque’s Circus did one “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” (an 1843 poster John Lennon put to music). Sometimes the benefit performances were for the theater itself or for some cause as well.
Al Jolson did many for everything from war bonds to down on their luck entertainers. A line I’ve heard attributed to him but don’t know if it’s true/original to him is “If I do one more [expletives] benefit I’m going to need an [expletives] benefit”, but he was actually famous as a soft touch when it came to lending his voice for a good cause.
Reminds me of 30 Rock’s ‘Kidney Now!’ episode.
Sheryl Crow: “Yeah that’s right, I’m the only one gettin’ paid.”
Cyndi Lauper: “I’m one of the drunk ones!”