ANDRE RIEU "YOURS FOREVER" CD TO AID BUSHFIRE VICTIMS
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DUTCH music maestro Andre Rieu has written a song especially to raise money for bushfire victims.
Yours Forever will be released on Wednesday with proceeds going to the Red Cross.
"I have watched with great sadness in my heart the natural disasters that have engulfed your country, and my thoughts are with each of you," Rieu said.
"I have always considered Australia to be my second home and I'd like to help in the best way that I can, through music," Rieu said.
"I believe music has a power to heal like nothing else and I'd like nothing more than to ease the sorrow of the wonderful people in this beautiful land."
A compilation album, Bushfire Aid, is also being rush-released on Tuesday for the Salvation Army appeal.
With Sam the koala on the cover, it features hits by Shannon Noll, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, Pete Murray, Delta Goodrem, The Living End, Paul Kelly, Men at Work and Powderfinger. Barnes also has a $3.90 album on iTunes as a fundraiser.
Fundraising Efforts For Aussie
Bushfire Tragedy Victims
February 13, 2009
Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Andre Rieu, Midnight Oil and Delta Goodrem are among dozens of high profile artists who have thrown their support behind fundraising efforts for victims of Australia's destructive bushfires.
American superstars Springsteen and Joel along with Aussie acts Midnight Oil, Goodrem and John Farnham have donated songs for a CD, "Bushfire Aid - Artists for the Bushfire Appeal," which will hit the racks in local stores from early next week. Other artists also confirmed to feature on the compilation are Aussie acts Hoodoo Gurus, John Butler Trio, Wes Carr and Jessica Mauboy.
Proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal through the charitable arm of the Australian Sony Group of Companies, the Sony Foundation.
Separately, the affiliated electronics company Sony Australia has pledged $100,000 Australian ($66,000) in a cash donation to the Salvation Army Disaster Appeal and an additional $100,000 Australian worth of vouchers enabling families struck by the bushfires to replaces goods.
"I know everyone in Australia shares deep concern for this tragedy, its horrific toll on life, families, communities and wildlife," comments Sony Music Australia and New Zealand chairman/CEO Denis Handlin. "On behalf of Sony Music and the Sony Foundation, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, and our immense gratitude goes to all the emergency service people and volunteers who
have so generously given in this time of need."
The local and international music community's support doesn't stop there.
Rockers the Living End and Jimmy Barnes joined the likes of pop singers Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano and country stars Lee Kernaghan and John Williamson on stage for a Red Cross bushfire telethon last night (Feb. 12).
During the star-studded "Australia Unites" program, Aussie country singer Keith Urban and his actress wife Nicole Kidman donated $500,000 Australian ($330,000). According to broadcaster the Nine Network, the appeal raised more than $21 million Australian ($13.8 million).
Meanwhile, Dutch conductor and showman Andre Rieu has created a song to raise cash for the Red Cross Disaster Appeal. "Yours Forever," written and performed by Rieu with the Johann Strauss Orchestra, will go on sale Feb. 18.
"I have always considered Australia to be my second home and I'd like to help in the best way that I can, through music," the Universal Music-signed artist says in a statement. "I believe music has a power to heal like nothing else and I'd like nothing more than to ease the sorrow of the wonderful people in this beautiful land".
The bushfires which have raged across regions of Victoria, in the south east of the country, have killed at least 181 people over the past week and obliterated more than 1,830 houses, leaving more than 7,000 people homeless. Authorities are calling the crisis the worst natural disaster in the country's history.
As previously reported, Leonard Cohen, Paul Kelly, AEG Live U.K. and the Frontier Touring Company announced a donation of $200,000 Australian ($132,000) to the Red Cross Bushfire Fund. A further $10,307.35 Australian ($6,800) was raised from collection tins passed around Cohen's concert on Feb. 10 at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
The houses have been destroyed by the fires. 'Diva' the cat survived the fires after being left behind when she ran away as her owner Cathy Crocker made a hasty escape from the raging fires.When Cathy returned she found 'Diva' sheltering in a hole. Picture: Darryl Gregory
A fire in the LaTrobe Vally, near Churchill, South East of Melbourne, continues to burn threatening houses in the area. Aaron VanDerSteen hoses down spot fires at Shane Chapman's house at Thompson Road Hazelwood South
Categories: Special Entry, ANDRE RIEU, CD - DVD
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