It’s not often that an event resonates on so many levels, but that was the case as a group of talented musicians played their hearts out to benefit Jolie Levine on the stage that was the site of the historic 1985 recording of “We Are the World.”
Ms. Levine, who was Michael Jackson’s assistant and has been a music coordinator for more than 30 years, has been disabled by lupus, a disease without a cure that affects 1.5 million people in the United States.
The benefit at Jim Henson studios – formerly A&M and before that Chaplin Studios – included cocktails, the vaunted Kogi food truck and its wait-in-line worthy Korean tacos plus a silent auction of music memorabilia donated by Katy Perry, Tim McGraw and Margaret Cho, among others.
It served to raise money for Levine’s medical bills and living expenses until she is presumably granted federal disability early next year.
The intimate evening featured performances by Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, Susie Suh, Pedestrian, Donna Washington, Carina Round, jazz great Dave Grusin, Sharlotte Gibson and Greg Phillinganes.
The headlining performance came from Siedah Garrett, a Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter who had famously performed the duet ” I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” on world tours with Michael Jackson. Garrett teamed with uber-producer Glen Ballard, co-writer of “Man in the Mirror,” for a rousing version of that MJ song.
Many people may not realize that Ballard began his musical journey on “Thriller” before going on to a stellar career that includes breaking Alanis Morrissette and her game-changing 1995 album, “Jagged Little Pill.”
Both Ballard and Levine have worked with almost all the artists that were featured on the bill, and the love and respect amongst them was palpable as the benefit rocked late into the night.
A portion of the proceeds also went to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and Lupus LA. You can contribute at http://www.gofundme.com/jolieslupusrecoveryfund and get more information about lupus at www.lupus.org
