The Beautiful Sound of Musicians and Philanthropy

Music and philanthropy have a long, benevolent relationship with one another. Record bins are rife with charity singles and concert history is filled with benefit shows for every imaginable cause. Musicians like to give back.

The lineup for this year's 23rd annual Bridge School Benefit (October 24 and 25 in Mountain View, California) is the latest lesson in big-hearted musical grooves. Chris Martin, No Doubt, Fleet Foxes and Monsters of Folk are among the class of '09 giving their time to the northern California school founded by Neil Young's wife, Pegi.
GALLERY: See the most generous musicians ever

The school was formed in response to the needs of the Young's son, Ben, who is afflicted with severe physical and speech impairments. The Bridge School opened its doors in 1987 thanks to funds raised at the previous year's inaugural Bridge School Benefit Concert. 22 years later, the school is a recognized leader in augmentative and alternative communication. Although their son has long since moved on, Neil & Pegi Young still convince their friends and colleagues to play for the Bridge kids each year.

Still, there's a big difference between showing up for a gig and truly sticking with a cause. Making an extra stop while on tour, recording an extra song in the studio are relatively easy gives. Devoting money and time year after year is another story. Musicians are likely to give but they also have short attention spans. Real generosity and effective change take time and focus.

The artists on this list are some of the most generous musicians around –stars who use their money and fame to fight the good fight for the long haul. Some give quite privately while others wage their philanthropic war in front of us all. Yes, it makes some of them insufferable at times, yet step past the cynicism and you'll find their work as inspiring as their songs.

Here's the 2009 Philanthropic Playlist. Plug these folks into your iPod when you're down at the soup kitchen.

Bono

We've heard all of the backlash towards St. Bono. Fans and foes alike are sick of his African soapbox. Still, Bono has done more to bring the plight of the world's poor into the mainstream than almost any other figure. His ONE Campaign uses its 2 million members to lobby political leaders about poverty issues while the (Product) RED brand (which has been hit with some justifiable criticism about its transparency and effectiveness) has raised over $137 million for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It's an impressive record of accomplishment and better than the current U2 album.

 

 

Yusuf

At the height of his popularity in 1977, Cat Stevens converted to Islam and dedicated his life to educational and philanthropic causes. His religion has been the subject of much controversy and misinformation, yet Yusuf's generosity is clear. He auctioned his Cat Stevens gear, donating money to charity. He also decided to use his publishing income to establish a series of Muslim schools in London and donate to other charities. Yusuf then founded the Small Kindness nonprofit which provides aid to victims of war. All of this while raising five kids.

 

 

Michael Jackson

He was talented, troubled, and red meat for tabloids. But the King of Pop was also seriously generous. The 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records listed Jackson for the "Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star." Who even knew it was category? His total of 39 organizations included nonprofits ranging from the NAACP to Camp Ronald McDonald. In interviews I conducted with Jackson's Los Olivos Neverland neighbors soon after his death, they recounted quiet acts of generosity such as donating wheelchairs at a local school for kids with disabilities and opening up his ranch for school trips. His will instructed that 20% of his trust's earnings be donated to charity. It was a refreshing break from the sensationalism surrounding his life and death and a reminder that despite his troubles, the dude really cared about his neighbors near and far.

 

 

Barbra Streisand

While Streisand is decidedly vocal about her politics, her charitable activity flies below the radar. Still, the diva is one of the most generous musicians around (actually, she's third according to Parade Magazine). In 2007 alone, her Streisand Foundation quietly distributed $11 million to charities large and small. Recipients included Planned Parenthood and City Year, which mentors 17-24 year olds in community service.

 

 

Elton John

After the 1990 death of his friend, teenager Ryan White (who contracted AIDS from a contaminated blood treatment), John created the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The nonprofit is dedicated to AIDS prevention, education programs, direct care, and support services. Since its inception, John has raised over $125 million to support projects in 55 countries. Much of the money is raised at his annual White Tie and Tiara Ball as well as his Elton's Closet sale where he sells off his second hand clothes.

 

 

Herb Alpert

The famed co-founder of A&M Records and leader of The Tijuana Brass is one of the most understated and consistently generous musicians in the industry. His Herb Alpert Foundation gave away $13 million in 2007 to arts and environmental organizations. That same year, Alpert and his wife, Lani Hall (from Brasil '66) personally donated $30 million to UCLA to create the Herb Alpert School of Music then followed it with a $15 million gift in 2008 to CalArts for its musical programs.

 

 

Roger Daltrey

The Who's frontman became a patron for the UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust in 1999 - two years after the nonprofit's formation. In his role, Daltrey has organized nine yearly benefit concerts to help British teens afflicted with the disease (cancer is the most common cause of non-accidental death for teens in the country). The first show in 2000, headlined by The Who, raised over $2 million to build and staff teenage cancer units within hospitals. For his work, Daltrey was named Time Magazine's "European Hero" in 2003 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire the following year.

 

 

Pearl Jam

The prodigal sons of The Who not only share the same classic rock genes but also at common sense of generosity. Since their inception, activism and charity have been at the center of the band's ethos. In 1998, Pearl Jam followed Billy Corgan's lead by matching his $500,000 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They since established their Vitalogy Foundation to support causes hand picked by each band member. Two dollars from every ticket sold on their current US tour will support the foundation's charities.

 

 

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