The Doobie Brothers News

(1/14/00, 6 p.m. ET) - The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, Ray Charles, Steve Winwood, Patti LaBelle, Toto, Boz Scaggs, James Ingram, Patty Austin, Christopher Cross, Alan Parsons, David Pack, Edwin McCain, James Newton Howard, Shedaisy, Billy Dean, the Wilkinsons, and others have been tapped to perform in a benefit concert paying tribute to the accomplishments of renowned singer-songwriter Michael McDonald. Actor Jeff Bridges will host the event, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Millennium Concert, which takes place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. PT.

Backing band members for the event include Alex Acuna (percussion), Tim Akers (music director), Vince DiMartino (trumpet), Nathan East (bass), Steve Godd (drums), Marc Harris (keyboards), Dave Koz (sax), Chris Rodriguez (guitar), George Shelby (sax), Bobby Shew (trumpet), Tommy Sims (bass/vocals), and Steve Turre (trombone), among others.

Yamaha Corporation of America, in conjunction with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) will present the NAMM Millennium Concert as a part of NAMM International Music Market 2000, which runs from Feb. 3 through 6. NAMM's mission is to unify, lead, and strengthen the global music-products industry and to increase active participation in music making.

Representatives of Japan's Yamaha Corporation will present McDonald with the "Yamaha Lifetime Achievement in Musical Excellence Award" at the event to celebrate the musician's 25 years as a Yamaha artist. The award was last presented 13 years ago and was given to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys at Winter NAMM.

All proceeds from the NAMM Millennium Concert benefit music education and advocacy, and will go to organizations such as the American Music Conference, the International Foundation for Music Research, the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, the Museum of Making Music, and the American Music Conference.

A limited number of $25.00 tickets are available now via www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (213) 480-3232.

-- Jason Gelman, New York

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