(Long Island, NY) The last weekend of July is no doubt the biggest celebrity weekend in the Hamptons. The whole entire fabulous weekend was non-stop celebrity parties, benefits, fundraisers, charities and movie premiers.
On Friday, July 28th I was privileged to be invited to The Fourth Annual VH1 Save The Music Hamptons Benefit. The event was packed with star-studded celebrities including a concert performed by Grammy award winning recording artist and music sensation Ciara and Sony Urban/Columbia Records artist Lyfe Jennings.
These two very important high profiled artist expressed to me in my red carpet interviews with them how important this benefit really is and how honored they were to perform in concert.
Charismatic Ciara grew up in army bases in New York, California, Nevada, Arizona and Germany. Ciara’s childhood dream was to be an amazing recording artist so she and her mother diligently pursued a relentless career in music.
On September 28, 2004 Ciara released her debut album “Goodies on with the help from Jazze Pha, Sean Garret and Lil John. It sold over three million copies and entered the Billboard 200 Chart as number 3. Ciara was on her way to super stardom and a Grammy. The second single featuring Missy Elliot on “1, 2 Step was lucky to reach the top five in the United States. Ciara was also featured on Missy Elliott’s number three hit “Lose Control” which was taken from the album, The Cookbook. Singing sensation Ciara also joined Gwen Stefani in December 2005 on “Harajuku Lovers Tour”.
Second to perform was recording artist Lyfe Jennings born Chester Jennings in Toledo, Ohio. Tall dark and Handsome Jennings revealed to me how honored he was to sing at the event. Soul singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and proud African American R&B Mr. Jennings began singing at an early age in his church choir. He signed with Columbia Records and on August 2004 his first single was “Stick Up Kid”. His second album “the Phoenix” will be released in August 2006.
I also interviewed many celebrities that attended that evening and gave their support but my favorite interview was with stunning actress, Blonde Bombshell, Desperate Housewife Nicolette Sheridan who emphatically stressed to me that she specifically wanted to talk only about VH1 Save the Music Foundation and how important it is that everyone contributes.
Gorgeous socialite philanthropist Jaci Reid has hosted The VH1 Save The Music Foundation Benefit for the past four years at her palatial home in East Hampton.
Mrs. Reid’s work includes fundraising, public relations and hosting various charity events but this particular event she shares much fondness to. Mrs. Reid, the wife of Morris Reid who is on the Board of Directors for VH1, impeccable dressed and styled by Baby Phat Designs expressed how special this Benefit is. VHI Save The Music Foundations is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America’s public schools by restoring music education programs that have been cut due to budget reductions or to save programs at risk of elimination due to lack of instruments. The organization also conducts awareness campaigns on the importance of music participation for America’s youth.
VH1 Save The Music Foundation since its inception in 1997 has donated almost $30 million worth of musical instruments to 1,200 public schools in 80 cities across the United States improving the lives of 700,00 children dedicated to music.
The event was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Jet Blue Airways, Elle Magazine, Grey Goose, Mercedes-Benz and Crest Whitestrips.
Other celebrity guests that attended that I was proud to interview were James Frey, Recording Artist Myra Veronica, HGTV Star Libby Langdon, Heiress Lydia Hearst, Cathy Riva, Brett Ratner, Alena Puscau, New York Advertising Executive –CNBC Star Donnie Deutch and his lovely nieces Dylan Mizner and Julian Mizner, Nikki Jean, Hip Hop Star Rodney Jerkins, Joy Enriquez, American entrepreneur, the co-founder of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam-Mr. Russell Simmons, Wafah Dufor and my two fabulous friends and famous Fashion Designers the Heatherettes – Richie Rich and Traver Rains who both designed a special bag for the event.
For more information on the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, please visit www.vh1savethemusic.com
