The Donna Summer Tribute Site

 

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Contact: Stephen Soba, (212) 367-1214

Donna Summer Rocks Carnegie Hall

Raises $400,000 for Gay Men's Health Crisis on Monday, March 16

March 17, 1998, New York, NY — Legendary singer and songwriter Donna Summer, one of the defining voices of her generation, thrilled an adoring crowd last night during "An Evening With Donna Summer," a benefit concert for Gay Men's Health Crisis.

The sold-out show — Ms. Summer's Carnegie Hall debut — raised $400,000 for Gay Men's Health Crisis, the nation's oldest and largest not-for-profit AIDS organization, providing direct services to thousands of men, women and children with HIV and AIDS, educating the public, and advocating for fair and effective AIDS policies at all levels of government.

"Thank you for supporting the work of Gay Men's Health Crisis," Ms. Summer told her audience during the show. "It's truly a great cause and none of us should stop working to raise money until there's a cure for everyone."

Ms. Summer, backed by her band and a 22-piece orchestra, had the audience dancing in the aisles of the legendary concert hall throughout the evening as she sang some of her greatest hits — "MacArthur Park," "She Works Hard for the Money," "Bad Girls" and "Last Dance" among them. Hits aside, Ms. Summer dazzled the crowd with powerful renditions of standards and show tunes such as "The Man I Love" and "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good." Ms. Summer's spectacular performance of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" brought the crowd to its feet. Ms. Summer also performed new two songs from "Ordinary Girl," a musical she is co-writing with Michael O'Martian, Bruce Sudano and Al Kasha.

Comedian Anthony Clark, currently featured on ABC-TV's "Soul Man" opposite Dan Aykroyd, and former star of NBC "must-see-TV" sitcom "Boston Common," warmed the already excited crowd with a hilarious stand-up routine.

Co-chairs for "An Evening with Donna Summer" were Randolph Duke and Alice and Stanley Harris. The event's Grand Sponsors were Paul G. De Vido, Andrew Reyes, Joan and Bob Tisch, Robert Wallach, Advanced Travel Management, 103.5 The New KTU, HX and HX for Her.

© 1998 Gay Men's Health Crisis

 

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