"Right to Rock" Benefit Raises More Than $160,000
At the 2009 Right to Rock benefit on Thursday, Oct. 22, Little Kids Rock presented legendary E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons with the inaugural “Big Man of the Year Award.” Mr. Clemons found time between touring with Bruce Springsteen and promoting his new book to help Little Kids Rock raise over $160,000 to restore and revitalize music education in public schools nationwide.
Guests were treated to several musical presentations throughout the evening. Mr. Clemons performed an impromptu rendition of Jailhouse Rock with Little Kids Rock students from the New York City metro area, as well as his own composition, Garden of Memories accompanied on keyboard by famed producer, John Colby. 12-year old Jade Adams of P.S. 29 in Jersey City performed her original song, Change, with a student band from P.S. 83 in the Bronx, whom she met that evening.
Little Kids Rock’s generous guests participated in live and silent auctions, which featured guitars signed by Eric Clapton, Slash, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul Simon and others. Additional guests honored at the event for their outstanding support of music education include Bill Mendello, CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Betsy McLaughlin, CEO of Hot Topic, and Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation.
Thanks to PaySett Corporation, the Hot Topic Foundation, Warren Rosen & Co., Inc., Charles B. and Kristine I. Hintz, Friends in Pasadena, Brenda and Jeremy Wagner, Irving Cowan, ZacFISHERConsulting, Fliptop, Jonathan D. Krist Foundation, Minyanville, Nader Tavakoli, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., J. D’Addario & Company, Inc., Roberts Ritholz Levy Sanders Chidekel & Fields, LLP, honorees, donors, auction donors, performers, volunteers and friends, all of whom are too many to name, Little Kids Rock students and teachers, all of our guests, and “The Big Man” Clarence Clemons, for making Right to Rock 2009 an enormous success!
