SPECIAL NEW YORK CITY PERFORMANCE BY

MICHAEL MCDONALD BENEFITS WHY’S

ARTISTS AGAINST HUNGER & POVERTY PROGRAM
 

New York, NY — Artists Against Hunger & Poverty, a program of WHY (World Hunger Year), will benefit from a special, one night only performance by Grammy-Award winning artist/songwriter Michael McDonald on Nov. 2, 2006 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center on Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.

McDonald has made available to WHY supporters tickets and VIP packages for the concert. VIP tickets are available for $500 and $350 and include premiere seating, entry to the VIP artist reception, an autographed flyer and a collectible laminate. Tickets only are available for $150 and $125. There will be an auction of autographed memorabilia including a white Yamaha AES1500 electric guitar nicknamed “White Fang” by McDonald that will be accompanied by a hand painted water color print of the instrument. Artist-activist Jen Chapin, who is Chair of WHY’s Board of Directors, will be the opening act.
Tickets go on sale October 6 at Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office, Broadway at 60th Street, Ground Floor. The box office is open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday noon-6pm . Tickets can also be purchased by calling CenterCharge 212-721-6500 or online at www.jalc.org. Part of the ticket donation is tax deductible.

McDonald is a member of an expanding network of artists and celebrities who have banded together to fight hunger and poverty. Through its Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program, WHY and dedicated artist-activists have raised awareness and more than $7 million for more than 500 anti-poverty organizations in the U.S. In addition, McDonald was recently honored at the WHY-Chapin awards dinner with the prestigious ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for both his musical career and his vast charitable endeavors.

"The statistics concerning hunger in America and abroad are appalling and continue to escalate," McDonald said. "There is so much we can do as individuals to help this catastrophic situation by supporting organizations such as AAH&P and WHY. WHY is a credible and effective organization, and part of an ever growing united front against hunger that I am proud to work with and encourage others to do so as well."

McDonald is an acclaimed songwriter, recording artist, and performer who has earned multiple Platinum and Gold albums throughout his 30-year career. Whether playing with his early bands like Mike and the Majestics in the Midwest, working on the road and in the studio with Steely Dan, revitalizing the sound of the Doobie Brothers, or, most recently, following his own muse as a soul artist, McDonald has always made music graced by a radiant and dignified sort of soulfulness. In 2002, McDonald released his smash hit Motown album, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards and has been certified Platinum by RIAA. Motown Two is already another enormous success, having recently been certified Gold. Most recently, Michael recorded a Holiday album exclusively for Hallmark Cards and their Gold Crown Stores. The album achieved RIAA gold status in just nine days.