Alicia Keys has recruited two of music’s biggest names to join her at a charity event in New York City on Sept. 30. Jay-Z and Sade will perform at her annual Black Ball, which benefits her Keep A Child Alive foundation.
Keys will also take the stage at the concert, which will be held at the Hammerstein Ball.
Keep A Child Alive is marking its seventh year. The organization helps kids and families with HIV/AIDS in India and Africa.
Jay-Z will no doubt join Keys on their massive hit, “Empire State of Mind.” Sade’s 2010 album, Soldier of
Love, is working its second single, “Babyfather.”
Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen heads out on a tour this August with fellow hitmakers Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs– and he’s giving a few hints as to what fans can expect. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Fagen describes The Dukes of September as “a real band — not some American Idol or TV thing. There’s going to be no synths and we’re going to try to respect the music.” Each artist will take turns singing; besides their own hits, the band plans to cover songs from everyone from The Grateful Dead and The Band to Ray Charles.
Fagen added that he and Walter Becker will tour Australia in November, but there’s no new Steely Dan album in the pipeline. ”We can’t seem to get serious about it.” As for his own solo project, “Only one song is done. It’s got a James Brown-ish feel.”
The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue dates are as follows:
Alicia Keys has recruited two of music’s biggest names to join her at a charity event in New York City on Sept. 30. Jay-Z and Sade will perform at her annual Black Ball, which benefits her Keep A Child Alive foundation.