Rock and roll royalty filled the majestic Capitale Wednesday night as the national nonprofit, Little Kids Rock, hosted its eighth annual benefit in Lower Manhattan to support public school students and music teachers with donated instruments, curricular resources, and training. The sold-out event featured performances from musical greats led by Musical Director Will Lee and generated over one million dollars in donations.
"Music changes kids and kids change the world," shared David Wish, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Little Kids Rock. Those sentiments were echoed by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins who received the organization's Humanitarian Award. Loggins spoke about being able to express himself through music as a teen when words failed and how he has watched the same in his daughter. "Music speaks to the heart," Loggins said. " It taught her who she is, and it taught me who I am." Little Kids Rock students joined Loggins onstage and brought the crowd to their feet with a rendition of Mitch Ryder's "Devil With a Blue Dress" which segued into Loggins' toe-tapping hit "Footloose." Loggins then joined the legendary Sam Moore in a fantastic duet of "I Thank You" after Moore drove the crowd wild with "Soul Man." High School senior Ian Ackerman joined Moore on lead guitar for the performance. "I can't believe I just got to play with him," Ian said. "That man is an icon. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be on stage with someone I have so much respect for."For more information about the title sponsor, The Hot Topic Foundation, please visithttp://www.hottopic.com/customer-service/hot-topic-foundation/. To learn more about the Half A Million Music Makers campaign visit www.crowdrise.com/HalfMillionMusicMakers
About Little Kids Rock: Little Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with public school districts to train teachers to run its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the accompanying instruments and resources necessary to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. What began as a single after-school guitar class has since exploded into a national movement that brings free, weekly music lessons to over 250,000 public school children through the efforts of more than 1,700 teachers in 124 school districts nationwide. To date, Little Kids Rock has served more than 500,000 students.Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos
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