Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond will sing together for the first time in 24 years Thursday, bringing not flowers but millions of dollars for Democrat John Kerry’s U.S. presidential campaign.
Streisand, Hollywood’s most prominent Democratic supporter, tops the bill in the first part of what organizers are calling one of the most ambitious celebrity political fund-raisers for years — gala concerts on both U.S. coasts featuring a broad array of stage and screen stars.
The Los Angeles concert on Thursday, and a concert in New York July 8 featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band and Mary J. Blige, are expected to raise about $10 million for Kerry’s coffers. Ticket prices range from $250 to $25,000 a seat.
The two shows are the biggest political outings by the Democratic entertainment set since early 2003 when actors and musicians joined forces in opposition to the imminent U.S.-led war on Iraq.
“It is ambitious, but it was surprisingly easy to arrange. I’ve never quite seen before how ready everyone was to show up and work. It is a diverse array of people,” said Rolling Stone magazine editor Jann Wenner, who is executive producer of both the Los Angeles and New York shows.
“Barbra is very associated with Democratic candidates, but you never see Neil Diamond out there. Billy Crystal is mainstream America. Dave Matthews’ audience is not a baby-boomer, middle of the road audience.
“As I started getting into it, it seemed clear we could be a little more ambitious because the sentiment on John Kerry’s behalf was so strong,” Wenner said.
Streisand, who retired from public performing in 2000 but who sings now and then at Democratic fund-raisers, and Diamond will sing their 1978 international hit duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” before a 2,000 strong sell-out audience in Los Angeles. Kerry will be among the audience.
The Los Angeles line-up also includes veteran country singer Willie Nelson, comic actor Billy Crystal and appearances by Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Affleck.
The two shows were originally scheduled for early June but were called off because of the death of former President Ronald Reagan and Kerry’s decision to suspend campaigning.
James Taylor, Bette Midler and actor Robin Williams were among the original artists who were unable to rearrange their schedules. Organizers said Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder were among those who wanted to perform but were committed elsewhere.
“We’ve had tremendous outpouring of support from the artistic community,” a Kerry aide told Reuters.
Wenner said emotions were running high in much of the music and movie community. “The sentiment against (President) George W. Bush is so strong. People are really passionate. People are really unhappy about the direction of this country.”
“There’s nobody I can recall calling up for the concerts who has said. ‘No, I don’t believe in that. I don’t want to do it”’, he said.