Lifebeat’s History
In 1992, the music industry had not yet addressed the AIDS crisis with a unified voice, although many of its members had succumbed to the disease. Bob Caviano, a respected music manager, wrote a moving editorial in Billboard magazine disclosing his illness and challenging the industry to take action. A number of high-level executives heeded his call and formed Lifebeat.
Event Highlights
Concert For Life Screening at the Supper Club, 4/1992
Hosted by Yoko Ono, Nona Hendrix and Cyndi Lauper. Lifebeat’s launch and first press conference.
Lifebeat’s First Fundraising Concert at Roseland, 6/1992
Pet Shop Boys and Salt N Pepa performed.
Lifebeat AFTERparty Series, 1995-2000
Launched by Entertainment Weekly and subsequently sponsored by Rolling Stone, this series of after concert parties were hosted by music artists to benefit Lifebeat. Parties have been hosted for HOLE, INXS, The Go-Go’s, BLUR, Jamiroquai, Busta Rhymes, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, LIVE, Garbage, Rufus Wainwright, Smashmouth, Sonic Youth, The Monkees, The O’Jays, Third Eye Blind and Tony Bennett.
Urban AID 4 Lifebeat, 10/1995
This one-night-only concert to benefit Lifebeat was held at Madison Square Garden. and simulcast on BET and MTV. Performers included: Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Jodeci, Brandy, Salt N Pepa, Wu Tang Clan, Naughty By Nature, and Queen Latifah.
SkateAID, 9/1996
The first-ever-in-line skate pledge event to benefit Lifebeat hosted by Gary Dell’Abate and held in New York City.
Breakfast Series, 1996-Present
This fundraising event highlights the involvement of music industry professionals in the fight against AIDS. Past honorees include Emil Wilbekin, Rick Cummings, Jimmy Steal, Tracy Cloherty, Frankie Blue, Tom Calderone, Cathy Hughes, Russell Simmons, Steve Smith, and Kevin Weatherly.
The Beat Goes On, 1994-1997
Concert series to benefit LIFEbeat televised on VH1. Shows were held in New York and Washington DC. Music artists and celebrity hosts included: Sarah McLachlan, k.d. lang, Seal, Melissa Etheridge, Gloria Estefan, Patti Smith, Bill Maher, Rosie O’Donnell, Jon Bon Jovi, Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews Band, Veronica Webb and many more.
World AIDS Day Performance for LIFEbeat’s Hearts & Voices, 12/1/1998
Singer-songwriter Jewel gave a special, private performance for the residents of Rivington House on World AIDS Day in 1998.
BoardAID, 1994-1999
The original, longest running, most prestigious and widely publicized charitable event in all of the board-sports industries. Artists who appeared at BoardAID included The Beastie Boys, Porno for Pyros, Blink 182, and Wyclef Jean and the Refugee All-Stars.
CounterAID, 1992-1994, 1999
Music, fashion and entertainment celebrities joined together for a one-day fundraising event where musicians became cashiers at record stores from New York to Los Angeles with proceeds from the day’s sales going to benefit Lifebeat. Participating artists included: TLC, Green Day, Coolio, Naomi Campbell, Ellen DeGeneres, Tommy Lee and many more.
Levi’s and Lifebeat present Music With A Message: World AIDS Day, 12/1/1999
Some of the biggest names in music converged on stage at the Beacon Theater and raised more than $450,000 for HIV programs and education. Performers included *NSYNC, Monica, Wyclef Jean, Destiny’s Child, 112 and Joey McIntyre.
Levi’s and LIFEbeat present Music With A Message: World AIDS Day, 12/1/2000
MTV partnered with Lifebeat to make the World AIDS Day concert a global event by broadcasting it to over 241 million households worldwide. Pink, Dave Holmes and Carson Daly of MTV hosted the concert. Performers included Mya, 98 Degrees, Outkast, The Corrs, Baha Men, and Jessica Simpson.
ClubAID, 2000-2001
This event teamed hot clubs across the nation with top deejays to raise money for HIV prevention. Star deejays Paul Oakenfold, Barry Harris and Razor and Guido all donated their time and talent.
UrbanAID2, 4/9/2002
The biggest stars in hip-hop and R&B came together to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the urban community. Russell Simmons and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs served as co-chairs for the event which featured performances by Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Jay Z, Musiq, P Diddy, and The Roots. Special awards were given to AIDS activists Maria Davis and Rosie Perez. The show was hosted by comedian Mike Epps and featured PSA’s and video vignettes by Talib Kweli, N.E.R.D., B2K, Russell and Kimora Simmons and President Bill Clinton. The show was broadcast on MTV and BET.
Lifebeat’s 10th Anniversary Concert, 8/28/2002
Lifebeat celebrated a decade of good works with a benefit concert at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The concert featured performances by Sugarcult, Pete Yorn, Jimmy Eat World, and the Hives.
MTV2 Presents Iggy Pop and The Stooges to benefit Lifebeat, 8/27/2003
A long-time supporter of Lifebeat, Iggy Pop brought his raw power to Roseland Ballroom for a raucous punk rock show to benefit Lifebeat’s HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Reuniting with his seminal band The Stooges in their first live NYC show since the late 1970s, Iggy brought down the house (and his pants) with classic cuts and a preview of the new Stooges album, Skull Ring. The concert also featured performances by S.T.U.N. and Godsmack.
MTV and Esquire Magazine present a benefit for Lifebeat, 10/24/2003
MTV and Esquire presented a memorable night of music and mingling at The Esquire Apartment, a swanky, state-of-the-art living space in The Trump World Tower that represents how today’s sophisticated man lives. The event was hosted by Kevin C. O’Malley, Publisher, Esquire, Carson Daly, Jonathan Rifkind, John B. Davis and friends.
Lifebeat honors Johnny Barbis of DreamWorks Records, 11/17/2003
For LIFEbeat’s first dinner event, the atmosphere at Noche was fun and festive as guests mingled throughout the multi-floor club enjoying the Cuban-inspired cuisine. Rufus Wainwright sang and played piano in a heartfelt set of songs from his new album, while Floetry got everyone up out of their seats and dancing to a string of their hits. Celebrity guests Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Dan Akroyd and Bernie Taupin.
Hearts and Voices Concert Series featuring Kanye West, 3/11/2004
Roc-A-Fella Records recording and producer extraordinaire Kanye West headlined the inaugural concert series to benefit Lifebeat’s Hearts & Voices Program. The artist showcase began with upbeat performances by Young Gunz, soul singers Rell, and Allen Anthony, Memphis Bleek, Freeway, as well as unsigned recording artists Oschino & Sparks and The Have Notz.
Hearts & Voices Concert Series: A Bad Boy Takeover, 5/25/2004
Featuring Bad Boy’s Mario Winans, Loon, Carl Thomas, and 8-Ball & MJG, the second concert series event to benefit Lifebeat’s Hearts and Voices Program also featured unsigned recording artists The Have Notz, Kenny Dark, Sha Stimuli and Jaclyn.
Lifebeat Honors Clear Channel’s Tom Poleman, 6/14/2004
Against the gorgeous backdrop of the New York City skyline in the Grand Ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental, NY, guests at this LIFEbeat fundraiser enjoyed delicious Asian-inspired cuisine as well as inspiring performances and presentations. John Mayer sang two of his hits while playing his acoustic guitar and Jessica Simpson serenaded the crowd with her hottest single. Other celebrity guests included Star Jones, Rob Thomas, Edwin McCain, Denise Rich, and Hulk Hogan.
MTV2 Presents The Beastie Boys & De La Soul to benefit LIFEbeat, 8/28/2004
Longtime Lifebeat supporter Ingrid Casares hosted an MTV2 pre-VMA concert to benefit the charity at Miami hotspot Crobar. Hip-hop legends De La Soul and The Beastie Boys performed and DJ AM took over the turntables to keep the party going. Late night host and SNL Alum Jimmy Fallon stopped by to show his support.
Hearts and Voices Concert Series: Reggaeton Explosion, 3/31/2005
Tego Calderon and Aventura lit up the stage at Spirit NY nightclub in the third concert of the series to benefit LIFEbeat’s Hearts and Voices program.
MTV2 Presents The Bravery & Morningwood to benefit LIFEbeat, 8/27/2005
The Bravery and Morningwood rocked the pool in front of Hotel MTV in South Beach, Florida at this pre-VMA concert to benefit LIFEbeat, sponsored by Saturn and GM.
LIFEbeat Honors Brian Graden, 10/25/2005
Musicians James Blunt and John Legend performed at the gorgeous Geisha House in Hollywood, CA at a benefit filled with members of the film, television, and music industries. Guests included Pamela Anderson, Deborah Gibson, Kid Rock and Wilmer Valderrama. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the evening’s silent auction were donated to NO/AIDS Task Force in New Orleans to help in their recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
BID 2 BEAT AIDS Online Auction to benefit LIFEbeat, 12/1/2005 – Present
On December 1, 2005 (World AIDS Day) LIFEbeat launched its first ever Bid 2 Beat AIDS auction live on eBay. The auction of signed and rare celebrity memorabilia raised nearly $75,000 and included items from almost 400 celebrities including Madonna, U2, Kanye West, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Metallica. Sponsors: MTV, Vespa, Borders Books & Music, Yahoo! Music, Sirius Satellite Radio.
Lifebeat Honors Sirius Satellite Radio’s Scott Greenstein, 6/21/2006
Guests took over two floors of the swank NYC super-club Pacha for an evening of fabulous food and live music in honor of the President of Entertainment & Sports at Sirius Satellite Radio, Scott Greenstein. Nelly Furtado and The Raveonettes performed acoustic sets of their biggest hits as Sirius Radio personalities (Howard Stern, Little Steven, Alexis Stewart) and entertainment industry execs showed their support.
MTV2 presents 30 Seconds to Mars and Taking Back Sunday to benefit Lifebeat, 8/30/2006
World famous nightclub and concert venue Webster Hall in New York was the site of the MTV2 pre-VMA concert benefiting LIFEbeat. Fans lined up for blocks to see 30 Seconds to Mars (fronted by actor/musician Jared Leto) and Taking Back Sunday rock the club the night before MTV’s Video Music Awards.
Album Release Party: Kelly Rowland, 6/10/2007
Kelly Rowland celebrated the release of her Ms. Kelly album with LIFEbeat at Manhattan night club HOME. The event was broadcast live via the web and Rowland’s Destiny’s Child friends Michelle Williams and Beyonce came out to show their support. Also in the house were DJ Suss One from radio station Power 105 spinning for the evening and Jay-Z.
MTV VMA Fandemonium: A Concert to Benefit Lifebeat, 9/8/007
Maroon 5 and Robin Thicke performed live at the House of Blues in Las Vegas with ?uestlove of The Roots DJing. The event was sponsored by MTV, Neutrogena, and Rhapsody and was part of the 2007 MTV Video Music Award Las Vegas weekend. Hayden Panettiere from NBC’s “Heroes” also stopped by to show her support.
Live Beats, 12/4/2007
LIFEbeat honored long time board member and BET executive Stephen Hill with a rocking show featuring Mr. Hill performinw with a Diddy, Missy Elliott, Ashanti, Fat Joe, DJ Grandmaster Flash and a house full of music and entertainment industry executives cheered on Mr. Hill as he performed to pop hits with a 12-piece band under the musical direction of Mark Batson. Mary J Blige headlined the event, closing with an unforgettable duet with the night’s honoree.
Rock Band 2 Launch Event at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, 9/6/2008
MTV enlisted the help of Rock Band Live Tour artists Panic at the Disco and Plain White T’s for special short performances to bring awareness to Lifebeat’s cause and celebrate the forthcoming launch of Rock Band 2.
Keep on Dancin’, 1/10/09
Three non-profits, eights DJ’s and three recording artists all came together for one evening of music and remembrance in honor of Mel Cheren, ‘The Godafther of Disco. Cheren was an original financial backer of LIFEbeat and a long-time board member who passed from AIDS complications in 2007.
Stevie Nicks Party Listening Party and DVD Release Event, 4/2/2009
LIFEbeat and Chip Duckett hosted the legendary Stevie Nicks at Greenhouse in NYC for a special fundraising event celebrating the release of her new DVD, LIVE IN CHICAGO.
Vanessa Williams ‘The Real Thing’ Release Party, 6/3/09
Grammy-, Emmy- and Tony-Award nominated Vanessa Williams put on a special live-performance to celebrate the release of her album The Real Thing at eco-friendly NYC nightclub Greenhouse.
A Refreshing Night of Music with DJ Clinton Sparks, Kid Cudi and Phoenix, 9/12/2009
MTV and Pepsi presented this benefit event for LIFEbeat as part of The 2009 Video Music Awards weekend in NYC. LIFEbeat Board Member and Howard Stern Show producer Gary ‘Baba Booey’ Dell’Abate opened the fundraiser and DJ Clinton Sparks kept Terminal 5 rocking in between stellar sets from Kid Cudi and Phoenix.
Live Nation Promotion, 12/1/09
On December 1st LIFEbeat teamed up with the concert promoter Live Nation for a special World AIDS Day fundraiser. The company donated a portion of every ticket sold to a Live Nation event on December 1st to help fund LIFEbeat’s programs.
