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Wyclef Brings The Noise To Carnegie Hall
Jean has announced plans for the show featuring Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Charlotte Church, and Third World at the historic venue January 19.
“Ever since I was a little kid in school growing up, I always knew like, one of these days, I’m going to play at Carnegie Hall,” he said. “When you’re a kid musician, that’s your dream, to play at Carnegie Hall.”
The eclectic concert will raise money for the Wyclef Jean Foundation, a non-profit organization that finances musical therapy, instruments and music lessons for children around the world.
Clef’s Kids, a group of gifted young musicians who have benefitted from the foundation, will also perform.
“If I didn’t have the music programs, being able to go to my chorus class and/or my jazz class, I probably wouldn’t even be here today,” Jean said during his December 5 press conference. He added that more artists are expected to join the lineup and said the concert will feature contemporary songs as well as tunes going as far back as the 1930s.
“I grew up playing like jazz and gospel in band, but still hip-hop was my thing,” he said. “But Carnegie Hall is a different type of hall. You couldn’t just go in there and be like, ‘Throw your hands in the air!’ … That’s not going to cut it at Carnegie.”