Louis Messina Discusses Benefit

Louis Messina, longtime promoter for George Strait, talked to Pollstar briefly about Strait’s upcoming benefit concert and the simultaneous “Hand in Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Harvey Relief” telethon.

As far as how the Sept. 12 concert at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio came about, “That was easy,” Messina told Pollstar, “George wanted to do the benefit.”

Terry Wyatt / Getty Images for ACM – George Strait
George Strait plays “Here For a Good Time” for the ACM Honors at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Aug. 23.

That’s all that really needs to be said. As the remnants of Harvey were still damaging Houston and the rest of Strait’s beloved Texas, King George declared he wanted to do a benefit show which meant folks like Messina, his team at Messina Touring Group, Erv Woolsey Company, plus the folks over at companies like EB Media sprang into action.

“Other artists really got behind it,” Messina said. That includes Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen.

At the same time, a telethon that will broadcast portions of Strait’s show also came into being. The idea was birthed by Houston native Bun B and SB Projects founder Scooter Braun, aka the manager of Justin Bieber and Majestic Theatre , who produced Grande’s One Love Manchester benefit show.

Airing from Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, the telethon will feature several performances and guest appearances beyond Strait’s concert including The Black Eyed Peas, George Clooney, Drake, Jamie Foxx, Oprah Winfrey, and many more.

Proceeds from the telethon will benefit United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding Texas, Save the Children, The Mayor’s Fund For Hurricane Harvey Relief, RebuildTx.org and Direct Relief. The money earned from the concert will benefit the Rebuild Texas Fund, aka RebuildTx.org.

Messina said the benefit is trying to raise as much money as it can, but there is no exact goal.

Tickets to the concert are already sold out, but you can still watch the event when it airs on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CMT at 8 p.m. EDT on the East Coast and when it replays at 8 p.m. PDT on the West Coast.