Quincy Jones Calls All-Star Roman Broadcast Is 'Clarion Call' For Children

04/26/2004 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
LAUNCH Radio Networks

Quincy Jones is finalizing plans for his all-star We Are The Future concert, May 16, at the Circus Maximus in Rome. And he says the event, which will raise money to aid children in war-ravaged cities, will serve as a quote "clarion call" to wake up the public worldwide to the realities that these children face during these difficult times.

Speaking from his home in Los Angeles, Jones told the AFP news service, "This event is a clarion call to the world to take notice of the plight of children everywhere. Mortality rates among children are soaring and the international community must respond. We believe that We Are The Future is an important first step." He adds that he hopes that music will help ease tensions and facilitate talks between long-feuding factions such as Palestinians and Israelis, Tutsi and Hutus, Serbs and Croats.

The event will feature appearances by Natalie Cole, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, Alicia Keys, Herbie Hancock, Muhammad Ali, Angelina Jolie, LL Cool J, Cirque du Soleil, Josh Groban, Youssou N'Dour, the cast of Stomp, Chris Tucker, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Taylor and many others.

While there will be no admission price for the We Are The Future show, all proceeds from the broadcast of the concert as well as related merchandise sales will benefit We Are The Future programs, including child centers in six cities worldwide.

Working on the project with Jones are Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni; the U.S.UN envoy John Negroponte; Palestinian-American businessman Hani Masri; and Glocal's Uri Savir, who is a former Israeli negotiator at the Oslo peace talks.

Glocal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of inter-city relations in an effort to form a new balance between global and local forces.

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