Jay-Z and U2, Plus Springsteen and 100-Plus Stars Join MTV’s Haiti Benefit

Jay-Z will team up with Bono and the Edge for MTV’s “Hope for Haiti” television special, airing commercial-free this Friday, January 22nd on MTV, VH1, CNN and every major network. Jay will perform with the U2 duo at a London venue for the special, and their collaboration has generated a new song, produced by Swizz Beatz, which will go on sale via iTunes in the near future, MTV reports.

Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Shakira and Rihanna have been added to the “Hope for Haiti” event, which will be co-hosted by George Clooney, Anderson Cooper and Wyclef Jean. Dave Matthews Band, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Sting, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige will also perform on the show; all proceeds raised will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yéle Haiti Foundation. According to MTV, more than 100 stars have also signed on for the special.

Talking about U2’s partnership with Jay-Z, the Edge told Ireland’s 2FM, “Bono got a call from a producer, Swizz. He and Jay-Z wanted to do something for Haiti. So, Bono came up with the phrase on the phone, and last night we wrote a song — finished, recorded, and sent it back to them.” Jay-Z previously teamed with U2 during November’s MTV European Music Awards, when he added a verse to “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and lead a sing-along of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up” with Bono.

BrownStone is back
and the new songs
are astounding.
(Shown left to right: Racquel Roberts, Maxee Maxwell and Nicci Gilbert)

The unique three-part harmony of Brownstone has reunited. Original members Nichole “Nicci” Gilbert and Charmayne “Maxee” Maxwell have brought in Racquel Roberts and the flavorful R&B vocal group BrownStone is reborn.

In the early 90’s three singers were at an audition when the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson casually walks into their session. Almost like a dream, after only a few bars of an original song “A Capella” he proclaims their harmonies “heartfelt and extraordinary” and signs them to his own MJJ record label. That chance encounter unleashed a series of critically acclaimed platinum albums, top ten singles, a Billboard Music Award for Hot R&B singles play and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance – Duo or Group for their song “If You Love Me”. With stage credits on Broadway (HairSpray), international performing artist Racquel Roberts has joined the group to round out their sound.

Rehearsals for upcoming performances have begun and I was lucky enough to sit in on their session last night and let me tell you, they blew me away. The girls are working on new songs that are so strong, I think more hit singles are coming your way.

CNN local edition was in the studio interviewing the girls and shooting footage of them while they rehearsed in the auditorium for their entertainment series. When I get the show date I’ll pass it along.

All the best
Richard Morales
Hothouse Rehearsal Studios
www.hothousestudios.com

Brownstone and CNN local edition
in the Hothouse


CNN local edition will be in the auditorium at Hothouse Rehearsal Studios today, Sunday 8-26-07, interviewing Grammy nominated female R&B vocal group Brownstone during one of their rehearsal here. Brownstone is best known for the 1995 hit single “If You Love Me”. All of us here at the hothouse are honored to have a group of Brownstones caliber in the studio. Check back tomorrow for all the details.