Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston, and Eric Clapton will perform with Wyclef Jean next month in a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall that will celebrate the last century of American music, Wyclef said Tuesday, December 5.
The January
19 concert, which will also include classical singer Charlotte Church and veteran reggae group Third World, will raise money for the Wyclef Jean Foundation's efforts to aid musical education for children all over the world.
"I was looking for artists that have an eclectic vibe & people who could hold their own," Wyclef said at a press conference held at the New York offices of his record company, Sony Music. "The lineup is gonna keep getting bigger."
Wyclef has written a new song for the event, which he and Clapton plan to perform together, the Fugees co-founder said. He might write other new songs for the event as well, he said.
The concert will feature some surprising choices of cover songs that may date back as far as the 1930s.
"Destiny's Child, you might hear them do 'Charlie's Angels' [Independent Women Part 1],' but you also might hear them do [Duke Ellington's] 'Take the "A" Train,'" Wyclef said. "Certain pieces I choose will bug you out."
Wyclef will be the first hip-hop artist to perform as a headlining act at the legendary New York venue, according to his publicity firm, Shore Fire Media.
The concert, which will be recorded for a possible future album release, will also include performances by Clef's Kids - a group of 14 young musicians aided by Wyclef's foundation.
Three of those musicians performed during Tuesday's press conference, as Wyclef - who wore baggy leather pants, a turtleneck sweater, and a silver medallion in the shape of a musical clef - looked on.
"I'm real strong on music education - that's probably what saved my life," said Wyclef, who also invited his high school music teacher to the conference.
In August, Wyclef released his second solo album, The Ecleftic - 2 Sides II a Book, which included a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."
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