Mariah Carey to Join Michael Jackson Concert
Monday, 14-Jun-1999 08:05:25
Mariah Carey will join Michael Jackson in singing two songs together for the first time in the history of pop music at a concert benefiting underprivileged children across the world.
Due to respective conflicts in schedule, four pop stars, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Kenny G and Diana Ross, will be replaced in the charity concert ``Michael Jackson & Friends,'' slated for June 25 at Chamsil Stadium in eastern Seoul.
``The concert is a charity show geared to raise money for the poor children all over the world. Hence, we have no contract with appearing artists and some changes inevitably have been made,'' said Marcel Avram, the executive producer of the Michael Jackson concert, in a press conference at the Westin Chosun hotel Sunday.
U.S. pop singer Mariah Carey will join the concert, Avram said, revealing the change in participants. ``Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey will sing two songs together at the concert,'' he explained.
French chanson artist Patricia Kaas, actor Steven Seagal, Status Quo and the Spirit of Dance belatedly agreed to join the concert. Two local groups, H.O.T and S.E.S., are also set to join the charity event.
Of the original cast Luther Vandross, popular Asian-born violinist Vanessa Mae, Boys II Men, Slash of Guns N' Roses, Andy Lau, Scorpions, Philipp Kirkorov, Coco Lee and Blackstreet will appear as scheduled.
Michael Jackson's close friend, Elizabeth Taylor, will appear and Rod Stewart will make an on-screen appearance via satellite.
Stage equipment will beginning arriving today at the port of Pusan. The concert will feature a stage show using a prop called ``The Bridge of No Return,'' which will come down as a symbol for refugee children then explode and separate, Avram said. Michael Jackson will then appear and the bridge will come together again after which the children will be able to cross over into the safety zone, he explained.
Funds will also be raised worldwide through a live telethon on SBS TV Station and on the Internet.
Jang Jae-il, Korea Times, June 14