From the Philadelphia Inquirer
Organizers have announced that Elton John will headline
the annual free July Fourth concert on the Benjamin Franklin
Parkway in Philadelphia this year.
While the concert, which organizers hope will draw 1.5
million people, will remain free, the organizers are using
it to raise an expected $2 million to fight HIV/AIDS.
The event has been dubbed the Philadelphia Freedom Concert &
Ball in a nod to John's 1975 hit "Philadelphia Freedom."
The money raised from concessions, sponsors and the sale of
tickets to the ball will be split between the Elton John
AIDS Foundation and the local Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund,
which will allocate funds to area HIV/AIDS service provider
organizations. Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay
News and president of the Hirschfeld Fund, put together the
fund-raising event.
John, who is performing in Las Vegas, addressed the City
Hall news conference announcing the concert over a video
feed.
"Philadelphia has long been one of my favorite cities,
because it has always had an intrinsic spirit of freedom and
compassion. This compassion has never been needed more than
now," he said.
Peter Nero, conductor of the Philly Pops, will be music
director of the event. Other performers will be announced
next month, organizers said.
Plans call for the concert to start at 8:30 p.m. and to be
followed by fireworks. State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D.,
Phila.), said in a statement that "Philadelphia has loved
Sir Elton John since he first stepped onto the world stage,
and we are honored that he - and the Elton John AIDS
Foundation - will be joining us in this landmark effort."