Hitting the High Notes

Some music superstars who give back in a big way.

You know them for their contributions to the entertainment industry, but some of the most lauded music stars are also some of the most charitable givers. And plenty of them go far beyond writing a check. They’re involved in their communities, the arts, rebuilding natural disaster-struck areas and animal rights organizations, just to name a few. Here are some of the famous names that go above and beyond—and get their hands dirty.

Annie Lennox
Former front woman for the wildly popular ‘80s group Eurythmics, Annie Lennox has sold more than 80 million records in her solo career, and has become a major name in charity work for organizations like Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Foundation and Amnesty International. Not satisfied with lending her name to a cause, though, Lennox now dedicates much of her time to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Her new special fundraising single is called Sing, and features a powerful 23-member choir of celebrities such as Madonna and Faith Hill. Proceeds from the single have gone to the Treatment Action Campaign, which sends support to Africa’s fight against AIDS.

To buy it, click here. 

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
If you’re a country music follower, you’ve likely seen Tim McGraw and his superstar wife, Faith Hill, personally delivering truckloads of relief items to the Gulf area after Hurricane Katrina. They’re known for successful charity tours, such as the one that donated all its proceeds to Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, a group they formed to help Katrina victims. But McGraw goes even further with charity work: He now heads his late father’s charity, the Tug McGraw Foundation, which raises funds to help kids and adults with brain tumors, and he supports the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, among others. You never know where he’ll show up next: He appeared in an impromptu concert with Kid Rock to raise money for the Red Cross.

Check out his concert schedule here.

Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney’s late wife, Linda, was a renowned animal activist, and the legendary musician picked up her torch—as well as many other charitable causes. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a touchstone for McCartney. He hosted the organization’s “Party of the Century” gala to honor Linda’s work. His album A Garland for Linda, a choral tribute album to her, donated its proceeds to The Garland Appeal, a fund to aid cancer patients.

Some of his most prolific assistance has gone to Adopt-A-Minefield. In 2003, he played a personal concert for the wife of a wealthy banker and donated a million dollars to the charity.

Click here for more about the charities he supports.

John Legend
Reading The End of Poverty by Earth Institute director Dr. Jeffrey Sachs was the direct inspiration for John Legend to travel right to Ghana to learn more about the problems faced by African countries. The foundation he started—the Show Me Campaign—which has partnered with Sachs’ Millennium Promise Alliance, concentrates on providing practical (and sometimes overlooked) necessities. Rather than throw money at poverty-stricken communities, they provide mosquito nets to help curb malaria, meals to children attending school (which helps raise attendance rates), safe-water points, local clinics and fertilizer for crop production.

Learn more about the campaign here.

Image © Veer