Music Of tribute<\/a> concert series at Carnegie Hall \u2014 is the brainchild of City Winery founder Michael Dorf, a mainstay of the New York City live music scene since he opened the Knitting Factory in 1986. Over the past 20 years, he\u2019s staged Best Of shows honoring everyone from Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, and Prince.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\tEvery penny they\u2019ve generated, over $2 million and counting, has gone to music education programs. \u201cOne of the things that I\u2019m most proud of,\u201d says Dorf. \u201cThey\u2019re always the first to get cut when budgets are cut. Every couple of weeks, there\u2019s a new climate change issue. There\u2019s healthcare problems. I mean, the world\u2019s fucked up, and so there\u2019s always needs for fundraisers and charities. And they come to me, and I\u2019m like, \u2018This series is consistent for music education. I\u2019m not veering.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe roots of the series go back about 25 years to Dorf\u2019s days on the Music for Youth Foundation, which was affiliated with the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York. \u201cI was the youngest guy on the board,\u201d he says. \u201cIt made my parents proud that their nice young Jewish boy was contributing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tEvery year they\u2019d hold a luncheon to honor an industry heavyweight like Walter Yetnikoff, David Geffen, and Ahmet Ertegun, and give the proceeds to music education charities. But this became difficult once Napster emerged around the turn of the millennium, tightening the pockets of industry executives. Sometime around 2003, they held a meeting to try and figure out possible next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n \t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
\n\t\u201cI very sheepishly raised my hand, because BMI and ASCAP and Sony and Warner and everyone\u2019s in the room, along with these lawyers,\u201d Dorf recalls. \u201cAnd I\u2019m like, \u2018Why don\u2019t we do a show?\u2019 And they\u2019re like, \u2018That\u2019s so risky. You\u2019re out of your mind.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHe explained his vision for a concert at Carnegie Hall honoring the music of Joni Mitchell. When they continued to push back, Dorf made a promise that he\u2019d give 100 percent of the net proceeds to charities, and personally absorb any losses. \u201cThere was no risk to them,\u201d says Dorf. \u201cI said, \u2018I\u2019m just asking you, all you big machers, buy some tickets. And if you could help me with some talent. I need 20 artists.\u2019 And they were like, \u2018You\u2019re crazy, kid. Sure, go ahead, do your thing.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Music of Joni Mitchell took place Feb. 9, 2006, at Carnegie Hall with a lineup that included Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, Cowboy Junkies, and many others. It was such a success that he followed it up with a Bob Dylan tribute seven months later at Lincoln Center\u2019s Avery Fisher Hall. That bill included the Roots, Phil Lesh, Ramblin\u2019 Jack Elliott, and Patti Smith.<\/p>\n
\n\tHe planned a Springsteen one at Carnegie Hall the following April, and days before it took place, he received notice that Springsteen himself was going to perform as a surprise to the fans. \u201cMy heart started racing at that moment,\u201d Dorf says. <\/p>\n\n