Camila Cabello to Take Part in “Concert For Ukraine” to Raise Money for the People of Ukraine

Camila Cabello is helping raise money for the people of the war-ravaged Ukraine…

The 25-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member is among an all-star group of artists coming together for a special telethon to raise money for the embattled people of Ukraine.

Camila CabelloThe March 29th Concert For Ukraine is slated to take place at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England.

Along with Cabello and her “Bam Bam” collaborator Ed Sheeran, the event will also feature sets from Emeli SandéGregory Porter and Snow Patrol, with more acts to be added soon.

The live two-hour special will raise funds for humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, who have been under relentless attack by Russian forces since Vladimir Putin started a war with the former Soviet satellite country nearly three weeks ago.

The broadcast will air on ITV, STV, ITV Hub and the STV Player in a collaboration with the Disasters Emergency Committee, with the goal of spreading a message of “hope and support, and most importantly, raising funds for the ongoing DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal,” according to a statement.

“I will be singing to try to help every innocent human being forced to flee their home and in solidarity with those being racially discriminated against even within this humanitarian crisis,” said Sandé in a statement. “Nobody should be refused access to relief, aid and the right to cross the border to safety, and I’m pleased for the chance to support the DEC’s appeal to help all people whose lives have been affected by the conflict.”

All sponsorship and advertising revenue generated from the broadcast — expected to raise nearly $4 million — will be donated by ITV to the DEC appeal. Tickets for the event are available here.

The ITV event will take place just three days after another star-studded fundraiser for the people of Ukraine, who have bravely battled relentless bombardment from Russian forces accused of war crimes in the one-sided invasion that has reportedly hit a number of civilian targets.

Rosie Perez, Steve Martin, Annette BeningBilly PorterAudra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth and David Hyde Pierce have signed up for the 10-hour telethon Stars in the Housewhich will air on Saturday, March 26 from noon-10 p.m. ET. The special can be viewed and listened to on the series’ site, the Stars in the House YouTube channel, as well as SiriusXM Stars109.

Christina Aguilera Among Celebrities Urging U.S. Senators to Stop Gun Violence Now

Christina Aguilera is calling for politicians to take action on the issue of gun reform

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer has joined a roster of celebrities who’ve signed an open letter to U.S. Senators urging them stop gun violence now.

Christina Aguilera

Five years ago, amidst a string of deadly attacks at live music venues including the horrific mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016, the cover of Billboard‘s July 2016 issue featured an open letter to U.S. Congress signed by 200 artists and music industry executives calling for gun reform.

Unfortunately, the need for reform has only grown stronger as shootings have continued around the country at a terrifying rate.

So now, five years later, as venues prepare to reopen after their pandemic shutdown and music fans ready to return to concerts and festivals, we stand again with the music community to ask lawmakers to take swift action to stop the violence. — Hannah Karp, Billboard editorial director

An Open Letter to Senators: Stop Gun Violence Now

As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change.

Music always has been celebrated communally, on dance floors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences — going to school or church or work — continues to be threatened, because of gun violence in this country.

The one thing that connects the tragedies like the shootings in Boulder, El Paso, Las Vegas, Parkland and so many other places in America, to the one that happened in Orlando five years ago this June, is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.

We call on the Senate to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 100 Americans every day and injures hundreds more: Take action on background checks.

Billboard and the undersigned implore you — the people who are elected to represent us — to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk.

Sincerely,

Christina Aguilera, Tori Amos, Sara Barielles, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Tony Bennett, Selim Bouab, Rob Bourdon, Scooter Braun, Cortez Bryant, Michael Bublé, Vanessa Carlton, Joseph Carozza, Steve Cooper, Tom Corson, Lee Daniels, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Delson, Diplo, Mike Easterlin, John Esposito, Melissa Etheridge, Fletcher, Luis Fonsi, Becky G, Kevin Gore, Julie Greenwald, Josh Groban, Horacio Gutierrez, Joe Hahn, Halsey, Billy Joel, Craig Kallman, Alicia Keys, Kid Cudi, Carole King, Elle King, Adam Lambert, Cyndi Lauper, Kevin Liles, Dre London, Jennifer Lopez, Macklemore, Zayn Malik, Carianne Marshall, Ricky Martin, Paul McCartney, Julia Michaels, Guy Moot, Jason Mraz, Gregg Nadel, Yoko Ono, Mark Pinkus, Gregory Porter, Prince Royce, Bonnie Raitt, Dawn Richard, RMR, Paul Robinson, Maggie Rogers, Kelly Rowland, Mike Shinoda, Sia, Matt Signore, Britney Spears, Rob Stevenson, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Justin Tranter, Sir Trilli, Sharon Van Etten, Aimie Vaughn-Fruehe, Eddie Vedder, Andrew Watt.

If you’re interested in signing the letter, you can email guncontrol@billboard.com.

Jhené Aiko to Host the Grammy Awards’ Premiere Ceremony

Jhené Aiko is makin’ a little Grammy history…

The 32-year-old part-Spanish and part-Dominican American singer will host the Grammy AwardsPremiere Ceremony, taking place at noon PT on March 14, where the vast majority of the Grammys are awarded.

Jhené Aiko

At 5:00 pm, Aiko will shift her attention to the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, where her Chilombo is nominated for album of the year.

This is the first time the host of the Premiere Ceremony has been an album of the year nominee.

Chilombo is also nominated for best progressive R&B album. Aiko has a third nomination this year, best R&B performance for “Lightning & Thunder.”

Aiko will be compensated for her efforts, as will all seven performers at the Premiere Ceremony, who are all current Grammy nominees.

The performers (and the categories in which they are nominated) are Burna Boy (best global music album for Twice As Tall), Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science (best jazz instrumental album for The Waiting Game), Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (best traditional blues album for Cypress Grove), pianist Igor Levit (best classical instrumental solo for Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas), Lido Pimienta (best Latin rock or alternative album for Miss Colombia), Poppy (best metal performance for “Bloodmoney”) and Rufus Wainwright (best traditional pop vocal album for Unfollow the Rules).

Kicking off the event will be a performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Marvin Gaye classic “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).”

The artists who will perform the song are Grammy nominees], including Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra, Thana Alexa, John Beasley, Camilo, Regina Carter, Alexandre Desplat, Bebel Gilberto, Lupita Infante, Sarah Jarosz, Mykal Kilgore, Ledisi, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, PJ Morton, Gregory Porter, Grace Potter, säje, Gustavo Santaolalla (Bajofondo), Anoushka Shankar, and Kamasi Washington.

“Mercy Mercy Me” was one of the standout tracks on Gaye’s landmark album, What’s Going On. The album was severely under-recognized at the Grammys for 1971. Gaye’s only nomination that year was for another track on the album, “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” which was nominated for best R&B vocal performance, male.

Bill Burr, Chika, Infante and Jimmy Jam, former Recording Academy chair, will present the first Grammy Awards of the day.

Imogen Heap hosted last year’s Premiere Ceremony. Shaggy hosted the event two years ago.

The Premiere Ceremony will stream live internationally on Grammy.com. The Grammy telecast will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ from 8:00–11:30 p.m. ET and 5:00–8:30 p.m. PT.

Lopez Returning as Host of This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

George Lopez is jazzed about his upcoming gig…

The 55-year-old Mexican American actor/comedian will host this year’s Playboy Jazz Festival, which will be presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association June 10-11 at the Hollywood Bowl.

George Lopez

It’ll be Lopez’s fifth consecutive year as host.

This year’s 39th Festival will feature a star-studded lineup that includes Gregory Porter, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kenny Garrett, Common and Keb’ Mo’ Band.

The full talent lineup will be revealed on March 7.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 7.

Click here for more information about the 2017 Playboy Jazz Festival.

Sandoval to Perform at Spain’s Fijazz International Jazz Festival

Arturo Sandoval is bringing his jazzy sound to the Iberian Peninsula…

The 63-year-old Cuba-born jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer will perform at the 16th Fijazz International Jazz Festival in Alicante, Spain.

Arturo Sandoval

Sandoval, a nine-time Grammy-winning artist, will join Michel Camilo, James Carter, Gregory Porter, Al Jarreau and Branford Marsalis as scheduled performers during the July 9-23 event at the Adda auditorium, organizers said.

The 2013 installment of the popular festival features artists from the Latin and Anglo jazz traditions in equal measure

The head of cultural affairs in Alicante province stressed the importance of the festival for the region.

“This year we have made a very solid commitment to the festival and we have expanded the roster of artists, which will allow the public to hear live seven great artists who, together, have more than 20 Grammys,” said Juan Bautista Rosello said.

Sandoval has released nearly 50 albums, most recently 2012’s Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You).

He was the subject of the 2000 television film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, starring Andy García.