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The ImproperThe “We Are Family Foundation” event lived up to all its advance billing. Tony Bennett, Eric Benet, Slash, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash, Nona Hendrx, and, Micky Dolenz were all present, and greeting almost all the guests as they arrived, a very promising start.
Nile Rodgers and his girl friend Nancy Hunt, who run the foundation, walked about, graciously snapping photos and signing autographs. We spotted Fox News' Roger Friedman, Tommy Boy Records' Tom Silverman, Dolenz's PR-man David Salidor and, Dolenz's partner in his film concern Independent Entertainment, Stuart Gross and, ex-Soprano Robert Funaro.
The event started right on time and quickly wound to an auction conducted by Rodgers and Slash, surely, an unlikely duo if there ever was one. The night honored LaBelle and Deepak Chopra for their charity work. Chopra ambled onstage (in red-studded glasses) and made a thoughtful speech, while LaBelle came out with her two LaBelle-group cohorts, Dash and Hendryx. Announcing they had reformed and had an album in the works, they sang, from Decembers 1974, "Lady Marmalade." A great song, and Ms. LaBelle delivered it like-never-before. She looked great, and at 63, her voice is very definitely a force of nature.
Dolenz followed, introduced by Nile who confessed he was a huge Monkees fan back in the day. Dolenz, and Chic, performed "Last Train To Clarksville", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", and, a rousing "I'm A Believer." The audience began to crowd the stage, and as Dolenz performed, they began singing along. His performance that night was exemplary, and, as Tom Silverman said as he walked out, "His voice is better than ever!"
Nile and the band then performed several Chic numbers, including, "I Want Your Love", "Everybody Dance", and, "Let's Dance", which Nile produced for David Bowie. Nile's a consummate musician and tonight showed exactly why. By the end of the evening, as Slash joined in, with everyone onstage, singing "We Are Family", it was another magical night to remember in New York City.
