Tamaki Okamoto, a US citizen who was born and raised in Japan, and Susan Cooper, former executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, have organized a jazz concert and art show benefit to raise funds to assist those in need in Japan, through the American Red Cross.
Named “Lend a Hand for Japan,” the benefit will take place Sunday, May 15, at the Expo Building, 4321 Atlantic Ave. Doors will open at 3:30pm. Admission is a $15 contribution to the Red Cross.
“The horrific devastation in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami has taken thousands of lives, left tens of thousands homeless, damaged or destroyed more than 139,000 buildings, and led to a serious nuclear incident at one of their power plants,” Cooper said. “Let us gather together and ‘lend a hand.'”
The program will include music by the renowned LA Harbor College Studio Jazz Orchestra, for some Big Band sounds; Onaje Murray and P.S. Island, with a repertoire ranging from jazz to blues to reggae and more; and the music of Gee Mack and the Boogaloo All Stars. Greg “Gee Mack” Dalton is a guitarist, songwriter, producer who has recorded and toured with many artists, from Jay Z to Stevie Wonder.
This event is a local, grassroots effort to raise funds to aid those who are suffering through the aftermath of the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. Funds collected from the event will go directly to the American Red Cross’s Japan relief efforts.
More information is available on the “Lend a Hand for Japan” Facebook page.
