S.O.S. (Saving Our Selves) The BET Relief Telethon

S.O.S. (Saving Our Selves) The BET Relief Telethon By Chuck "Jigsaw" Creekmur and Larry "The Blackspot" Hester, BET.com Staff Writers

Updated September 3, 2005--

As the disturbing images of Hurricane Katrina survivors continue to sear our collective minds, African-American artists answer BET's call.

BET will host S.O.S. (Saving OurSelves): The BET Relief Telethon on Friday, September 9 from 7:30 - 10 p.m. (ET/PT) to raise money for hurricane relief efforts.

At a New York press conference on September 1, recording artists Jay-Z, Diddy, Master P, Omarion, Stevie Wonder, Baby and Li'l Wayne, Chris Rock, David Banner and Juvenile, among others, agreed to appear or perform. Russell Simmons said he would assist the effort to get hip-hop artists involved.

Since then, Alicia Keys, New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis, Ciara, Ludacris, Keyshia Cole, Pharrell Williams, Avant, Wyclef, Twista, Lyfe, Brandy, Al and Star Jones Reynolds, Erykah Badu, Gerald Levert and Nick Cannon, along with Island Def Jam Music Group president Antonio "L.A." Reid and more, have committed to participating in the telethon.

"The fury of nature has shown us once again what happens when its strength collides with the true frailty of humankind," said Debra L. Lee, president and CEO of BET, during the press conference at the offices of the American Red Cross in Manhattan, where she was joined by several artists and support organizations.

The telethon is being coordinated in conjunction with several partners, including the National Urban League, American Red Cross, Russell Simmons, the Warner Music Group and Essence Communications. Proceeds from the telethon will go to the American Red Cross. Sean "Diddy" Combs and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter have already joined forces to donate $1 million to the American Red Cross.

"This is one of the saddest days of my life, "Diddy said in a statement."I can hear the cries of the people in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina and will do whatever I can to help. These are my people."

"I urge all our fellow artists and Americans to answer the call," Diddy continued. "These are communities that I know, people that I grew up with, communities that have always supported me. Now it's my turn to support them."

A representative for Diddy stated that the moguls would attempt to present the million-dollar check at the telethon.

"This event has devastated hundreds of thousands of people. We, as African American men and leaders of our community felt it was a necessity to join forces and help," said Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter."

"Diddy and I are committed to supporting our people in whichever way we can."

Carter also revealed that he and Diddy would contribute clothing from their Rocawear and Sean John collections.

The evening will begin with a special benefit edition of the popular "106 & Park" program beginning at 6 p.m. (EST) followed by the telethon from 7:30 to 10 p.m. (EST).

Lee said BET will leverage its contact with 80 million viewers, including a host of celebrities, to donate funds to the relief effort.

"This storm has brought a lot of people together," said music mogul Percy "Master P" Miller, a native of New Orleans, on hand at the press conference. "We forget about all the competition. It ain't even about No Limit-Cash Money [two Southern rival area record labels] "this is about New Orleans. It's definitely going to translate into my next projects."  Master P said that he was planning a benefit song with Cash Money and that, prior to this crisis, the two labels had never spoken to each other.

Rapper Juvenile, who lost his New Orleans home to the hurricane, asked Americans to mobilize for this effort the same way they did after the catastrophic tsunami that struck on Dec. 26 of last year, killing a half-million people in Thailand and other areas of Asia.

"Please, please take some time off and put forth the same effort, if not more, to this country. This is where we at right now," said a visibly emotional Juvenile.

In addition to BET, others have stepped up to aid the hurricane's survivors. Three other music networks owned by the media conglomerate Viacom, parent company of BET, will jointly air a special benefit concert on Sept. 10. Scheduled artists for that event include David Banner, Usher, Alicia Keys, the Dave Matthews Band, Gretchen Wilson, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Rob Thomas, Green Day, John Mellencamp and Ludacris.

The concerts will take place in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville and will air on MTV, VH1 and CMT. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Executives at CBS, NBC and ABC have also reportedly held conference calls to organize a hurricane relief special for next week. New Orleans native Ellen DeGeneres is reportedly being considered as a possible host of the special. Tennis great Serena Williams, whose own home was damaged by a hurricane last year, is also among the celebrities lending a hand in the relief initiative.

Williams, currently playing at the U.S. Open in New York City, announced that she will donate $100 for every ace she hits for the rest of the year to Hurricane Katrina victims. (An "ace" is a tennis term to describe a serve of the ball that cannot be hit by the opponent.)

At the press conference, comedian Chris Rock said the situation was dire and asked that people give to the American Red Cross.

"These places needed help three weeks ago. These places were horrible before this. Have you been to New Orleans outside of Bourbon Street?" Chris Rock asked the crowd of reporters.

Others on hand at the press conference included Reginald Hudlin, President of Entertainment for BET, jazz great and New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis and Susan L. Taylor of Essence Communications.