Paul Simon, James Taylor To Headline Cancer Benefit In New York Honoring Michael Brecker

Paul Simon To Honor Michael Brecker

PAUL SIMON, JAMES TAYLOR, BOBBY McFERRIN and other prominent mujsicians will honor the memory of 15-time GRAMMY winning saxophoniest MICHAEL BRECKER at 'THE NEARNESS OF YOU' benefit concert in NEW YORK CITY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20th.

HUGH JACKMAN and DEBORRA-LEE FURNESS  are the benefit chairs, and MEREDITH VIERA will serve as MC. Proceeds from the concert will support cancer research at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER and the work of Doctors AZRA RAZA and SIDDHARTHA MUKHERJEE.  Dr. RAZA is director of the MYELODISPLASTIC SYNDROMES CENTER at CUMC. Dr. MUKHERJEE is a physician and researcher at the MDS CENTER. In 2011, he won a PULITZER PRIZE for his published study, "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer."

In 2004, BRECKER was diagnosed with MDS. In need of a bone marrow transplant, he searched in the INTERNATIONAL BONE MARROW REGISTRY for a match. He failed to find a matching donor, and in 2007 he died at age 57. As a result of the tens of thousands of people worldwide who  registered in an effort to save BRECIKER's life, 54 lives were saved when new registrants were perfect matches for others in need.  

"When I learned that a cure for MDS will likely provide the key to curing leukemia, I realized there was no better way to honor my husband's legacy than by raising important funds for research through this benefit concert," said the late musician's widow, event producer SUSAN BRECKER.

The concert will be held in THE APPEL ROOM at JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER's FREDERICK P. ROSE HALL. General tickets, starting at $200, may be purchased as of MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, at THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER box office, located on the ground floor of the TIME WARNER CENTER (Broadway and 60th St), by CENTER CHARGE phone at (212) 721-6500, or online at www.jazz.org/events/all/.

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