SHERMAN OAKS, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Society of Singers) - Glen Campbell, Petula Clark, Steve Lawrence,
Monica Mancini, Barry Manilow,
Johnny Mathis and the Gregg Field Orchestra will be among the performers at the Society of Singers' (SOS) presentation of the 17th ELLA Award to the legendary singer and television host Andy Williams. The event will take place at the Beverly Hilton on May 19, 2008, and will include silent and live auctions along with dinner. The benefit Co-Chairs for the event are SOS president and chief executive officer Jerry F. Sharell, and Bob Fead, vice president of A & R at Warner Chappell
Music and president of Burt Bacharach
Music Publishing. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are
Pierre Cossette and Jerry Perenchio.
Named after its first recipient, Ella Fitzgerald, the ELLA Award is given to singers whose significant musical accomplishments are equaled by their dedication to charitable and humanitarian causes. Previous recipients of the award, besides Ms. Fitzgerald, include Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Placido Domingo, Celine Dion, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, and Elton John.
Williams, one of the world's most beloved singers and a man whose voice was once dubbed "a national treasure" by Ronald Reagan, has enjoyed more than two dozen Top 40 hits over the years. Almost 70 years after he began performing as a young boy, he is still singing regularly at his Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri.
The Society of Singers was founded in 1984 by Chairman Emeritus Ginny (Mrs. Henry) Mancini and Gilda Maiken Anderson when the two friends, both of them former professional singers, realized that many of their friends and colleagues were without pensions, unions, medical insurance or places to turn for financial help during tough times. SOS offers comprehensive services to meet emergency financial needs, and also awards scholarships to vocal arts students.
Tickets are priced at $600, $900, $1,250 and $2,500, with all proceeds to benefit the non-profit Society of Singers Emergency Relief Fund and Scholarship Fund. For more information, please consult https://www.singers.org or call (818) 995-7100.
