With Madonna belting out Imagine and Norah Jones crooning We're all in this thing together, top stars of Hollywood and the music industry have participated in a televised concert to raise funds for Asia's tsunami victims.
Stevie Wonder, Nelly, John Mayer, Elton John, Diana Ross and Maroon 5 also rendered numbers in the telethon.
Brad Pitt, George Clooney and other movie stars answered phones and chatted with viewers calling in to make a donation to the tsunami relief effort.
Hollywood stars Halle Berry, Robert de Niro, Clint Eastwood, Meg Ryan, Morgan Freeman, Ben Affleck and Nicolas Cage made personal appeals over the commercial-free two hour show, which was broadcast live from venues in Los Angeles, New York and London.
"Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope" was telecast on leading American network NBC and affiliated cable stations.
Donations went to the American Red Cross International Response Fund in support of victims of the December 26 tsunami, which has killed at least 163,000 people and uprooted millions of others from their homes.
"All the performers with us tonight are here because they were moved by the massive need of those hit by the tsunamis," movie star Andy Garcia said.
It is not immediately known how much has been collected from the telethon but 10,000 hits have been recorded in the first hour on the Red Cross web site, through which viewers could also pledge donations.
"This is a concert for hope and thanks to you, there is hope," former US President Bill Clinton, who appeared with his predecessor George Bush, to appeal for funds said.
"The Red Cross is grateful that so many celebrities are lending their time to help our humanitarian mission," Marsha Evans, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, said.
Telephones used by the celebrities were sold off for $US3,000 per unit while copies of the show script were snapped up for $US1,000 each.
Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys dedicated Love and Mercy to his cellist pal, Swedish musician Markus Sandlund, who is missing in Thailand.
Sandlund had joined the pop icon for the recording and subsequent tour of his acclaimed SMiLE album when the tragedy occurred.
"We love you, Markus," Wilson said at the end of the song.
Sony's Connect music store offered exclusive downloads of live performances from the concert.
All proceeds from download sales will also be donated to the Red Cross.
Sony Corporation of America will match the first $US100,000 raised through domestic download sales while SBC Communications agreed to underwrite the telethon and provide part of the infrastructure support for show.
"This tsunami is a profound reminder that we are all part of a global community," SBC chairman Edward Whitacre said.
- AFP
