Private Zoom concert featuring Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan raises more than $2 million
On Friday night, Luke Bryan and Darius Rucker hopped on Zoom to trade songs — from "One Margarita" to "Hold My Hand" — and a few barbs.
Rucker poked fun at Bryan for grousing about his slow internet connection, while Bryan reminded Rucker that he had sent him two sanitized bottles of wine.
"He's been robbing my wine cellar," Bryan joked. And he was addressing an audience — nearly a thousand Zoom windows, with people tuned in from their homes across the country.
The two country stars were part of the latest private "Quarantunes" fundraising concert, hosted on Zoom by Richard Weitz, a partner at talent agency WME.
Weitz's invitation-only, star-studded virtual fundraisers have built a ton of buzz in Hollywood over the past month. Friday's event was centered on Music City, and raised funds for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, The CDC Foundation and The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
With this latest show, Weitz and his 17-year-old daughter Demi have raised more than $2 million for organizations in the fight against COVID-19.
Friday's fundraising was kicked off by a $100,000 donation to the CDC Foundation by AllianceBernstein, announced by CAO Kate Burke.
Other highlights included legendary songwriter Valerie Simpson, who treated the audience to a solo piano rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Michael McDonald also got behind the keys for a number of songs, including a cover of "You Don't Know Me," popularized by Ray Charles.
At points, Weitz would make sure two artists saw each other among the hundreds of screens and had the chance to say hello.
"You might have to fire your whole band if you, you know, get too good at this," Simpson told McDonald.
"If I ever get out of here, yeah," he joked.
Friday's music began with Marc Cohn and his signature "Walking in Memphis." Most performers opted to treat their virtual audience with their biggest hits, or songs that seemed apt for the times.
"This song is called 'Most People Are Good,' and we see it out there," Bryan said. "People are putting themselves secondary and helping others."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Coronavirus benefit: Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan Zoom show raises $2M