Forty years ago, George Harrison responded to a desperate situation in Bangladesh with a charitable concert featuring Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, and more. It was the first concert of its kind, and set the stage for Live Aid, We Are the World, Comic Relief, and many other benefits that have changed lives around the world.
To honor George Harrison and the anniversary of the Concert for Bangladesh, UNICEF declared a Month of Giving, with proceeds providing relief for an acute famine in the Horn of Africa.
The response has been overwhelming. Musicians from Selena Gomez to Paul Simon to the Arcade Fire have spread the word via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. And all their efforts include a simple call to action: fans can text “FRIEND” to UNICEF (864233) to donate $10 to the cause.
You can also buy the soundtrack to that original concert on iTunes – to hear the great musicians of the 70s making history, and to donate the cost of the music to UNICEF.