Fresh from D. C., from a concert at the White House, Sam Moore performed his “Hold On, I’m Coming,” “Something is Wrong with My Baby,” “Soul Man” revue at the We Are Family Foundation Benefit on Thursday night, a tribute to Sting and Trudie Styler for their humanitarian efforts. An impassioned Slater Jewell-Kemker (20) and an equally impressive young man Ndaba Mandela, yes, Nelson’s grandson, spoke about the rock couple’s work as founders of their Rainforest Foundation, as did Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of U. S. Fund for Unicef. Then Sting and Trudie accepted their award, with Trudie doing all of the talking, explaining how, on a trip to Brazil, they learned that the logging industry was stripping indigenous peoples of their home, burning down the rainforest. They set up their foundation to help save the land from private, commercial interests and are now operating in 23 countries. Trudie Styler affirmed their mission, “Compassion for one another makes us special. Our destiny on this planet is a common destiny.”

The couple was to have been honored in the fall, but hurricanes prevailed, and so this was a make up benefit, and the entertainment value was through the roof. DJ, comedian Russell Peters MC’d the auction of a white guitar signed by Sting, Sam, and Nile Rodgers, founder of the We Are Family Foundation, poking fun of everyone including Rosie Perez and David Rockefeller. By the time Sting performed his signature “Englishman in New York,” “Fields of Gold,” accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, and “Brand New Day,” the crowd was on its feet. Sting revealed he listened to Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam Moore as a young man, and he would never have predicted that now he and Sam would be friends. Sam Moore joined Sting for “Every Breath You Take” and by the time they got to “Just the Two of Us,” their bromance was in full swing. Trudie Styler and Joyce Moore began to dance with them but finally had to dance with each other, as the men were still orbiting each other. The concert ended with Nile Rodgers and Chic, with Sam Moore stepping in for “Good Times.” And a good time this was.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura