San Francisco Bay Area musicians are legendary for dedicating themselves to good works and donating their time and performances to charitable causes. When their own community was hit by the Loma Prieta earthquake of October 17, 1989, the call went out again. They responded without hesitation. Organized by concert promoter Bill Graham, some fifty music and comedy acts including Los Lobos; Santana; Crosby, Stills, & Nash; Bonnie Raitt; John Fogerty; Neil Young; and Steve Miller performed on November 26, 1989, at three separate concert venues in Watsonville, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Unable to make the November 26 Benefit, the Grateful Dead played their Earthquake Relief Benefit on December 6, 1989. They opened with “Shakedown Street”.
Here is the KQED/Bill Graham joint press conference held at KQED studios on November 15, 1989 announcing this bay area historic event.
World Premier of this press conference. Produced for Dead Head TV.
Producer/Editor/Script: Scott Wiseman
Narration: Jarid Johnson
Camera: Jesse Block
Music: April Fool
Photos: Steve Ringman, Mark Sarfati, thoughtmatters, Eric Risberg, USGS
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