JON BON JOVI Among Artists Featured On A Very Special Christmas - 20th Anniversary DVD, Out Today
SHERYL CROW, U2, JOHN MELLANCAMP, JON BON JOVI, NO DOUBT, WYCLEF, ERIC CLAPTON and
STEVIE WONDER are among the superstars featured on the first ever DVD collection from the A Very Special Christmas series benefitting Special Olympics.
A Very Special Christmas - 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection comes out today, through A&M Records, a Universal Music Company, and features classic Christmas videos from No Doubt, U2, Bon Jovi, John Mellancamp, Sting, Vanessa Williams, Run DMC and live performances from Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean and Tracy Chapman from the 1998 and 2000 Christmas At The White House specials. See track listing below.
Special Olympics is a year-round sports organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. With more than 190 million people worldwide, people with intellectual disabilities make up the largest disability population in the world. Intellectual disability crosses the lines of racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds, and can occur in any family.
Currently, Special Olympics is over 2.5 million athletes strong in more than 165 nations around the world. Raising over US$100 million, funds raised through the A Very Special Christmas series are disbursed through grants to Special Olympics programs around the world including throughout Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil. Special Olympics just completed its 2007 World Games in Shanghai, the largest Special Olympics ever, in which 7500 athletes representing 164 nations from countries all over the world completed in 25 different Olympic type and demonstration sports. The Opening Ceremonies, produced for television by Don Mischer, was the most watched television program in the history of Special Olympics, reaching over one billion people in 80 countries.
Largest Special Olympics World Games ever with 7,500 athletes representing 164 nations. The Opening Ceremony was the most watched television program in the history of Special Olympics reaching over one billion people in 80 countries
"A Very Special Christmas is a fitting way to spread holiday cheer," said Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman, "but more importantly, this gift will help bring the joy of the Special Olympics to many more children and adults with intellectual disabilities providing them the chance of a new life —a life of participation, pride, friendship, and joy!”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the inaugural release from the Special Olympics A Very Special Christmas series of eight celebrated holiday albums. The project was launched in 1987 when record executive/producer Jimmy Iovine decided that a Christmas album would be a beautiful memorial to his father. His wife Vicki suggested that the album benefit Special Olympics, for which she was working as a volunteer. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss (the "A" and "M" of A&M Records) helped make the first A Very Special Christmas album possible with an advance and a commitment to handle the record without taking any royalties, and Bobby Shriver signed on as a producer. Keith Haring, one of the great artists of the 20th century, created the Madonna and child artwork that has appeared on every cover.
Some of the most important recording artists in the world have donated songs to the A Very Special Christmas albums including the artists on the 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Smashing Pumpkins, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Enrique Iglesias, Cesaria Evora, Gipsy Kings, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Aretha Franklin. Una Noche de Paz Muy Especial - A Very Special Latin Christmas features top Latin talent such as Enrique Iglesias, Don Omar, Jose Feliciano and Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
"I am full of admiration for the many artists who have helped us. It's a great tribute that these men and women say to themselves, 'I'll use my talent to help others,'" said Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics.
The A Very Special Christmas - 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection will be available at stores every where. The complete series of albums over the years also include A Very Special Christmas, A Very Special Christmas 2, A Very Special Christmas 3, A Very Special Christmas Live, A Very Special Christmas 5, Jazz to the World, World Christmas, A Very Special Acoustic Christmas, and Una Noche de Paz Muy Especial.
Tracklisting: Run DMC - 'Christmas in Hollis', U2 - 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)', No Doubt - 'Oi To The World', John Mellencamp - 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus', Sting - 'Gabriel’s Message', Jon Bon Jovi - 'Please Come Home For Christmas', Vanessa Williams - 'What Child Is This', Eric Clapton - 'Christmas Tears', Tracy Chapman - 'Oh Holy Night', Sheryl Crow - 'Run Rudolph Run', Wyclef Jean - 'Little Drummer Boy / Hot Hot Hot', Stevie Wonder (with Wyclef Jean) - 'Merry Christmas Baby'.
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