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• Former American Idol contestant George Huff's family's home in New Orleans was destroyed. Huff and 14 of his relatives have in the interim set up shop at his brother's house in Dallas.
  
  

• The members of Mute Math, all New Orleans natives, are all fine after evacuating the city. See their blog at their MySpace page for updates.
  
  

• The corporate offices of both Integrity Music (home to Don Moen, Israel & New Breed, and Twila Paris, among others), in Mobile, Ala., and Malaco Music Group (home to Dottie Peoples and other gospel music), in Jackson, Miss., both survived the effects of hurricane Katrina without major structural damage.
  
  

Christian music isn't alone in its response; mainstream musicians and networks too are staging their own relief efforts.

On Sept. 2, NBC and its affiliates broadcast a quickly put-together "Concert for Hurricane Relief" that boasted appearances by Louisiana-bred musicians Harry Connick, Jr., Tim McGraw, and Wynton Marsalis.

On Sept. 9, seven major television networks—ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, WB and UPN—will partner up to air "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast." No performers or presenters have been announced yet, but the hour-long special is set to feature a bevy of celebrities from the worlds of music, film, and television.

Also on Sept. 9, BET will air S.O.S. (Saving OurSelves): The BET Relief Telethon 7:30 - 10 p.m. to raise money for hurricane relief efforts. The gala will include appearances and performances from such urban luminaries as Jay-Z, Diddy, Master P, Omarion, Stevie Wonder, Baby and Li'l Wayne, Chris Rock, Alicia Keys, New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis and many more.

On Sept. 10, the MTV, VH1 and CMT cable networks plus other subsidiaries will air ReAct Now: Music & Relief, a three-hour special featuring more than 30 personalities, including The Rolling Stones, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, John Mayer, Dashboard Confessional, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Brian Wilson and many more. The event will raise funds for the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, America's Second Harvest, and other agencies.

On Sept. 12, the Dave Matthews Band will perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, with all profits going to charities supporting victims of Katrina. The band staged a similar show in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

On Sept. 17, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Wynton Marsalis and Bill Cosby will perform the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

On Sept. 27, country music will stage Country Reaches Out: An Opry Benefit for the American Red Cross. A joint effort between the Grand Ole Opry and the GAC (Great American Country) network, the one-hour, commercial-free special will feature appearances by Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Craig Morgan, Billy Currington, Keith Urban, Julie Roberts, and Marty Stuart.

New Orleans originals Better Than Ezra will donate a portion of their proceeds from their upcoming tour to relief efforts. The group is also organizing a benefit show alongside other New Orleans acts. No details have been announced yet.

After touring the storm-damaged areas, Paul Simon and The Children's Health Fund, an organization he co-founded—brought two 35-foot mobile clinics to the area to help in the recovery efforts.

Others are donating cash, like vocal diva Celine Dion, rapper Jay-Z, and music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, all of whom donated $1 million apiece. Additionally, teenaged Disney superstar Hilary Duff donated $250,000 to charities providing Katrina-related help.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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