Benefit concert highlights instruments made with wood from well-managed forests

Building on the success of its previous three shows, the Rainforest Alliance will once again present its Smart Sounds: Music for the Planet^™ benefit concert at New York City's Beacon Theatre on March 6, 2001. This highly anticipated musical event is a rare opportunity for renowned artists and musicians to demonstrate their commitment to, and support of, tropical forest conservation. This year's featured artists include Levon Helm, Dr. John, Keb' Mo', Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, BR5-49, Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson, and special surprise guests. Past performers have included James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, Ricky Skaggs, The Staple Singers, Taj Mahal, and Angelique Kidjo, among others. Throughout the evening, musicians will be playing instruments made from certified wood -- wood that has been grown and harvested in accordance with standards set forth by the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program.

SmartWood evaluates forestry operations and forest product companies, and awards the FSC/SmartWood independent seal of approval to those that meet its strict standards. [The FSC or Forest Stewardship Council is the international organization that accredits certifiers such as SmartWood.] To carry the FSC/SmartWood label, a supplier's wood must be tracked from the forest, through manufacturing and distribution, to the customer, and must ensure a balance of social, economic, and environmental factors. To date, over eight million acres of forestland worldwide has been SmartWood-certified and almost 400 companies have earned SmartWood's certification mark on items they produce with certified wood, such as guitars, flooring, cabinets, picture frames, and paper. The program's success proves that certification is a valuable conservation tool that provides ecofriendly consumers with a powerful voice in the marketplace.

Smart Sounds sponsor Gibson Guitar Corporation has been involved with the concert since its inception in 1996. Since that time, Gibson has produced their Les Paul Standards guitar line using certified mahogany and maple. The Martin Guitar company also produces SmartWood-certified guitars.

Musical Director Steve Jordan -- well-known drummer, record producer, and long time Rainforest Alliance supporter -- sees Smart Sounds as a way to pay "more than lip service" to the critical work of conservation. His involvement led Yamaha to custom craft the only SmartWood-certified drum set in existence for Jordan's performance at the 2000 Academy Awards.

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for Smart Sounds are on sale now. A limited number of benefit tickets for the concert can be purchased for $200 and $450, and include entrance to an exclusive post-concert party at Cream, an Upper West Side hotspot. Benefit tickets can be purchased by calling the Rainforest Alliance at (212) 677-1900. Tickets are available for $50 and $70 each at the Beacon Theatre Box Office (212-496-7070) and through Ticketmaster, beginning Thursday, February 15.

The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical forests for the benefit of the global community. Our mission is to develop and promote economically viable and socially desirable alternatives to the destruction of this endangered, biologically diverse natural resource. We pursue this mission through education, research in the social and natural sciences, and the establishment of cooperative partnerships with businesses, governments, and local peoples.

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