Kenny Loggins will be saluted with a special honor at the 44th annual John Lennon Tribute charity concert, scheduled to take place on December 7 at Symphony Space in New York City. Loggins will receive the 2024 John Lennon Real Love Award at the event, and also will give a performance.
The concert is presented by the non-profit organization Theatre Within. Money raised by the event benefits the charity’s free creative programs for children and adults with cancer and students at public schools in in-need communities. Among the organization’s campaigns is the John Lennon Real Love Project. The initiative offers a songwriting program to cancer patients and school students.
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The John Lennon Real Love Award was established in 2014, with support from Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. The honor recognizes artists “for their creative brilliance, support of charitable causes and/or enduring commitment to social activism.”
Loggins is known for his prolific and successful music career, first as a member of the folk-rock duo Loggins & Messina and then as a hit-making solo artist. He also has recorded albums geared toward children and families.
Previous Real Love Award honorees include Graham Nash, Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant, Rosanne Cash, Donovan, and photographer Bob Gruen.
Kenny, who is a lifelong Beatles fan, is expected to perform some of his favorite Fab Four and Lennon songs at the show.
“Kenny Loggins is one of those rare artists who fearlessly crosses musical genres and whose songs have touched the hearts of generations of fans,” said Theatre Within artistic director Joe Raiola in a statement. “Beyond that, Kenny’s charitable impact, particularly for children’s causes, has been seismic and selfless.”
Loggins on The Beatles
Loggins spoke about how The Beatles inspired him in a recent interview.
“So many artists I have met and worked with saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and were influenced by it,” he noted. “At that point, as Jimi Hendrix said, you put down the folk music and you move on. And it wasn’t just the girl’s screaming—that’s too easy of an answer. It was the electricity of it. There was something about it that was so much fun. It was the magic of the Beatles.”
Comments from Sean Lennon
Sean Ono Lennon, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, shared praise for the benefit concert and Theatre Within’s charitable work.
“It’s inspiring that Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute continues to flourish after so many years,” he said. “And it’s especially meaningful to me and my mom that proceeds from the concert help bring my father’s music to the cancer community and public school students with the John Lennon Real Love Project.”
More About the John Lennon Tribute Concert
Theatre Within’s charity concert is the only John Lennon tribute show sanctioned by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. More performers will be announced soon.
Tickets and VIP packages are available now at LennonTribute.org. The event is produced in association with Music Without Borders.
Loggins’ Other Scheduled Performance
Loggins will receive another special honor at a September 20 charity event near Santa Barbara California. The singer/songwriter will be presented with the “Heart of the Community Award” at the 2024 One805LIVE! Concert.
The One805LIVE! Concert raises money for the One805 charity, which supports various funds aiding first responders in Santa Barbara. Loggins is part of the event’s performance lineup, which also features Pink, Richard Marx, Alan Parsons, Al Stewart, and more.