 Photo Credit: India Today |  |
In 2017, benefit concerts are so commonplace, the “cause” these shows benefit often get lost in the shuffle and excitement of musician performing. But in the 1970s, a benefit show was still a relatively novel idea, and had never been executed on a truly grand scale. In 1971, former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar fundamentally altered how music could be used as a conduit to insight change, raise awareness and ultimately funds to help those that are in need.
In 1971, a civil war and resulting humanitarian crisis had broken in East Pakistan, the state which would eventually become the sovereign state of Bangladesh. The conflict created a massive refugee influx, with tens of millions of peoples displaced across the region, leading to widespread disease, food shortages, and suffering among civilians.
Shankar, who was of Bengali origin, feared as he watched people he knew suffer and began scrambling to assemble the musicians around him to do something to help. Eventually, he was able to persuade Harrison that the cause was worthwhile, with the former Beatle putting his full musical force behind the concert. The two recruited an amazing roster of talent including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Badfinger and others to perform at two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.
The resulting shows raised close to $250,000 for UNICEF, ultimately helping millions of suffering refugees and helped bring Western attention to the widespread issues that were taking place in Bangladesh.
Watch more about the Concert for Bangladesh below:
In 1971, a civil war and resulting humanitarian crisis had broken in East Pakistan, the state which would eventually become the sovereign state of Bangladesh. The conflict created a massive refugee influx, with tens of millions of peoples displaced across the region, leading to widespread disease, food shortages, and suffering among civilians.
Shankar, who was of Bengali origin, feared as he watched people he knew suffer and began scrambling to assemble the musicians around him to do something to help. Eventually, he was able to persuade Harrison that the cause was worthwhile, with the former Beatle putting his full musical force behind the concert. The two recruited an amazing roster of talent including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Badfinger and others to perform at two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.
The resulting shows raised close to $250,000 for UNICEF, ultimately helping millions of suffering refugees and helped bring Western attention to the widespread issues that were taking place in Bangladesh.
Watch more about the Concert for Bangladesh below:
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