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Billy Duffy Sammy Sorum Slash Loeb (PC -Denise
Truscello)
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| Group Shot (PC - Bryan Steffy) |
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| Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Alice Cooper, Oscar Goodman |
On
Thursday night, the biggest names from the music and culinary world came
together at the Keep Memory Alive Event Center for a special benefit in honor
of Chef Kerry Simon who has been battling the effects of Multiple System
Atrophy (MSA) for several years, with the confirmation diagnosis coming just
late last year. The event saw 450 guests
and raised nearly $525,000 towards MSA clinical care and research.
The
rock ‘n roll cocktail party kicked off with
a VIP reception where celebrities and guests mingled and stopped on the purple
(Purple is the color of MSA awareness!) carpet to honor Kerry, a highly
respected chef and great friend to so many of us. Chefs including Daniel
Boulud, Kim Canteenwalla, Wylie DuFresne, Grant Macpherson, Michael Mina, Rick
Moonen, Justin Nilson, Charlie Palmer, Megan Romano, Mark Tarbell and
Jean-Georges Vongerichten prepared an amazing culinary dine around with
whimsical and creative dishes for guests to enjoy. Mayor Carolyn Goodman took
the stage to honor Kerry with a proclamation while husband former Mayor Oscar
Goodman watched from the side of the stage. After a live auction raised
$152,000 to add to the night’s fundraising efforts, actor Bill Murray grabbed
the mic and had the crowd hooked. With his stories of their past (Murray and
Kerry worked at a Little Caesars Pizza together at the start of their careers),
he used humor to introduce the incredible night of performers which included
Alice Cooper, Slash, Sammy Hagar, Vince Neil, Todd Rundgren, Matt Sorum, J.D.
Fortune, Lisa Loeb and Billy Duffy all backed by Vegas’ favorite band Sin City
Sinners. As all the acts banded together onstage for the finale “With A Little
Help From My Friends” by The Beatles, Vince Neil explained “This is a “motely
crue” up here” as the audience cheered.
The crowd heard all the classic hits from the collection of artists
including “School’s Out,” “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Girls, Girls, Girls” among
many other collaborations.
Following
the event, the chefs and musicians had a chance to relax amidst an array of
food at Simon Restaurant and Lounge at Palms Place that was put together by
chefs Barry Dakake, Richard Tapia, Mark Purdy and Tammy Alana. Chris Clouse,
who has performed at Kerry’s restaurants over the years, provided a lively
night of tunes as everyone had a chance to really enjoy the end of a wonderful
evening.
A
couple funny lines from the night:
Bill
Murray introducing Sammy Hagar as the “Leonard Cohen of Cabo San Lucas”
Murray
also purposely teasing his longtime friend by calling him different variations
of his name before ending with a shout out to “Berry Simon”
Murray
ending the evening telling the audience it was Kerry’s birthday and leading the
group in a Happy Birthday sing-along…Kerry’s birthday isn’t until June 17th
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