Kip Hagopian

              By now, I think you know how much I value friendship and how important it is to me to use my good fortune to help others. Well, there’s a third element in my life that means a great deal to me, too, and that is music. I can think of no better way to combine these three than what happened back in the 1980s, when four of my favorite musical artists came together to create amazing music and raise money for a very worthy cause.

         The particular performance I am referring to is from AIDS Concert in 1988 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which was called “Dionne Warwick & Friends.” That concert, which I have watched countless times on replay in our den, was the centerpiece of an AIDS Benefit Gala Weekend organized by Dionne Warwick, which featured her singing her iconic hit, “That’s What Friends Are For,” with three other icons of the music industry. Elton John was initially expected to miss the concert because of another commitment, but he arrived just in time and joined Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight, accompanied on piano by Burt Bacharach, who originally co-wrote the song with Carole Bayer Sager. (FYI, Rod Stewart was the first artist to record the song, for the soundtrack of the 1982 film Night Shift.)

              Dionne’s vocals defined soulful as she led the group with her opening verse. Then, Stevie sounded absolutely incredible as he sang, and then Elton even upped the energy with such beautiful feeling, until Gladys brought the thunder when she performed the main hook of the song. I would have to agree with the experts that this the highlight of the greatest era for R&B! 

          Warwick teared up on stage after this touching show of support from her friends. The vocals were unbelievable as they created a timeless rendition of Dionne’s signature hit. It meant so much to her that her friends came through for her, and it’s easy to understand why she got misty-eyed at several points.