Bob at Bangledesh

 

August 1, 1971 

George and Hugh

U.S. television news reporter, Hugh Downs passed away yesterday at the age of 99.    I always enjoyed watching Hugh on 20/20 with Barbara Walters in the 1980s and 1990s.    He always seemed like a nice guy and a good reporter.

Hugh's Beatles connection has to do with George Harrison and the Concert for Bangladesh.   The famous concert took place in 1971 and all the tickets sale money went to help the people in Bangladesh.  More money was raised by releasing the concert on an album as well as a film.    Also, George and Ravi started up a fund through UNICEF so that fans and supporters could give money for the cause. 

All this sounds great, expect 85% of the money was NOT going to Bangladesh.  Profits were going to the record label (Apple) plus Allen Klein and Peter Bennet  (allegedly) were selling promo copies of the album to people and sticking the money in his pocket.    Money also had to go to the U.S. government for taxes.     You can read all the confusing details in this story from the L.A. Times

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-02-ca-14889-story.html


In 1982, the mess was somewhat taken care of and George presented UNICEF with a check for the people of Bangladesh.    Hugh Downs just happened to be the chairmen for the U.S. committee of UNICEF from 1978-1998.    So so when George gave the check and got an award (does that say honorary citizen?),  it was Hugh Downs that was there to do the honors and pose for some photos ops. 

Helping the people of Bangladesh

Goodbye Leon Russell

When I think of Leon Russell I think of him in the film for the concert for Bangladesh.   Long before I knew his name, he caught my eye and I enjoyed watching him perform during that film.

I am sure that you have all heard by now that Leon Russell passed away early this morning.   He was a great friend of the Beatles.   Besides working with George, he also worked with John and Ringo.  

2016 has been quite a year---and as we continue through the 2010's, I shudder to think who is going to be next.

Not Beatles related, but I love this 1970 photograph of Leon

Back when Bob Dylan was just a guy performing for Bangladesh

At Madison Square Garden

This is an interesting photo.  Here we see Pattie Boyd and Chris O'Dell along with Harry Harrison in the  background.   They are walking backstage  at Madison Square Garden during the Concert for Bangladesh.  


Note:  This photo was originally found online where it was incorrectly identified as being from the L.A. forum during George Harrison's 1974 Dark Horse Tour.   This didn't make sense because George and Pattie were separated at that time and George was with Olivia while Pattie was with Eric.   After some discussion and research, it was discovered that the photo was from the concert for Bangladesh.  As always, I am sorry for the confusion, but mistakes like this is how we learn and find out new information as Beatle fans.