Multi-Grammy Winners Michael McDonald and 'Weird Al' Yankovic Headline Ed Foundation Benefit Concert

SANTA MONICA, CA – Five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald (formerly of the Doobie Brothers), special guest Amy Holland, and three-time Grammy winner “Weird Al” Yankovic will be joined by Richard Page (of Mr. Mister) as well as local favorites VENICE for the Greg Coote Concert For The Arts.

These seasoned professional musicians will perform with student musicians from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s nationally recognized orchestras, choirs and horn sections on many of their hits.

Taking place on March 11 at Santa Monica High School’s Barnum Hall, the concert will raise funds for the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation. Proceeds will support arts programs at all SMMUSD schools next year.

Cynthia Fox of 100.3 The Sound will emcee the evening, which will also feature a live auction of signed instruments, experiences and more. Tickets for the concert are available online at smmef.org.

This is the 12th production of the Ed Foundation’s popular concerts. This year, the concert has been renamed the Greg Coote Concert For The Arts, in memory of entertainment executive and SMMUSD parent Greg Coote. Coote led the Ed Foundation's For The Arts endowment campaign to ensure the continuity of arts programming for students in the Santa Monica-Malibu public schools. He sadly passed away in 2014.

“We are very excited for this year’s concert and honored to name this incredible event for Greg,” said Linda Greenberg, Executive Director of the Education Foundation. “Greg’s passion for the arts led him to spearhead the creation of our $2.9 million For The Arts endowment, which funds grants for visual arts supplies, music coaches, drama programs and additional arts across the district. This incredible event, with world-renowned artists and our nationally recognized student musicians, is a fitting tribute to Greg’s dedication to the arts in our schools.”

All donations to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation fund excellent programs – from art to STEM to wellness – that shape our future problem solvers, visionaries and global citizens. Contributions to the Ed Foundation change the lives of students in the Santa Monica-Malibu public schools.

-- News release from Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation. Photo credit: Evan Courtney/Flickr.