Jim Dolan Gives $100,000 to ALS Via Kazoofest At Madison Square Garden

Jim Dolan Donates $100,000 to ALS Association as new Kazoo Record is Set at The Garden

CARMELO ANTHONY, AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE, HENRIK LUNDQVIST AND JOHN MCENROE
JOIN JD & THE STRAIGHT SHOT AND THOUSANDS OF EAGLES FANS

Last night, the sound of 7,422 kazoos being played simultaneously by Eagles fans at Madison Square Garden resulted in a world record and – as pledged – a $100,000 donation by Jim Dolan to the ALS Association.

Dolan, Madison Square Garden Executive Chairman and Cablevision Systems Corporation CEO, was performing as frontman for his band – JD & The Straight Shot — the opening act for the Eagles concert Thursday night. He was joined on stage by Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, Rangers all-star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and tennis legend John McEnroe for the landmark moment.

Kazoos were distributed to ticket-holders as they entered The Garden for the Eagles concert on Thursday. When the band launched into “Governor’s Song,” a song from its new album, Where I’ve Been, the fans joined Dolan, Anthony, Stoudemire, Lundqvist and McEnroe for the kazoo solo. But in this case, it was a “solo” performed by 7,422 participants. The mission accomplished, Dolan announced his $100,000 donation to ALS. The kazoo challenge started last Friday on The Today Show when Dolan participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and then challenged fans to join him in breaking the kazoo record.

“I’m honored to make this donation to ALS, and very proud that Eagles fans came together to make this moment happen,” said Dolan. “I want to thank Carmelo, Amar’e, Henrik and John for taking the time and having so much fun with us on stage, and to the fans at The Garden on Thursday for making this such a memorable event for an important cause.”

“We are grateful to James Dolan and his band JD & The Straight Shot for this very generous donation and the awareness he has helped raise for this important cause,” said Dorine Gordon, President and CEO of the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. “The Ice Bucket Challenge has been a true phenomenon and we are grateful for the outpouring of support that our organization has received. We have a long way to go to reach our goal of finding a cure for this devastating disease. We continue to not only push for research but also to make treatments and care accessible and affordable for all ALS patients as well as the families of those living with ALS right here in the NY/NJ area.”

JD & The Straight Shot has been opening for the Eagles on select dates as part of the launch for their album, Where I’ve Been, produced by Joe Walsh. The band’s fifth album features several breakthrough singles including “Governor’s Song,” which challenges some of today’s most well-known political figures; “Under That Hood,” a transformative single that tells the tragic story of Trayvon Martin; and “Hard to Find,” which will be featured in the highly-anticipated film, St. Vincent’s, starring Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy. Where I’ve Been is currently available on iTunes, and the band will be touring the Northeast this fall.

The band’s creative nucleus is founder and frontman Jim Dolan and guitarist Marc Copely (B.B. King), who pen all the band’s music and lyrics. Instrumentally indispensable is guitarist Aidan Dolan, keyboardist Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm) and drummer Joe Magistro (The Black Crowes). Also taking the stage are some of pop music’s finest session players, bassist Zev Katz (Aretha Franklin, Elton John), and violinist Erin Slaver (Rod Stewart, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride). Go to jdandthestraightshot.com for more information.

ALS Association

The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa.org.