Jackson Browne Receives Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award

Audra Lowe: Hall of famer Jackson Browne is honored with the
Humanitarian Award at the ‘We are Family Foundation’
Gala in New York City. Now the non-profit was started by
legendary song writer Nile Rodgers after 9/11 to promote
better global citizenry. Lauren was on hand for a fun filled
night of rock ‘n roll, all for a great cause.

Nile Rodgers: We are going to have a pretty inspirational first part of the
night and then we are going to get to the party time right
away.

Lauren Ezersky: Tell me a little bit about this organization and why you
started it?

Nile Rodgers: Well, after September 11, three people I knew were in the
very first plane that was crashed in the North Tower and I
started getting phone calls from friends all around the
world and they said, “Well, can you re-release the song We
Are Family to jumpstart the healing process?” I thought
that was the most ridiculous concept I have ever heard of
but the message did soak in that music is a very powerful
healing tool.

Male: It is very quick. It connects people and it brings people
together, fitting into this foundation is called ‘We Are
Family’.

Steven Van Zandt: I was there in the beginning and you know the discussion
was how do we help fight prejudice in general and help
educate the word about the simple fact that we are all one
family, yeah. So that’s basically very simple idea you
know.

Rosie Perez: That was the night it is all about. It is raising money to help
people understand that we’re all just one, all the same.

Lauren Ezersky: You are hosting tonight, that is a tough job isn’t it? You got
to be fun. You got to be on. It is like rock.

Rosie Perez: Funny on, hot for me, no.

Suzy Cohn Rockefeller: We are into it because Nile Rodgers, ‘We Are Family’ and
it is all about global peace. It is about tolerance. It is about
what we really need to make this world a much better
place.

Lauren Ezersky: I don’t know you look really good tonight. Who sew what
you're wearing?

Jackson Browne: I put it on a number of times. You take it off again because
it is not the time was not right. I am playing with chic
tonight. I can dress like this.

Lauren Ezersky: How does it feel to be honored tonight?

Jackson Browne: It is great. It is wonderful to be -- recognized for your work
of course but especially by an organization that does such a
great work. You know I've been to Somalia and I have been
to Nicaragua, the thing you understand first when you get
to these countries is that what a devastating thing poverty
is.

Steven Van Zandt: Well no matter what the issue was and no matter where I
went one of things I just go it was Jackson Browne have
been there first.

Jackson Browne: Music is a great way to bring people together and it is one
of the most important components of any struggle. You
know whether it's the songs that get written that explain
how people feel or whether it's the songs that we go to
when it is time to rejoice.

Audra Lowe: And for all you trivia buzz out there, not only the Nile
Rodgers right ‘We are Family’ but also wrote ‘Let’s
Dance’ for David Bowie and many more songs that you
know all the words to. And to find out more about the We
Are Family Foundation and how you and your kids can
become global citizens, check out bettertv.com and then
click on the links tab.