Rick Springfield to Headline Annual Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation Concert

By Lookout Staff

January 25, 2018 -- Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter Rick Springfield will headline the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation's 13th annual benefit concert for the arts in March.

Joining Springfield on the stage at Santa Monica High School’s Barnum Hall March 10 are Terri Nunn, lead vocalist for the 1980s new wave/synthpop band Berlin, and local vocal group VENICE, a staple of district benefit concerts.

Rick Springfield to headline Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation benefit concert

Proceeds from the concert -- renamed the Greg Coote Concert For The Arts last year -- will support arts programs at all SMMUSD schools next year, Foundation officials said.

“Every year, the concert is an unforgettable celebration of the arts in our schools,” said Linda Greenberg, Executive Director of the Ed Foundation. “The magic that happens when rock stars are joined by our student orchestra, choir and horn section is incredible."

A member of the pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971, Springfield won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for his 1981 hit "Jessie's Girl," which topped the charts in both the U.S. and in his native Australia.

Springfield had four more top 10 U.S. hits and two U.S. top 10 albums in the early 1980s. His 2010 autobiography, "Late, Late at Night," was a New York Times best seller and was named one of "The 25 Great Rock Memoirs of All Time" by Rolling Stone.

Nunn is best known as the lead vocalist for Berlin,, which topped the charts with "Take My Breath Away" from the 1986 film Top Gun.

Emmy® award-winning journalist Mark Steines, host of Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family," and longtime Los Angeles radio personality Cynthia Fox will emcee the evening, which will also feature a live auction of signed instruments, foundation officials said.

Last year's inaugural Greg Coote Concert For The Arts raised more than $88,000 ("Concert for the Arts Raises More than $88,000 for Santa Monica - Malibu District Schools," March 21, 2017).

It featured five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald, formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, and four-time Grammy winner “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale Friday, February 2 at 10:00 am at smmef.org.