Amy Winehouse duet with Tony Bennett going to charity (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A duet between jazz great Tony Bennett and the late singer Amy Winehouse is being released as a single to benefit a charity established by her father, Bennett's spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The classic pop standard "Body and Soul" that Winehouse recorded with Bennett in March is one of her last works. She died unexpectedly at age 27 on July 23, after a long battle with alcohol and drugs.

An official cause of death for Winehouse has not been determined. Her father, Mitch, is creating a foundation in her name to help drug addicts.

Proceeds from Bennett and Winehouse's "Body and Soul" recording, which is being released as a single, will go to the foundation, said Liz Rosenberg, a spokeswoman for Bennett.

The song will also appear on Bennett's "Duets II" CD to be released on September 20.

Bennett, a Grammy winning jazz legend whose biggest songs include "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "Rags to Riches," celebrated his 85th birthday on Wednesday.

He recorded "Body and Soul" with Winehouse at the Abbey Road Studios in London, and has credited her for her abilities as a jazz singer.

Grammy winner Winehouse was famed for her black beehive hair and soulful voice, and is best known for her 2006 song "Rehab" that summed up her struggles with addiction.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Music mogul honors celebs at charity fundraiser (AP)

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. – Music mogul Russell Simmons and model Kimora Lee Simmons may no longer be married, but the pair came together in the name of charity at a dinner gala.

The couple hosted the fundraiser Saturday night to benefit Art for Life, a charity that supports arts programs for inner-city kids.

"We started this together 12 years ago," Lee Simmons said. "I hosted it every year forever and then I had to turn over the duties, and now we are back as a family and we are so excited. It is a great night."

The couple's two daughters attended the event, as well as Lee Simmons' partner, actor Djimon Hounsou, and their son. The Simmonses divorced in 2009.

The evening wasn't just family affair. Singer Mary J Blige, actor Ed Norton and fashion icon Tamara Mellon were honored for their work with the organization.

"It seems like a banner year, and that is really how you measure it," Simmons said of the fundraising efforts, which totaled more than $1 million before the event.

During the gala, Norton took to the microphone to express why he supports the cause.

"When you don't invest in the inventors of tomorrow, the economist of tomorrow, the doctors of tomorrow won't emerge because you haven't taught people to think in their individual creative ways," he said. "Creativity fuels everything that makes America dynamic."

Guests were later entertained by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who performed three songs. They also had the opportunity to bid on a variety of items, including artwork and a chance to meet Justin Timberlake.

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Online:

http://www.rushphilanthropic.org

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Music mogul honors celebs at charity fundraiser (AP)

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. – Music mogul Russell Simmons and model Kimora Lee Simmons may no longer be married, but the pair came together in the name of charity at a dinner gala.

The couple hosted the fundraiser Saturday night to benefit Art for Life, a charity that supports arts programs for inner-city kids.

"We started this together 12 years ago," Lee Simmons said. "I hosted it every year forever and then I had to turn over the duties, and now we are back as a family and we are so excited. It is a great night."

The couple's two daughters attended the event, as well as Lee Simmons' partner, actor Djimon Hounsou, and their son. The Simmonses divorced in 2009.

The evening wasn't just family affair. Singer Mary J Blige, actor Ed Norton and fashion icon Tamara Mellon were honored for their work with the organization.

"It seems like a banner year, and that is really how you measure it," Simmons said of the fundraising efforts, which totaled more than $1 million before the event.

During the gala, Norton took to the microphone to express why he supports the cause.

"When you don't invest in the inventors of tomorrow, the economist of tomorrow, the doctors of tomorrow won't emerge because you haven't taught people to think in their individual creative ways," he said. "Creativity fuels everything that makes America dynamic."

Guests were later entertained by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who performed three songs. They also had the opportunity to bid on a variety of items, including artwork and a chance to meet Justin Timberlake.

___

Online:

http://www.rushphilanthropic.org

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