The "VH1 Divas Live" concert was a benefit for "VH1 Save The Music", a pro-social initiative dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in cities across the country. "VH1 Save The Music" was launched in January, 1997. Since then, VH1 and its affiliate partners have contributed over $11.5 million in total support and $3 million in instruments to the national initiative. A significant portion of the proceeds from sales of the "VH1 Divas Live" album will be donated to "VH1 Save The Music" by Epic Records, which has also made a $250,000 advance contribution to the initiative.

Wayne Isaak, VH1 Senior Vice President, writes about the concert: In November 1997, following general months of debate, a small group of us at VH1 finally agreed to turn our annual "VH1 Honors" concert into a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of some of the most notable and popular female voices in contemporary music. Borrowing from several smaller productions, we were determined to create a performance showcase which we titled "VH1 Divas Live".

The task of booking such a show was monumental. To gather some of today's top vocalists together on the same stage, singing both their own songs and a number of collaborations, presented innumerable logistical challenges. We began by researching a list of artists who were actively performing, and factored in those who we thought would work well together. By early December, we had an impressive list of names, and we began to make offers.

In early January 1998, Celine Dion agreed to perform on the show and became our first official booking. Our viewers had chosen Celine as VH1's Artist of the Year in 1996; now her recording of "My heart will go on" was well on its way to become the biggest song of 1998. Since Celine and nearly all of the Divas we had targeted were scheduled to be on the East Coast in mid-April, we decided to move what had become an annual Los Angeles-based event to Gotham City to be held two days after Easter on April 14, 1998. We hastened to secure a venue in New York and to confirm the participation of more Divas.

Aretha Franklin had been on our list from day one. We were overjoyed to learn that she was planning an April release for her new album, "A rose is still a rose", and would be performing live during that time. Truly, Aretha was and is the definitive Diva, and thus became our role model for the event. With the persuasive efforts of Clive Davis, President of Arista Records, she finally agreed in early March to play the event. And when the Queen of Soul stood in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti and stole the Grammy Awards telecast with her rendition of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", we knew Aretha was going to be magical.

Gloria Estefan was preparing to debut a new LP, "Gloria!", in early June, and responded enthusiastically to our invitation.

From our vantage point in February, Shania Twain was one of country music's biggest-selling artists, and poised to score a breakthrough pop hit with her new single, "You're still the one". We loved the idea of widening the appeal of our show by including her fans, and we loved the idea of Shania in general. She seemed like a Diva in the making.

From the start, we'd fantasized about having Mariah Carey on the show. But in December and January, her Spring ‘98 tour plans were uncertain, and we didn't want to add another decision to her list. So we built the show to the point of near completion by early March, and only then asked Mariah to join us. She was concerned as to how she'd fit into the already busy evening, but was excited by the prospect of singing with Aretha. After working through her schedule and her repertoire, Mariah finally said yes in mid-March, just hours before our posters and advertisements went to press.

The final addition of Carole King to our artist rooster would prove crucial to the success of "VH1 Divas Live". Producer Ken Ehrlich and I really wanted Carole to duet with Celine on "The reason", a song cowritten by Carole for Celine's album, "Let's talk about love". We also hoped that Carole would lead the whole ensemble through her classic composition, "A natural woman" - one of the best songs ever written from a woman's point of view. Just nine days before the event, Ms. King agreed to come in from Los Angeles.

Another Carole King standard, "You've got a friend", was added and rehearsed onstage the night before the live telecast, with Carole leading Shania, Celine, and Gloria through the song with the aid of sheet music purchased that evening from the Colony Music store on Broadway. "A natural woman" was only fully rehearsed by the group in Ms. Franklin's bus about two hours before the start of the show.

After nearly two-and-a-half hours of singing and musical testimony, network President John Sykes presented a check for $100,000 to "VH1 Save The Music" in the name of each Diva. The "VH1 Save The Music" initiative, which helped inspire the Divas to join the event, is dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring and supporting music programs in communities across the country. There is an overwhelming proof that music education helps children to learn important subjects like math and science. To date VH1 has contributed over 11.5 million dollars in total support to help bring music instruction to over 50,000 children.

The live broadcast became the highest rated program in VH1's 13 year history. Twenty million people watched the program in the initial airings on the channel in the US. The feedback we received from viewers, the media, other artists, and the Divas themselves confirmed that we all had been part of an extraordinary musical event.

COMPACT DISCS (CD'S)

CD (2894) no catalogue number promo, called "sampler" collection Andy H. Tjondrodihardjo Tracklisting: 1. My all - Mariah Carey 2. You're still the one - Shania Twain 3. My heart goes on - Celine Dion 4. You've got a friend - Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, Carole King 5. A natural woman - The divas

CD from Asia (1579) 491778.2 collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Asia (1576) 491778.9 foldout digipack collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Australia (0690) 491778 2 collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Austria (0691) 491778 2 collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Austria (3198) 491778 9 collection Marcel Trupia

CD from Brazil (1755) 789.169/2-491778 collection Luiz Gustavo Veloso

CD from Brazil (2108) 2-491778 comes in a card slipcase collection Rafael Frattini Cabral

CD from Canada (2119) EK 69600 collection Pascal Bellerose

CD from China (0692) MKCD-1232 2 CD set collection Eric de Ridder Tracklisting CD 2: 1. A natural woman (video) There are many different catalogue numbers on this item. On the first CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and MKCD-1232 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2.

CD from Colombia (2083) 92 491778 collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Indonesia (1521) 491778 2 collection Indra Jaya

CD from Japan (2221) no catalogue number promo collection Christopher Kelly Tracklisting: 1. A natural woman 2. You got a friend

CD from Japan (2752) ESCA 7367 collection Marcel Trupia

CD from Singapore (2120) 491778.2 collection Pascal Bellerose This is an limited edition CD, shrinkwrapped with an exclusive VH1 Divas Live address book.

CD from Singapore (1537) 491778.9 / 491778.2 foldout digipack collection Gilbert Chong

CD from Singapore (3199) no catalogue number collection Marcel Trupia

CD from South-Korea (0693) CPK-1958 (491778 2) collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Taiwan / Asia (2122) 491778.9 comes with a booklet with English and Chinese lyrics foldout digipack collection Eric de Ridder

CD from Taiwan / Asia (2123) 491778.9 promo, comes with a booklet with English and Chinese lyrics foldout digipack collection Rob Fredie This item is the same as item 2122, but on the back cover is a stamp saying in Chinese "promo only".

CD from Taiwan (0753) MKCD-1232 collection Eric de Ridder This CD is packed in the Asian video CD case, but on top of the back cover is another cover. Therefor there are many catalogue numbers on this item. On the CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2. On the sides it says MKCD-1232 and M2VCD50175.

CD from Taiwan (1501) MKCD-1232 collection Eric de Ridder There are many different catalogue numbers on this item. On the CD it says ISRC CN-D17-98-326-00/A.J6 and MKCD-1232 and on the back of the booklet it says 491778.2. On the side of the slipcase it says MKCD-1232 and on the side of the CD it says M2VCD50175. According to the tracklisting on the backcover of the CD it should be two video CDs, but the backcover of the slipcase has the correct tracklisting.

super audio CD from Taiwan (2102) ES69600 collection Rob Fredie

CD from the USA (?) (2060) no catalogue number promo without sleeve collection Luc Baumgartner

CD from the USA (2115) EK 69600 collection Rodrigo C. Jusay

CD from the USA (0694) EK 69668 foldout digipack collection Eric de Ridder

CD from the USA (2194) ES 69600 collection Eric de Ridder This super audio CD is designed for use in super audio CD players only.

CASSETTES

cassette from Argentina (1250) 247.500 / 4-491778 song titles are in Spanish collection Eric de Ridder

cassette from Holland (0688) 491778 4 collection Eric de Ridder

cassette from Hungary (3527) 491778 4 collection Szilvia Kiss

cassette from Indonesia (1430) 491778.4 collection Indra Jaya

cassette from the Philippines (1728) 491778.4 collection Eric de Ridder

cassette from Poland (1530) 491778 4 collection Eric de Ridder

cassette from South-Korea (2292) CPT-1958 (491778 4) collection Luc Baumgartner

cassette from Taiwan (1531) MKC-1232 / 491778.4 collection Eric de Ridder

cassette from the USA (0689) ET 69600 collection Eric de Ridder

MINI DISCS

mini disc from Austria (0696) 491778 8 collection Eric de Ridder

VIDEOS

video from Asia (1727) EV 50175 collection Eric de Ridder

video from Australia (0748) 200858 2 collection Eric de Ridder

video from Brazil (1584) 149.167/2-050175 collection Raphael Armand

video from Europe (0698) 200858 2 collection Eric de Ridder

video from Thailand (2178) ISBN 1-56330-099-3 collection PP

video from the USA (1612) EV 50175 collection Ricardo Wakeham

DVD'S

DVD from Asia (1564) EVD 50175 collection Eric de Ridder

DVD from Asia (2290) VD-137 collection Luc Baumgartner

DVD from Australia (0749) 200858 9 collection Eric de Ridder

DVD from Brazil (2434) 132.015/9-050175 collection Luiz Gustavo Veloso

DVD from Europe (0695) 200858 9 collection Eric de Ridder

DVD from Germany (2570) 0363 collection Marco Hendriks

DVD from Hong Kong (0979) ISRC CN-E24-01-487-00/V.J6 comes in a card slipcase, picture disc collection Eric de Ridder

DVD from Taiwan (2098) EVD 50175 collection Rob Fredie

DVD from the USA (1613) EVD 50175 collection Eric de Ridder

VIDEO CD'S

video CD from Asia (0699) M2VCD50175 2 CD set collection Eric de Ridder

video CD from Malaysia (0700) M2VCD50175 2 CD set collection Eric de Ridder

video CD from South-Korea (0701) S2VCD 0014 (M2VCD 50175) 2 CD set collection Eric de Ridder

video CD from Taiwan (1929) M2VCD50175 collection Rob Fredie

SPECIAL ITEMS

DVD and CD from Brazil (1534) 2-502814/2-491778 collection Eduardo Tacari

promo box from the Netherlands (0697) collection Eric de Ridder This promo box contains the CD VH1 Divas Live (491778 2 - item 0691) and the video VH1 Divas Live (200858 2 - item 0698), packed in a black velvet box.

promo box from the USA (2118) collection Pascal Bellerose This promo box contains the CD VH1 Divas Live (EK 69600 - item 2115) and the video VH1 Divas Live (EV 50175 - item 1612), packed in a black velvet box.

video and CD from the USA (3065) EVK 69720 collection Andy H Tjondrodihardjo