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The 25th anniversary of the Rainforest Fund will be celebrated in style next month with a benefit concert featuring Paul Simon, Sting, James Taylor, Dionne Warwick, Ivy Levan, Chris Botti, and Renée Fleming.

The Rainforest Fund has raised $35 million since established by Sting and his wife Trudie Styler in 1989. Originally formed to promote environmental preservation and to assist the ingidenous people who live in the Amazon rain forest, the organisation has since expanded to include projects in 23 countries, including Belize, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

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Dionne Warwick has filed for bankruptcy, with debts totalling $10 million, according to her publicist Kevin Sasaki.

Sasaki told CNN:

“Due to several consecutive years (the late ’80s through the mid-’90s) of negligent and gross financial mismanagement, Dionne Warwick has realized the current necessity to file personal bankruptcy. In light of the magnitude of her tax liabilities, Warwick has repeatedly attempted to offer repayment plans and proposals to the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board for taxes owed. These plans were not accepted, resulting in escalating interest and penalties. Although the actual amount of back taxes owed have been paid, the resulting penalties and interest has continually accrued.”

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Legendary lyricist Hal David died this morning (September 1) in Los Angeles of complications from a stroke. He was 91.

David will be most remembered for his many timeless hits penned with songwriting partner Burt Bacharach.

Harold Lane David was born in Manhattan, New York, on May 25, 1921. He was inspired to become a songwriter by his brother Mack, who wrote songs for the likes of Patti Page and Ella Fitzgerald. After serving in the army during World War II, David began working for the New York Post, but he hadn’t given up on his songwriting ambitions. His earliest successes came writing for band leader Sammy Kaye, and Guy Lombardo. He also collaborated with Morty Nevins on songs for the movie “Two Guys and a Guy” in 1951.

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