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 » Rebuilding  |  Landmarks  | Storm & Flood  |  Special report

Playing for Katrina's victims

Musical highlights from 'How You Can Help'

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Eric Clapton with John Mayer: "See the water lie on the ground, from where the heavens opened."

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Music

(CNN) -- Last weekend, several musicians appeared on CNN's Larry King-hosted special, "How You Can Help." Their performances were moving and dramatic. Here is a sampling of their work.

  • Eric Clapton and John Mayer offered an acoustic duet of Clapton's "Broken Hearted." After this performance, Clapton donated his guitar to the Jazz at Lincoln Center benefit scheduled for September 17. (See Clapton and Mayer perform "Broken Hearted" -- 5:39)
  • "It's hitting very close to home," Mississippi-born LeAnn Rimes told King. Many of her family members remain in Mississippi; one of her band members is from New Orleans. She performed "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" live from a concert in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (See Rimes perform "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" -- 5:21)
  • Celine Dion was furious and emotional as she talked about the disaster. "I'm waking up in the morning, I'm having a coffee, I barely can swallow it. I come here at Caesars Palace every night to perform, I barely can sing," she said. "Yes, we gave a million dollar[s] ... [but] there's people still there, waiting to be rescued, but for me it's not acceptable." (Watch Dion's impassioned plea and her musical prayer -- 6:36)
  • New Orleans native Harry Connick Jr., wanting to showcase the joy of New Orleans-style jazz, performed an upbeat version of "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans," backed by a crack quintet. (See Connick perform "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" -- 3:08)
  • Thursday night, New Orleans native singer Aaron Neville joined King on "Larry King Live." Neville, part of the famed Neville Brothers group, observed that the family has had a tough time with the tragedy. "Right now we're kind of separated," he said, adding that "everybody's safe." Neville's house is underwater and he doesn't know when he'll be able to get back. In the meantime, he's focusing on recovery efforts, donating money from his soon-to-be released Christmas album to the Red Cross. He sang a song that has become oft-mentioned in the wake of Katrina, Randy Newman's heartbreaking "Louisiana 1927." (See Neville perform "Louisiana 1927" -- 4:29)
  • Several benefits for Katrina's victims are in the works. Among them:

  • "Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast," which will run on all major broadcast networks and more than two dozen cable networks. Friday, 8 p.m. ET.
  • "ReAct Now: Music & Relief" will air Saturday on MTV, VH1 and CMT at 8 p.m. ET.
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center will host a benefit concert September 17 in New York City. Among those participating: Wynton Marsalis, Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Robert De Niro, Paul Simon and Bette Midler.
  • "Gospel Angels," a live concert from Atlanta, will air September 22 (8 p.m. ET) on the Gospel Music Channel and Paxson Communications' i network. The show will include performances from hurricane victims' shelters.
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