By Tim Saunders on
Country singer Toby Keith will perform for charity at this weekend’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
The singer will perform a special song he wrote for a friend – singer and NBA star Wayman Tisdale – he lost to cancer. The performance of "Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song) will be available on iTunes, with proceeds going to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).
“Wayman was an amazing guy,” said Keith. “In the song there’s a line that says ‘he showed us how to live and now he showed me how to die.’ Both of those were true. He didn’t frown on people for how they live, he led by example. He showed you how you’re supposed to live and he died with so much dignity. I am happy to partner with ACM Lifting Lives and SU2C to donate proceeds of the performance downloads to support this important cause.”
This is the second time ACM Lifting Lives – the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music – has donated downloads from an Awards performance to charity. Trace Adkins's rendition of “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” at last year’s event raised over $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“ACM Lifting Lives is proud to continue the tradition we began last year of raising awareness and funding for worthwhile causes through the ACM Awards,” said Erin Spahn, director of ACM Lifting Lives. “Toby Keith, Dave Koz, Show Dog Universal, iTunes, our production partner dick clark productions, and the Academy of Country Music have all shown support for Stand Up to Cancer by forgoing proceeds, and donating their time to give to cancer research. Unfortunately, most everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, and we love Stand Up To Cancer’s bold, undefeated approach.”
The Awards take place on Sunday, April 18, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
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