Music For Montserrat was a benefit concert held on 15 September 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall. The event was organized by Sir George Martin, former producer for The Beatles and founder of Associated Independent Recording, to raise funds for the Caribbean island of Montserrat after a major volcanic eruption by the Soufrière Hills volcano earlier that year.
The concert was arranged and produced by Martin, and starred many iconic British and American rock musicians such as Phil Collins, Ray Cooper, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Midge Ure, Arrow and many more, all of whom had once recorded or produced on the island. A DVD was released with the most famous songs from the concert, such as Your Song, Layla, Brothers In Arms, Blue Suede Shoes, Money For Nothing, Yesterday, Hey Jude, and Message In A Bottle.[1]
Proceeds from ticket sales and DVD copies went towards restoration and support of the island. The concert raised £1.5 million.[2] Proceeds from the show and DVD were used for immediate relief and also helped fund the building of a new cultural centre in Montserrat. On its completion in 2006, George Martin gifted the centre to the local community, which is still in operation today.