George Michael’s collaboration with Elton John, the duet “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down,” raised money for a number of AIDS charities.
This Associated Press article published on November 11, 1991, lists down the charities that George supported from part of the proceeds of this single.
The song became number one in seven countries, including the US and UK. Not bad for a single that Elton John had reservations with when George told him he will release the live recording from Elton’s guesting at George’s concert at the Rosemont Horizon arena near Chicago on October 20, 1991. As described in Elton John’s website:
Upon hearing of George’s plans to issue the live recording, Elton left a voice message on his answering machine telling him that the song was not strong enough to be released and to do so would mean the end of George’s career.
Pop music star George Michael is donating part of the proceeds from his upcoming single to charities including two San Francisco AIDS agencies.
The single, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” is a remake of the classic song Michael originally recorded by Elton John.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Project Open Hand will receive part of the royalties.
The AIDS Foundation focuses on education, case management and advocacy issues surrounding AIDS. Project Open Hand delivers free hot meals and groceries to more than 2,000 people with AIDS in the San Francisco Bay , area.
Michael also is donating proceeds to the Los Angeles Children’s Museum, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, the United Negro College Fund, the Jimmy Fund in Boston and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The proceeds from sales of Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, his 1991 live duet with Sir Elton John, were donated to HIV and children’s charities, including the Terence Higgins Trust. It tweeted : “Thank you to George Michael for all he did for the LGBT community and to educate about HIV. RIP George.”