Carmen Rasmusen, who finished in the top 10 on "American Idol," performs at Freedom Festival in Provo on Fourth of July.
Chris Bergin, Deseret Morning News
LEHI — Entertainer Merrill Osmond was overcome when four consuls general from the tsunami-struck area showed him a video of the giant wall of water that smashed into their countries weeks ago.
"It was basically a 25-foot wall of water coming at the people. I said, 'Oh boy. What can I do to help?' " Osmond said. "That's when I thought, 'We could use the show we've been getting ready for a United Kingdom tour.' I have been gearing up for the last two months for the UK tour, why not do a series of benefit concerts to help?"
So he is.
The kick-off concert for the 10-concert Western tour known as Osmond's "Solid Gold Tsunami Benefit Tour" is Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
A portion of the proceeds from the concerts will go directly to home-building projects in southeast Asia.
"I'm told $3,000 buys and builds a home, so that's the goal: to build as many houses as possible," Osmond told The Deseret Morning News Monday. "I know a lot of money has been raised and sent over there, but these people are really, really hurt. They need whatever we can do."
Osmond is teaming up with "American Idol" star Carmen Rasmusen for most of the concerts, which will start in Lehi and travel though Utah, including Ogden, Logan and St. George, and then to Idaho, Oregon and California through March 12.
A complete tour schedule is available at: www.merrillosmond.com.
Osmond said Rasmusen appeared with him at the Orem SCERA Shell in July. The success of that pairing led to Rasmusen being chosen for the warm-up for a number of the concert dates.
"She's a wonderful performer. It'll be fun," Osmond said.
Osmond said he'll be showing the tsunami video that so moved him at the concert as he sings "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" to help give the audience a real feel for the magnitude of the natural disaster.
"It might be kind of hard for people to watch," he said. "But I think it's important to see."
There will also be pre-concert entertainment featuring local dance groups prior to the start of the 7:30 p.m. concert.
Tickets for the benefit tour are available at the Show Barn ticket office or by calling 801-325-7328.
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com
Sharon Haddock is a former full-time writer and editor for The Deseret News. She currently does freelance writing from her home in American Fork where she lives with her fellow journalist husband Marc Haddock. They have 12 more ..
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