R Baby Foundation Concert: A Great Big World, Mary Lambert & More Perform For Good Cause [EXCLUSIVE]
More than 1,000 people gathered at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on Wednesday to celebrate a good cause. Among them were A Great Big World, Ryan Star, Mary Lambert, DJ Hannah Bronfman and famous DJ Cassidy.
The aforementioned artists were there to entertain those who attended the R Baby Foundation's benefit concert. The non-profit -- established in 2006 by Andrew and Phyllis Rabinowitz -- aims to improve the medical care of infants in hospitals across the nation. The couple started the charity after their newborn Rebecca passed away on July 21, 2006 from an enteroviral infection. Doctors, they said, misdiagnosed their baby with a common cold.
The Rockin' to Save Babies' Lives Benefit was hosted by New York's radio station Z100 and attendees were treated to drinks and various hors d'oeuvre.
Rabinowitz, the chief operating officer of Marathon Asset Management, took the stage to give thanks to everyone involved in the foundation, including his wife, whom he called "the heart and soul" of the charity.
He then introduced the night's first performer. "I had the privilege of meeting Ryan Star and I have to admit that I had a man crush before I met him," he joked. "Ryan Star here's to you buddy."
Star, 36, quickly blew the crowd away with an acoustic performance. The singer, who was accompanied at the party by his pregnant wife, Hallie, performed several of his tunes, including Brand New and Stay Awhile.
"Let's hear the words and know we are here for a very, very important reason tonight," the New York native said before singing his final song Breathe.
Grammy-nominated singer Mary Lambert was next to take the stage. Dressed in a floor-length red gown, the 25-year-old performed a few songs including She Keeps Me Warm. The meaningful tune includes the material she co-wrote for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Same Love, which she's also featured on.
A Great Big World, comprised of Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino, later performed their breakthrough song This is the New Year along with other hits, such as Already Home and their most popular to date, Say Something. The ballad became a top 10 hit on Billboard with the help of Christina Aguilera, who asked the duo to record a new version of the song after hearing it on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.
DJ Cassidy, the New York native who also hit the turntables at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Ball in 2009, brought the night to a fabulous close.
The elegant event helped to raise around $1 million for the R Baby Foundation.
