Dionne Warwick and Jon Secada Are Fabulous Friends

Carnegie Hall will host an evening of music and mission this fall, as Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Deborah Silver brings together an extraordinary, multigenerational lineup of talent for Deborah Silver & Fabulous Friends: Voices for ALS, a benefit concert taking place Sunday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall. Produced by Scott Stander, the one-night-only event will donate 100% of ticket proceeds to research toward finding a cure for ALS, the progressive neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Headlining the evening is music icon Dionne Warwick, whose six-decade career and instantly recognizable voice have made her one of the most celebrated vocalists in American music history. She'll share the stage with three-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Jon Secada, performing alongside his daughter, Broadway performer Mikaela Secada, for what promises to be one of the night's most personal and unforgettable moments. Rounding out the bill is Stella Cole, the social media jazz sensation who has built a devoted following by keeping the spirit of the Great American Songbook alive for a new generation of listeners.

At the center of it all is Silver herself, a Grammy-nominated songstress known for her #1 Billboard chart-topping jazz albums and a long list of duet partners that reads like a who's-who of American music — Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, Jack Jones, Freddy Cole, Ann Hampton Callaway, Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel, Ronnie Milsap, Pam Tillis, and Steve Tyrell among them. Most recently, Silver released a dynamic duet of "The Lady Is A Tramp" with jazz icon Diane Schuur.

But for Silver, this concert is about far more than musicianship. Her sister has lived with ALS for 18 years, and that experience shapes every part of the evening's purpose. "This concert comes from a deeply personal place," Silver said. "My family and I know firsthand that ALS doesn't affect only the person living with the disease—it touches everyone who loves them. That's why this evening means so much to me."

In assembling a lineup that spans generations and musical styles, Silver spoke with evident pride about each of her collaborators. "Ms. Warwick's voice is part of the soundtrack of our lives. There is such grace and heart behind every song she sings," she said. "Jon's voice has moved audiences for decades, and watching him share the stage with his daughter is going to be truly unforgettable. Stella Cole represents this wonderful new generation keeping the Great American Songbook alive."

She added: "This isn't just about performing at Carnegie Hall. It's about using that stage to shine a light on ALS. If our music can help bring us even one step closer to a cure, then every note we sing will have a purpose."

The pairing of iconic and emerging talent underscores what organizers hope the evening will accomplish: raising both funds and awareness for a disease that remains without a cure, while celebrating the enduring power of live performance to bring people together across generations. Warwick's presence alone lends the night a sense of occasion befitting Carnegie Hall's storied stage, while the Secadas' father-daughter performance offers something rarer still — a intimate, family moment played out in one of the world's most prestigious concert halls, in service of a cause that is deeply personal for the evening's host.

For ALS patients, families, and advocates, benefit concerts like this one serve a dual purpose: they generate critical research funding at a time when treatment options remain limited, and they keep the disease visible to audiences who might otherwise not think about it day to day. With a bill spanning legendary voices, chart-topping hitmakers, Broadway talent, and a rising digital-era jazz star, Voices for ALS is positioned to do both — delivering a night of extraordinary music while advancing the fight for a cure.

Deborah Silver & Fabulous Friends: Voices for ALS takes place Sunday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue, New York City. For tickets, visit CarnegieHall.org