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Sep 24, 2005 9:46 pm US/Pacific
Brian Wilson Dialing Up Katrina Donors
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
"Iowa Jim" was suspicious. Was Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson really putting messages on his official Web site urging people to contribute to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts?
The Web surfer using that screen name e-mailed a challenge: If Wilson called and proved it was really him, Jim would gladly donate $100.
"So I called him up!" a jovial Wilson told The Associated Press. "I was surprised that he said he didn't think I was involved because I really was. So I called him up."
Then Wilson and his wife, Melinda, got another brainstorm. Why not have the legend behind such musical standards as "Good Vibrations," "California Girls" and "Surfin'" call everyone who donates $100 or more? And he decided to match any contribution of $100 or more posted through his Web site by Oct. 1.
"If we get $10,000, we'll match $10,000," Wilson said by phone Friday night.
The musician recalled being warmly welcomed when he performed at the New Orleans JazzFest earlier this year, and said it was heartbreaking to see what Katrina has done to the city.
He said he had made about 15 calls since posting his challenge Thursday.
"I've got to go pretty soon," he said before hanging up Friday. "I've got 20 more calls to make tonight."
(© 2005 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
