Willie Nelson Plays Tsunami Benefit Show

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — For Willie Nelson, picking and singing to raise money for relief efforts from the Asian tsunami is a natural gesture.

"There really are a lot of people who would like to do something," Nelson said. "We're glad to offer those people opportunities to help out in different ways."

The Austin Music Hall performance Sunday by Nelson and others sold out in less than seven hours, generating $75,000 for the Red Cross, UNICEF and CARE.

The event joins a slate of concerts organized around the world, including New York City, India, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Grammy-winning singer Gloria Estefan announced plans to raise $100,000 at a concert next month at Donald Trump's exclusive Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump allocated 100 tickets to be sold at $1,000 apiece, with proceeds going to the Gloria Estefan Foundation — which will earmark the money to the relief fund.

Performers at the Austin concert include Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, the Joe Ely Band, Patty Griffin, Alejandro Escovedo, Ray Price and Spoon.

Michael Hall, a local musician and Texas Monthly writer who suggested the idea to Nelson, said so many people wanted to perform that he was "beating people off with a stick."

"People want do it because they want to be part of something. They see something so horrible and want to be part of something to make it less horrible," he said.