MusicGoldmine.com recently donated a RIAA Gold Album award for the St. Elmo's Fire movie soundtrack to a charity organized by The Sands. The Sands is a week-long event held at a tropical resort -- this year in November at the Planet Hollywood resort in Cancun, Mexico. It features concerts from 80s and 90s artists along with a celebration of Gen X movies and culture.
The award was signed at the event by Andrew McCarthy, one of the stars of the 1985 coming-of-age film St. Elmo's Fire. It was then raffled off to one lucky attendee at the exclusive event. Proceeds from the raffle benefited a charity established by The Sands to help a school in the Dominican Republic.
Andrew McCarthy with the St. Elmos Fire RIAA award he signed (Photo Credit: Kelley Sweet Photography)
The event, held November 6-10, featured a bevy of acts including ABC, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Glass Tiger, Jack Russell's Great White, Night Ranger, Queensrÿche, The Human League, Tiffany, and Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins, along with a 90s "MTV" night featuring Cover Girls, Haddaway, Midnight Star, Ready For The World, Stevie B, and 69 Boyz.
Also in attendance and acting as MCs for the various concerts were former MTV VJ's "Downtown" Julie Brown, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and radio personalities Richard Blade and Eddie Trunk. Goodman and Hunter helped present the award to the raffle winner.
Former MTV VJs Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter join Sands organizer Steve Robinson and Greg Craycraft of The Reflexx (R-L) in drawing for the winner of the St. Elmo's Fire RIAA award
In addition to McCarthy, other 80s film stars also attended including Michael Winslow (Police Academy films), Catherine Mary Stewart (Weekend At Bernie's), and Daphne Zuniga (Spaceballs).
Plans are already underway for The Sands 2024, which will be held at the same resort. Early performers announced as of the date of this article include Level 42, Billy Ocean, Technotronic, The Fixx and more to be announced. Information about The Sands can be found at thesands.rocks.
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Top and main photo: Kelley Sweet Photography
Bottom photo: MusicGoldmine.com
