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Street life star singing for the homeless
BY ANDREW HUTCHINSON SHE is the smokey-voiced American singer-songwriter keen to champion the plight of the homeless in Leeds.
And next month Madeleine Peyroux will come face to face with a band of city residents rescued from life on the streets.
The 30-year-old is heading for Emmaus, a charity who offer homeless people a roof over their heads, work and the chance to regain self respect in a community environment.
Emmaus residents restore donated furniture and sell it to the public from its base in Lincoln Green in Leeds.
Madeleine will be performing songs from her current album Half The Perfect World as well as her last album Careless Love which to date has sold one million copies.
Busking
Madeleine told the Yorkshire Evening Post her concern for the homeless came as a result of her days busking as a teenager on the streets of New York.
"There are a great deal of people who are roaming around cities. This is a community which is not always recognised and a great deal of the time easily forgotten about. When I was busking I became very comfortable with and relied upon, the street family.
Madeleine added: "When you are on tour you often stop off in places for a few hours and don't really get to know people. I'm keen to talk to those who have been homeless hear their stories and see if there is anything we can set up in the future to help."
The visit on Friday, December 8, will coincide with the start of her UK tour which kicks off with a concert the same night. at York Opera House. She has decided that 50p from the price of each ticket will be donated to Emmaus.
"I have been worried that people would see it as an imposition," says Madeleine. "But it is meant to be a gesture. I do intend to see if I can work with some other charities in the future."
Sharmyn Kennedy, general manager of Emmaus in Leeds, said: "Homeless issues are important to Madeleine and we are delighted that she is taking the time and trouble to visit the community to talk to residents and hear their stories."
l Look out for an extended Madeleine Peyroux interview and giveaway in the YEP's Saturday 24seven supplement next month.
andrew.hutchinson@ypn.co.uk
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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