THE APEX TIMES
‘Days of Our Lives’ EP Ken Corday to Stage Third Benefit Concert for SAG-AFTRA Foundation Emergency Assistance Program
Corday, who has staged two prior sold-out benefit shows, will return in November with a three-night concert titled “Songs Without Words.”
Ken Corday, executive producer and composer for the long-running NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” is planning a third concert fundraiser for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Program, according to Deadline. The event, scheduled for November, follows two sold-out Corday concerts in 2023 and 2024 that also supported the foundation’s emergency assistance efforts.
Deadline reported that Corday’s new program will be titled “Songs Without Words” and will feature a collection of original works. The concert is set to run over three nights, with the series presenting new compositions written for the stage.
Corday’s previous concerts in the same series, also organized as benefit events for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, were described as sold out, setting the stage for the November return. The foundation’s Emergency Assistance Program is designed to provide support in urgent circumstances to eligible members of the performing arts community, making the recurring benefit a notable recurring effort within entertainment labor and community organizations.
The announcement places Corday’s upcoming engagement within the broader landscape of arts philanthropy tied to unions and industry-focused foundations. For performers, writers, and other entertainment professionals, emergency assistance programs are often used when members face sudden financial strain tied to medical issues, disasters, or other disruptions, and the concerts are organized specifically to help sustain that safety net.
Deadline said “Songs Without Words” will include a new collection of original music across the three-night run. The specific program details, including the exact dates, ticket availability, and full venue information, were not provided in the summary accompanying the announcement, according to the report.
Corday’s dual role as both an executive producer of “Days of Our Lives” and a composer for musical projects has made his concerts a rare crossover between daytime television leadership and live performance. His continued use of the concert format to raise funds for emergency assistance indicates that the benefits are intended to provide tangible support rather than purely ceremonial visibility.
The foundation has not been described in the report as issuing separate guidance or eligibility updates tied to the November concerts, and no additional figures on fundraising targets were included in the information provided. The next confirmed step for audiences will be release of the full November schedule and venue and ticket details, as the event approaches.
Why It Matters
- The November benefit adds another round of funding support for an emergency assistance program used by eligible entertainment community members facing urgent needs.
- The three-night format suggests an expanded audience outreach effort compared with a single-event fundraiser.
- Because the earlier shows were described as sold out, the upcoming concerts may indicate continued demand for community-driven labor support in the entertainment sector.
- The announcement’s timing sets expectations for the performing arts community as it plans for the next cycle of fundraising before the end of the year.
- Public-facing concert events tied to union-adjacent foundations can also strengthen institutional accountability by tying fundraising to a named, ongoing assistance program.
Key Facts
- Ken Corday, executive producer and composer for “Days of Our Lives,” plans a third benefit concert for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Program.
- The November concerts will be titled “Songs Without Words.”
- The event is scheduled to run over three nights.
- Corday previously staged two sold-out benefit concerts in 2023 and 2024 for the same program.
- Deadline reported the concerts will feature a new collection of original works.