Boy George to perform for NYC sanitation workers

NEW YORK (AP) - June 11, 2008 George will sing some of his hits for the Department of Sanitation's Family Day on Aug. 17.

"The people I worked alongside showed great kindness to me at a very difficult time, and I wanted to thank them all in a way that would show my appreciation," he said.

Michael A. Bimonte, a first deputy commissioner with the department, said: "Keeping New York City safe and clean is a daunting challenge - as Boy George well knows - and we welcome his generous offer to entertain those who have made our city the cleanest it has been in more than 30 years."

The British singer, who turns 47 on Saturday, was ordered to work for the department after pleading guilty to falsely reporting a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment. The police officers who responded there found cocaine.

As a result, he took to the streets of Manhattan as a sanitation worker wearing an orange vest, dark capri pants, shoes without socks.

Boy George, born George O'Dowd, is best known for his genre-bending stint in the group Culture Club, which charted hits including "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me."

He is launching a North American tour in Aspen, Colo., July 10.

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