Playing for Change

Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

This video spoke to me so loudly that I had to post it on my blog. It inspires me to keep creating new work. It inspires me to fulfill a dream of meeting other artists around the globe to help showcase their work. It will make you smile, sing, and even cry. Join the Movement to help build schools, connect students, and inspire communities in need through music by sharing this video.

From the award-winning documentary "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music" comes the first of many songs around the world being released independently. In this featured video is a cover of the Ben E. King classic Stand By Me recorded by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe. They are all unknown artists in a street virtual studio all around the world. It all started with a base track, vocals, and guitar recorded on the streets of Santa Monica, California, by street musician Roger Ridley. The base track was then taken to New Orleans, Louisiana, where Grandpa Elliott, a blind singer, added vocals + harmonica while listening to Ridley's base track on headphones.

The producers then took the resulting mix all through Europe, Africa, and South America, adding new tracks with multiple instruments and vocals that were assembled in the final version you are seeing in this video. All this done with a simple laptop + microphones. Who said you need a big fancy studio?!

You can order the CD/DVD Playing For Change "Songs Around The World" now at Amazon!