New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Playing For Change Foundation) Playing For Change has garnered much success over the years by combining musicians from all walks of life, all over the world and showcasing music's unifying power. Their videos have more than 450 million total online views, with their first 'Songs Around The World' video, "Stand By Me," accumulating more than 100 million views on YouTube since its release in 2008. Artists such as Keith Richards, Bono, Jack Johnson,
David Crosby, Jimmy Buffett, Sara Bareilles, Manu Chao, and many others have participated in these multi-cultural videos performing songs such as Bob Marley's "
One Love" and "War/No More Trouble," Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," and John Lennon's "Imagine." Playing For Change's new record, being released next year, features The
Doobie Brothers along with more than 20 musicians from across the globe in a Song Around The World version of the band's iconic hit song, "Listen to the Music." The video for this song will be premiered at the show on October 3rd.
The Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 organization, was established in 2007 in order to give back to the communities of the musicians met while filming these videos. Now embarking on its 10th year, the foundation has developed 15 music programs in 11 countries including South Africa, Rwanda, Nepal, Thailand, and Argentina, and serves more than 1200 children. All proceeds from the WE ARE ONE benefit will support free music education as well as supplemental primary educational support, and life enhancement services provided by the Playing For Change Foundation and assist in its effort to serve even more communities.
"When one thinks of the thousands of children around the world positively impacted by the Playing For Change movement, gaining free access to music education in their own homelands, the love over a decade is simply immeasurable," said John McKenna, Executive
Director of Playing For Change Foundation. "What better place to celebrate than right here where it all started? We look forward to an unforgettable evening of joy, celebration, and recommitment to the children everywhere, through united love and song."
"This concert represents 10 years of traveling to over 50 countries connecting the world through music. From the streets and villages to the stage to the hearts of the people, Playing For Change," states Mark Johnson, Co-Founder of Playing For Change.
About Playing For Change
Playing For Change (PFC) is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. PFC's primary focus is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos called Songs Around The World. From these videos they formed the Playing For Change Band—a tangible, traveling representation of their mission, featuring musicians met along their journey—and established the Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world. Through these efforts, Playing For Change aims to create hope and inspiration for the future of the planet. For more information, please visit https://www.playingforchange.com/.
