LOS ANGELES (By
Sandy Friedman/ Rogers & Cowan) -
With Special Guest Performances by Patti Labelle, George Clinton, Ciara, Christina Milian, Chris Brown, Lyfe Jennings, Mary Mary and Ray J, among Others
- "We Are Family" Single to Be Released to Radio Third Week of June ; CD to Be Released on August 29 Coinciding With the Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Grammy-nominated mega producer Rodney Jerkins is currently in the studio completing final mixes on his All-Star Katrina benefit project, featuring a stylish remake of the classic Sister Sledge hit "We Are Family," with the original "reunited" members of Sister Sledge performing together for the first time in 20 years, alongside such star power as Patti LaBelle, George Clinton, Ciara, Christina Milian, Chris Brown, Lyfe Jennings, Mary, Mary and Ray J, among others.
The "We Are Family" single, which will be released to radio the third week of June, will be included in a full-length CD (title TBA), released on August 29, to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The CD, which will include music recorded by various artists (to be announced), will be distributed by Universal Music Group worldwide this fall.
Proceeds from the single and full-length CD, which will be released to radio and retail, will benefit victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, through project partners including "Points Of Light Foundation" (www.polf.org), "Communities In Schools" (www.cisnet.org) and the "U.S. Dream Academy."
"My `family' in the music business -- my friends -- are excited to be a part of the `We Are Family' CD and DVD to raise funds and awareness for the displaced families still affected by Hurricane Katrina," says Jerkins. "I am honored to lend my creative talents to help the volunteers who provide the social and human services needed on a daily basis to help these families make it day-to-day. They are heroes in action."
"Points Of Light," the nation's foremost advocate and bi-partisan voice on volunteerism and community service, and its affiliates, represent more than 150,000 permanent volunteers in the region working directly with the displaced families of Hurricane Katrina. Funds from the proceeds of the sale of the "We Are Family" project will go to the assistance of volunteer agencies focusing on human and social services. This is the only relief project with a focus on volunteerism.
Says Executive Producer of the project, Sherman Brown: "There is no other Hurricane Katrina relief recording with the public-private partnership reflected by this effort. It is our hope to create the model that will deliver the media, funding, partnership and innovation needed to aid the vulnerable, disenfranchised and displaced. We cannot `parachute' aid into these communities and expect life to return to normalcy. Rather, we must empower those who are permanently `on the ground' and on the front lines with the resources needed to complete the task at hand. With this CD and DVD, we hope to be a major catalyst in making this happen."
Corporate partners of the "We Are Family" project include Clear Channel, Wal-Mart and UPS Foundation.
Rodney Jerkins is widely renowned as one of the greatest music producers of the last two decades at the mere age of 28. He is on an exclusive "go to" list of producers that platinum-selling artists such as Shakira, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle seek out when they want a major hit. His work has generated in excess of 140 million in sales to date.
For more information on Rodney Jerkins, please visit www.darkchild.com.
