NEW
YORK (www.eddygrant.com) Eddy Grant, Guyanese-born music legend,
international superstar and recording artist has thrown the weight of
his music and personality behind the people of Guyana as disease,
hunger and homelessness threaten many communities after the recent
floods that shutdown the capital city Georgetown and marooned entire
villages and towns along Guyana's East Coast.
In making the
announcement from Bayley's Plantation in Barbados, home of Ice Records
and Blue Wave Studios, Guyana's most famous son pledged to donate funds
from upcoming projects to the Ringbang Foundation to enable it to make
a valuable and long lasting contribution to the rehabilitation of
Guyana.
All
three projects represent the latest from the legendary artist who has
been spending a lot of time in his native Guyana over the past few
years using his influence to make a difference in the racially divided
country, especially among the youth. They are:
1. All profits
from the sale of the DVD "The Plaisance-Sparendaam Tribute to Eddy
Grant" held in the Market
Square in August 2004, which is due out
shortly. The commemorative DVD contains highlights of speeches from
President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Honourable Robert Corbin, Leader of
the Opposition. It features many of the performances and tributes to
Eddy Grant from all sections of Guyanese society held over the
Emancipation Weekend, interviews with some of the more well known
village personalities, footage of his motorcade through the streets of
Plaisance including a stop at his place of birth and many other
historical and cultural anecdotes. A collector's must, the DVD captures
all the emotion of the moment as the people proclaimed him the
'President of Plaisance'. The DVD also features his inspiring and bold
address as he spoke directly to both the President and the Opposition
Leader on behalf of his people. In what can be dubbed his inaugural
'Presidential' speech, the music legend pleaded passionately with both
leaders to stop playing the racial card and shared his dreams for
uniting his country through Ringbang, music and culture. The
commemorative DVD "The Plaisance-Sparendaam Tribute to Eddy Grant" will
be available for pre-order on www.icerecords.com and www.eddygrant.com.
2.
Fifty percent (50%) of all proceeds received by
Eddy Grant from the
sale of four stamps depicting this music legend and entertainment
industry entrepreneur, to be issued in recognition of his contribution
as an Ambassador for Guyana and his worldwide success in the
entertainment business for forty years. The Guyana Postal Corporation
plans to launch the four stamps depicting
Eddy Grant on Thursday, 17th.
February 2005 at one of Georgetown's beautiful venues called Umanayana,
the Amerindian name for 'meeting place'. Three of the stamps are
commemorative and one perpetual and marks the first time that someone,
other than the elected President of the Republic, will be honoured.
3.
All proceeds of recording artist royalties from his upcoming new album
'REPARATION' for a period of one year from the date of the first sale.
Grant's new album 'REPARATION' is yet another musical foray into the
heart and soul of this living music legend who mixes all popular forms
of music and then infuses it with his own particular Caribbean
inflections. In the clutter of the madding world of the music business,
Eddy seeks to invite his fans to reflect on the values that tear us
apart and build on the values he defines as Ringbang values, learning
to love oneself before professing to love each other.
Eddy Grant
has also committed the sites www.icerecords.com and www.eddygrant.com
to support an on-line presence where postings, links, information about
disaster management and the human face of the relief efforts can be
accessed and shared. These sites are available to individuals and
organisations within Guyana or externally. For further information on
how to use the websites for the relief efforts, contact
[email protected]
or
[email protected]