Playing for Change is a multimedia music project, created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, that seeks to bring together musicians from around the world. Playing For Change also created a separate non-profit organization called the Playing For Change Foundation which builds music schools for children around the world...
Origin
The project started in 2004 with the organization's self-described goal to "inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music". The creators of the project, Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono, traveled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona,South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland. Using mobile recording equipment, the duo recorded local musicians performing the same song, interpreted in their own style. Among the artists participating or openly involved in the project are Vusi Mahlasela, Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, Tal Ben Ari (Tula), Bono, Keb' Mo', David Broza, Manu Chao and Grandpa Elliott.
The project's first single "Stand by Me", began with a Santa Monica street performer named Roger Ridley (now deceased).[1] The duo traveled the world, recording more and more musicians. All of these versions were considered for mixing a pastiche final version.[2]
Success
The project's "Stand by Me" video has been popular online, with over 51 million hits on YouTube as of May 2013.[3]
The Playing For Change Foundation
The Playing for Change Foundation is a non-profit organization 501(c)3, dedicated to creating and supporting music schools, principally in developing countries. Three music schools and a total of seven music programs have been created since 2008:
- Ntonga Music School, Gugulethu, South Africa
- Bizung music and dance school, Tamale, Ghana
- Ecole de musique de Kirina, Kirina, Mali
- Tintale Village Teaching Center Tinatle, Nepal
- Mitrata Nepal village Music Program, Kathmandu Nepal
- The Hari Kul Music School, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Intore Culture and Music Center, Kigali, Rwanda
In 2011, the Playing for Change Foundation joined forces with the 1Love Foundation in order to establish an annual Playing for Change Day.[4] The goal of the annual Playing for Change Day is to “unite a global community through the power of music to affect positive social change”.[5] In 2012, the PFC Day consisted of over 330 events across 52 countries and helped raise over $150,000 for the Playing for Change and 1Love Foundations.[6]
CD/DVD sets
A CD/DVD compilation Playing For Change: Songs Around The World was released in 2009 on the Concord Music Group label. The CD has 10 songs. The DVD has seven tracks, including video versions of five of the songs that appeared on the CD, plus a video film, The Playing for Change Foundation. The DVD also contains a three-minute trailer of the documentary film Peace Through Music.
In October 2009 an 83-minute documentary film, Peace Through Music, directed by Mark Johnson and Jonathan Walls, was released on DVD. The directors and their crew travelled the world recording and filming musicians in places such as USA, Barcelona, Ireland, the Middle East, India, Nepal, and South Africa. The film includes the clips from the CD/DVD, interviews and musical performances.
