Playing For Change was created to inspire and connect the world through music. The idea for this multimedia music project, a collective featuring musicians and singers from across the globe, came from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
Members of Playing for Change will perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Thursday, May 5, and at the Zony Mash Beer Project on Friday, May 6.
Born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders Mark Johnson, a Grammy award-winning music producer/engineer and award-winning film director, and film producer-philanthropist Whitney Kroenke, the pair hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. This musical journey resulted in the award-winning documentary, A Cinematic Discovery of Street Music.
In 2005, Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley singing “Stand By Me.” Ridley had so much soul and conviction in his voice that Johnson approached him about performing “Stand By Me” as a collaborative “song around the world.” Ridley agreed, and when Johnson returned with recording equipment and cameras he asked Ridley, “With a voice like yours, why are you singing on the streets?” Roger replied, “Man I’m in the joy business, I come out to be with the people.” Ever since that day the Playing For Change crew has traveled the world recording and filming musicians, creating Songs Around The World, and building a global family.
The late “Grandpa” Elliott Small, a street musician who was commonly seen in the French Quarter, was among the New Orleans musicians included in the “Stand By Me” video and his appearance led to a surprising launch into international fame. In 2009, after the “Stand by Me” video was posted online, Small had an international audience with more than 177 million views on YouTube. Small signed on for a tour with a band of musicians affiliated with the Playing for Change project and appeared on The Tonight Show and The Colbert Report. He also performed the “Star Spangled Banner” on harmonica to a crowd of 40,000 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in 2009.
“Creating ‘Songs Around The World’ inspired us to unite many of the greatest musicians we met throughout our journey and form the Playing For Change Band,” said Johnson. “These musicians come from many different countries and cultures, but through music they speak the same language. The band now tours the world, spreading the message of love and hope to audiences everywhere.”
The following video by Playing for Change of musicians performing Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” features a number of New Orleans-based musicians, including Ivan Neville, Cyril Neville and Amanda Shaw.
