Playing For Change is a musical movement that aims to inspire and unite people across the world. It promotes the idea that music has a unique ability to break down barriers and bridge gaps between citizens globally.
No matter who you are or where you come from, we can all unite through the magic of music. Playing For Change is a movement with a goal in mind – to capture and film musicians in their natural surroundings. Combining their abilities and tour de force, the performances offer insight into sound and culture via a series of unique videos, “Songs Around The World”. Through their efforts, Playing For Change aims to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.
Scanning the Streets
PFC is a global multimedia music initiative co-founded in 2002. American Grammy award-winning music producer Mark Johnson and film producer/philanthropist Whitney Kroenke shared a vision. This was to travel the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the pulse of the people. The musical journey resulted in an award-winning documentary, “A Cinematic Discovery of Street Music.”
Johnson tells Globe News Wire,
“We are stronger together than we are apart, and it is an honor to partner with like-minded artists and charities that echo this sentiment. The power of music is one tool we can use to unite and eradicate racism, inequality, poverty, and all other diseases that have plagued our world for much too long. The things in life that divide us, disappear when the music plays…”
The Joy Business
In 2005, Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley singing “Stand By Me.”
Roger’s voice, full of emotion and conviction, struck Mark. After approaching Roger about singing “Stand By Me” as a Song Around The World, he agreed.
When Mark returned with recording equipment and cameras he asked Roger,
“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 travelled the world recording and filming musicians, creating Songs Around the World and building a global family.
A Travelling Representation
As the philosopher Aristotle said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
The creation of these videos inspired PFC to form the Playing For Change Band, a tangible, travelling representation of its mission – made up of a collection of musicians from along the way.
The PFC Band roster consists of some of the greatest artists from the musical adventure thus far, playing and recording music around the world. The output is a one-of-a-kind combination of inspirations and abilities from the streets to the stage to the people’s hearts.
On July, 16 musicians from Hungary, Morocco, the USA, and more, for this global rendition of the Nirvana classic “Come As You Are.” Honouring 30 years since the release of Nirvana’s album “Nevermind”.
This rendition is an excellent example of why the PFC musicians unite, to celebrate culture and sound. To check out the full schedule of PFC band’s upcoming tour dates, visit the official site here.
Developing Art
The true measure of any movement is what it gives back to the people. In 2007, Playing For Change set up a separate non-profit organisation, the “Playing For Change Foundation”, to develop music and art schools for children all around the world. Through the power of music, hope and inspiration are reaching audiences worldwide, celebrating the future of our planet.
Late in 2020, Playing For Change and UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) partnered in celebration of the United Nations’ 75th anniversary. The event, “Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice”, was hosted live on Facebook.
Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr Natalia Kanem says,
“Music is a wonderful medium to raise awareness about our collective quest for peace, justice, equality and dignity – the noble ideals of the United Nations. It is a powerful, unifying language that can help build bridges and advance social justice in all of its forms,”
Source: Globe News Network
To learn more about the work of the PFC Foundation, visit http://www.playingforchange.org
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