The arts contribute toward the wellbeing of Japan by meryl ann butler
Artists, quilters, fashion designers, musicians and entertainers have banded together in numerous fundraising initiatives in response to the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March.
In New York, "Fashion Girls for Japan" hosted a two-day designer sample sale, April 2-3, to benefit the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. 60 designers raised over $270,000 for the fund. www.fashiongirlsforjapan.com
Fashion Girls for Japan fundraising T-shirt design by http://tinyurl.com/japant-shirt
The group continues to raise money through the sale of T-shirts and totes with a specially designed logo. http://tinyurl.com/japant-shirt
Unite4Japan logo by gordon G
In Los Angeles, UNITE4JAPAN, a coalition of musicians and artists will present a benefit concert to raise money for the 2011 Japan Relief Fund on Sunday, June 12, 2011, at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 West 6th Street San Pedro, California, 90731.
As Pablo Casals said, "Music will save the world."
Shadoe Stevens by Shadoe Stevens
The concert will be emceed by radio and TV personality Shadoe Stevens, and will feature many prominent LA musicians and bands, including Harold Payne, 2000 LBS of Blues with special guest Memphis Linda Jane, The Prima Divas, Amber Stevens, The Reactors, Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone, Mike Manning, Karin Chafetz, Jaxx & Jacobson, and Randy St. Jeane.
Harold Payne. Photo: by Duff Ferguson
Harold Payne is a multi-platinum and Posi Award-winning songwriter. His songs have been recorded by a wildly diverse group of artists including: Rod Stewart, Patti LaBelle, Carlos Santana, Snoop Dogg, Peter, Paul & Mary, and longtime collaborator, Bobby Womack.
Payne's new song, We'll Be There for You (Kimi No Soba Ni) , was his heartfelt response to Japan's recent events. "After the shock of the earthquake and tsunami, I was researching phrases that I could say to my Japanese friends that would express my concern and a reaching out, and wanted to focus on the hope that is always present in any crisis.
As that research was evolving into a song, some musician-friends of mine invited me to participate in this fundraising concert, and everything seemed to click together. What a great opportunity this is, to send a message of caring, and to express a deep affection for our Japanese brothers and sisters."
Hear the song at http://www.reverbnation.com/haroldpayne.
Payne, whose wife is Japanese-American, noted that he grew up surrounded by Asian culture in Gardena, a LA suburb with a large Japanese-American population. He has toured Japan with his music group, Gravity 180. (www.gravity180.net)
