Welcome to the revamped, revitalized and relaunched HEARTbeat- the newsletter of Hearts and Voices. It’s been a while since our last newsletter and there have been some really exciting developments at LIFEbeat and at Hearts & Voices. Check out the links below for all the details.
Hearts and Voices happens because amazing artists like YOU step up to make it so! A warm welcome to our new artists-
Ken Hellman - IllumiNation Chorale - MetroPolitones - City Bar Chorus - Carletho - Darnell Tyson - Culture Shock Poetry Ensemble - Chloe - Tony DeMattia - The BODY- Daniel Ferrari - Anton Alexeev - Darnell Tyson - Mark Lee
A massive thank you to all the artists who performed for Hearts and Voices in the first half of 2006! Take a look at that list, you’re in some pretty good company.
African Drum & Dance - Al Lee Wyer - Alex Rybeck - Aly Panichi - Amy Yerkes - Andre - Anton Alexeev - Ben Godwin - Cassandra Kubinski - Chloe - Chris Jones - Culture Shock - Daniel Ferrari - Darnell Tyson - David Pearl - El Grito Del Poetas - Fortune - Frans Bloem - Giovanni Stella - Giorgio Tarchini - Grace Garland - Gus Westdorp - Imperial Court - Jeffrey Liebowitz - Jim Jones - Larry May - Lavender Light Gospel Choir - Leeza Wilks - Lorianne Fieldson - Lucinda - Maria Davis & Friends - Mark Lee - Meli'sa Morgan - Metropolitones - Michael Butler - Noam Weinstein - Peace of Heart Choir - Seth Rudetsky - Teri Lynn Paul - Tha Heights - The Body - The City Bar Chorus - Tony D'Mattia - Voices In Unity
And a reminder- we want your photos and bios to feature on our Artist Spotlight page. Please send them to bgodwin@lifebeat.org
Your Hearts & Voices stories
When we conducted our Artist Survey earlier in the year, we asked all of our performers to tell us about their most memorable H&V experiences. Many of you had moving, inspirational stories to share about your participation. We’re pleased to publish some of the best below.
Al D Rodriguez - “My most memorable experience has to be the first time I did Hearts and voices. I can’t remember how many years ago that was, so that lets you know how long ago it was. I was a bit frightened not on the performing aspect but because of my ignorance with the disease. As I got there I had a great time and I connected with a great many patients, I was performing with my best friend. He was an amazing performer. At the end of the performance my friend and I went to dinner and out for a walk. That night he shared with me that he found out that he was HIV positive. This was very early on in the AIDS Crisis and he was a friend of mine of over 9 years. I was amazed that he could actually share his talents when he had just recently discovered his prognosis. It was an inspiration to me. He lost his battle with the disease but to this day he still gives me strength and the courage to continue.”
“Pretty Good Jeff” Liebowitz - “After a Hearts and Voices show I was taken to the room of someone who could not leave their bed to attend. I started doing a card trick for her, but when I asked her to name a card, the nurse who was in the room shook her head and said that the patient had not spoken in days. Moments later the patient croaked out, “Six of hearts”. Everyone was shocked. I went on with the trick and got a giant smile out of her at the end. I considered that a good day's pay.”
Lucinda - “I have been performing for Hearts and Voices since 2003. I have done shows solo, and with a few of my band members. Every time I bring a new member in to play with me, they are so moved that they are brought to tears. It is a magical moment when an artist meets the challenge of trying to connect with an audience of any kind… but to watch my big boys in my band tear up when the magic happens makes me very, very proud of them, the residents and all of you.
I have gotten to know many of the residents along the way. In the beginning of my Hearts and Voices experience, there were many months when I would return and my new friends would no longer be with us due to their illness. But in the past year, I have seen so many of my friends returning and looking well as they enjoy the performances. I have given many CDs out at the shows and the most wonderful thing has started to happen- with every performance more and more of the audience has learned my original lyrics that I have written and they are singing along with me as I play! There is nothing better for a songwriter. Standing there in the front of the room, guitar in hand, all of our voices lifting to sing out loud, and all together.”
Philip Williams, Imperial Court - “It’s always a pleasure to work with Lifebeat. I was recently awarded the Imperial Court’s President’s Award for member of the year. This was for my dedication to Hearts and Voices. The Court strongly believes in direct services to the community. Terrific interaction, we’ve added more hosts to our performances so there is more one on one time with residents. During the transit strike we were determined the show would go on. It wasn’t easy to get 12 six foot drag queens to Mapplethorpe residence, but we did it.”
Hearts & Voices Artist Spotlight- Cassandra Kubinski
Cassandra Kubinski is a diamond in New York’s music scene, with a crystal clear voice, buttery smooth piano playing, and shimmering, life-affirming songs. She has the ability to transform any room into a hypnotized, awestruck audience- whether it’s a busy downtown bar crowd or a roomful of people living with HIV and AIDS. Her music straddles the sophisticated piano rock storytelling of writers like Billy Joel and the searing, powerhouse vocals of rockers like Sheryl Crow and Fiona Apple.
We asked Cassandra to tell us why she performs for Hearts & Voices. She says: “With Hearts and Voices I can get out there face to face and make a difference. I love that. Music is such an integral part of my life- I don’t know how I’d live without live music. It’s a great chance to perform for an audience who are there because it really means something for them to have a performer like me to come and open up their heart and share their soul. Just giving your honest self and your music- that’s the reward for both them and me.”
Cassandra’s first EP, ‘Hiding Underneath’ gained some serious industry praise- her song ‘Wherever You Wait’ won the Billboard World Song Contest, and ‘Cradle The Moon’ won a Positive Pop prize. She is also being honored with this year's Abe Olman award, presented by the Songwriters Hall of Fame to the year's top emerging songwriter. Now she’s ready to take on the world- she’s in the studio recording a full-length album for release in August, and she has a 30-minute TV special due in the fall. We can’t wait to see her star ascend- and neither can her devoted fans at HIV facilities across Manhattan.
Cassandra Kubinski- Official Website
Cassandra Kubiniski on Myspace
Stars shine for Hearts & Voices holiday shows
The 2005 holiday season sparkled with surprise H&V concert events. Lyfe Jennings rocked the room at Incarnation Children's Center, and Meli'sa Morgan raised the roof at Rivington House. Our audiences at both locations were surprised and delighted by these stellar performers, and a fantastic time was had by all.
Moving into 2006, another special surprise at Incarnation Children’s Center was MC Jim Jones of the Dipset Crew! With the support and encouragement of our dear friend Maria Davis, the children at Incarnation Children's Center marked Black History Month 2006 by working on projects celebrating African-American history. Jim helped review the submissions and read some of the essays submitted aloud to the audience. The projects were incredibly insightful, heartwarming and touching. The kids were absolutely thrilled to meet Jim, who showed up with an open heart and a strong voice of support. The kids really worked hard and all the staff at ICC deserve big thanks for overseeing this project.
We want to thank Jim, Meli’sa and Lyfe, their management teams, and Maria Davis, for their hard work and dedication to making the holiday season a little brighter for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Huge thanks also to our sponsor companies J Records, MTV, Johnson & Johnson, Sephora, Warner Music Group, and Clif Bar, as well as board members Emil Wilbekin & Veronica Webb. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to put together fabulous holiday gift bags for all our audiences city-wide. Hearts & Voices is all about making a difference, but at holiday time, we’re thrilled to be able to take it just that little bit further!
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Program News
Exciting news- Hearts & Voices is going to be adding even more shows this year, as we’re going to be performing at Village Care of New York’s day care facility in Chelsea. We have a large, great sounding space to perform in and look forward to bringing great artists in to rock the room, starting in June.
Many of you who responded to our Artist Survey said that one thing you’d really like to see is a Hearts & Voices showcase. We’d like nothing better than to show off how amazing our artists are and to make it a great big party- so we’re working on it. Expect more concrete news in the next newsletter in September.
LIFEbeat is now on Flickr, so you can share your photos with us- we’d love to see your pictures of outreach, H&V artists, or anything else you think is relevant- and you can all get to see what each other looks like. Add LIFEbeat to your contacts!
Finally, a reminder to register with My LIFEbeat. It helps us let you know about shows much more quickly and easily, plus you’ll be able to post to our message board. You’re an interesting bunch, you know- you should get to know each other.
AIDS walk New York 2006!
AIDS walk was a record breaker this year- what an amazing day. Team LIFEbeat turned up bright and early on a wonderfully sunny morning to walk for the cause. Being music people the hardest part of the event was getting to Central Park for 8.30 on a Sunday! We joined over 47,000 other walkers on the 10k route through Central Park, upper Manhattan and Riverside Drive, and it looks like the Team LIFEbeat total will top $10,000 – all of which will go towards awareness-raising, life-saving outreach and education.
Thanks to all the amazing people who walked and donated. Special thanks to Vitamin Water for hydrating the team and to Sirius Radio for providing hot prizes for our walkers and donors. Extra special thanks to Pieces Bar for hosting an amazing after party with some serious karaoke raunch! Good times, good times...
Team LIFEbeat!
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LIFEbeat honors Scott Greenstein
We’re very excited to be honoring Scott Greenstein this year at our Spring Fundraiser on June 21st. Scott is the President of Entertainment and Sports for Sirius Sattelite Radio, and he’s been an amazing source of support for LIFEbeat in recent years, so we’re delighted to be able to honor him at this event. At LIFEbeat, we raise all our own funds, so these events are crucial in enabling us to continue to reach out to America’s youth with the life-saving message of HIV prevention.
The event is being held at PACHA, and it promises to be a knockout night. It’s being co-chaired by Martha Stewart, Steven Van Zandt, Tony Hawk, Mel Karmazin, Bode Miller, and Judith Regan. There’ll be some hot music as well- so hot, in fact, that we can’t tell you about it, but we can tell you that previous LIFEbeat fundraisers have seen performances from James Blunt, Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer, John Legend and Jessica Simpson- so you know you’ll be in for a treat.
Tickets are available right here on the LIFEbeat website, and we have tickets to give away! Just email us the answer to this simple question-Name 3 celebs that played for H&V in the 05-06 holiday season. The winners will be drawn from all correct responses recieved by Thursday, June 15th. (hint- read the rest of the newsletter!)
Afterword
It’s a sad day- we’re saying goodbye to Leigh Ollman, who is leaving LIFEbeat and New York to follow her dreams and live upstate. Leigh’s been involved in pretty much everything LIFEbeat does for longer than anyone can remember and we’re really going to miss her. However, we’re delighted to have not one but two Bens joining the team at LIFEbeat- Ben Wymer has joined us as Coordinator for Development and Special Events, and Ben Godwin has joined us as Program Assistant for Hearts & Voices. So- onwards and upwards- we’re going to keep on reaching people and showing the world that music has the power to heal and save lives.
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