Music Rising

Celebrity iPod Auction Benefits Music Rising

2009-02-21T18:36:00.001-08:00

Tonic Introduces Celebrity iPod Auction Series
to Benefit Music Rising

Tonic to Auction off 60+ Autographed iPods from A-List Celebrities from Music, Television, Film and Fashion

New York, N.Y. (February 12, 2009) Tonic, (www.tonic.com) the leading media and ecommerce site focused on effortless activism and social good, announced today the launch of an exciting and extraordinary auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlist to be auctioned off by Tonic, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, an campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters. re of the

Over sixty celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s the Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Pete Wentz, Randy Jackson, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod which they each autographed and Tonic pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of the celebrities’ favorite songs. Beginning February 12th between one and five separate iPod auctions will simultaneously launch every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when auctions are launched. To learn more about the series, see the complete list of celebrities and auction calendar, or bid on a current auction, visit www.tonic.com.

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

About Tonic:
Tonic is the leading media, ecommerce, and community site focused on effortless activism and social good, making it easy for people to do good things every day. Founded by entrepreneur Pankaj Shah, Tonic is supported by a diverse and impressive Board of Creators including Island Records founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Blackwell, son of legendary investor and businessman Warren Buffett and musician Peter Buffett, fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan, music industry executive Phil Quartararo, Efficient Frontier Chairwoman Ellen Siminoff and Whitney Williams, Founder & President of Williamsworks.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, is a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Music Rising is at Sundance Film Festival

2009-01-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

Hi All, its been way too long since we posted to the blog here for Music Rising. We wanted to let you know that Music Rising is front and center at the Gibson Lodge this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Sting, Billy Morrison and The Doors stopped by today to sign special edition Music Rising Epiphone guitars which will be auctioned for Music Rising and the proceeds will continue to go straight to the Gulf Coast Region in the campaigns promise to help everyone who needs our aid. Three years after the hurricane disasters we know that there is still work to be done and we are committed to standing the test of time. Take a look at some of the press coming out this week at Sundance and you will see some very special photos and stories on how Music Rising is present there amidst the many musicians and actors who are willing to give us their support. In this new year we are thankful for our many friends who visit this blog and who continue to write and tell us their own personal stories. Make sure to visit often as we will be announcing more news this year. All the best and blessings in 2009!

Music Rising Awarded Heroes of the Storm on 3rd Anniversary

2008-08-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

We wanted to let all of you know that last night in Denver as part of the Democratic National Convention festivities, Music Rising was awarded a Heroes of the Storm Award from the Friends of New Orleans who produced a concert event to raise awareness for the help and aid still needed in the Gulf Region. Music Rising was awarded for its continuous efforts to support the Gulf Coast Region and we are happy to report that over 2,700 musicians have been given new instruments to regain their livelihood and Music Rising has also aided over 50,000 students and parishioners to date. Soon we will announce Phase III so stay tuned to the blog. The Music Rising Heroes of the Storm award was accepted on our behalf by legendary musician Allan Touissant, The Meter's Leo Nocentelli and Walter Wolfman Washington. It was an exceptional evening of New Orleans entertainment and a moving moment. For more information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Thanks to all of you for your continued support of our effort and lets not forget on this third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that there are many still in need. Thank you.

Star Studded Red Carpet at Music Rising Auction News

2008-05-29T07:34:00.001-07:00

**NEWS & PHOTO TIP SHEET FOR SATURDAY MAY 31, 2008**

U2’s The Edge Hosts Icons of Music II Auction to Benefit Music Rising
At Hard Rock Cafe New York

Event to Include Star-Studded Red Carpet

WHO: U2’s the Edge to host with special performance by Aaron Neville and appearances by Les Paul, Tiki Barber, Christy Turlington, Petra Nemcova, Joan Jett, “Cry-Baby” Broadway star James Snyder, Earl Slick, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, writer May Pang, Donna Karan, legendary producer and Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin and many more. Jim Kerr will emcee the auction. Lisa Loeb will be hosting the Auction Network show live from the red carpet.

WHAT: U2’s the Edge, will host the star-studded Icons of Music II Auction at Hard Rock Cafe New York to benefit Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to support musicians, students and parishioners of the Gulf Coast Region affected by the hurricanes. Music Rising has since aided over 2,700 professional musicians and nearly 50,000 students and parishioners and will soon launch Phase III of the campaign. The event will be conducted by world renowned Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com). The exclusive event will include a performance by legendary musician Aaron Neville and a star-studded red carpet. Auction Network, the first 24/7, multimedia network solely dedicated to auctions, will conduct a live webcast in real-time streaming video of The Icons of Music Auction II hosted by Lisa Loeb.

For more information about how to register to bid, etc. please visit www.juliensauctions.com or call (310) 816-1818. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

WHERE: Hard Rock Café New York
1501 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

WHEN: 5:30 PM Media Check-In
6:00 PM Red Carpet
6:30 PM Performance
7:00 PM Auction

MEDIA RSVP: Caroline Galloway Maureen O’Connor
Music Rising/Gibson Guitar Rogers & Cowan
440-338-3469/615-423-4904 310-854-8116
Caroline.galloway@gibson.com moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

About Music Rising
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Tickets on Sale for Music Rising Icons of Music II

2008-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

As noted before, the Icons of Music II to benefit Music Rising will take place on May 31, 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square in NYC. A limited number of tickets are on sale with 100% proceeds going to the charity. The tickets, $250 each, are available at Ticketmaster or at Hardrock.com. Tickets include food and beverage, commemorative catalog and entry into the private affair where celebrities will mingle amongst the world's greatest rock memorabilia. Tickets are available now and can be charged via the sites above. For more information check back at MusicRising.org or Hardrock.com. Thanks for your support of Music Rising, rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region note by note.

Icons of Music Sale 2 Announced

2008-03-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Music Rising has announced that the 2nd Icons of Music Sale to be held at Hard Rock NYC Times Square will be held on Saturday May 31,2008. Juliens Auctions will host a day full of rock n roll memorabilia in a star studded auction event that will benefit Music Rising. Tickets to the event will go on sale next week via Ticketmaster or HardRock.com. The day will begin at 10am and last well into the evening. Juliens will be offering three sessions and special entertainment in the evening. For more information check back here regularly or check out www.juliensauctions.com . We will continue to update you on all the great things around this event. And as always we thank you for your continued support.

The Music Rising Team

Music Rising Shines at the Grammys 2008

2008-02-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Gibson, U2, artists come together to support charity at the Grammys
by Jim Dalrymple
Feb 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Behind the glitz and glitter of the 50th annual Grammy Awards, there is something special going on to help victims of the 2005 hurricanes in the Central Gulf region. Founded by U2’s the Edge, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Music Rising is an organization dedicated to replacing musical instruments lost in the devastating storms.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans,” said U2’s the Edge. “So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions.”

When the artists are finished with their Grammy rehearsals they go to a special area where they can relax and talk to some of the companies attending the event. This is where Gibson set up its area with several Music Rising Les Paul guitars available to be signed.

After explaining to each artist what the guitars and Music Rising project were all about, each gladly sat down and the signed the guitars. The guitars will be up for auction on May 31, 2008 in the second Icons of Music Sale in NYC, where some of the worlds great rock memorabilia will be up for grabs. All proceeds will go to Music Rising — last year the group raised $2.4 million.
Artists that signed the Music Rising guitars include Ringo Starr, Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones, Plain White T’s, Blair Underwood and Brad Paisley, to name just a few.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin. “We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes.”
In phase one of the project Music Rising has helped 2,700 musicians gain back their livelihood by making sure they had new instruments. Phase two of Music Rising focused on replacing musical instruments for schools and churches — so far 40,000 parishioners and students have been aided from the project, but the work continues.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a cofounding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage which originates from New Orleans,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt ‘Note by Note.’”

Music Rising Stays the Course in 2008 Giving Hope for the New Year

2008-01-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 after the devastation from Hurrican Katrina continues to support the schools and churches of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region through its outreach efforts to replace musical instruments. Over 40,000 students and parishioners have been the recipients of Music Rising's aid through the Gibson Foundation's assistance. In its first phase, Music Rising assisted over 2,500 musicians. Photos attached are fof students at Andrew Jackson Elementary in New Orleans, one of the many schools helped by Music Rising, whic his administered by the Gibson Foundation.

About Music Rising:
The Music Rising campaign was launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Juliens Auctions, Toyota, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus Foundation, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign when he presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing , the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2007 PRISM Awad. It has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Happy Holidays from Music Rising

2007-12-18T19:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone who have continued to support Music Rising in its efforts to bring aid to musicians, schools, churches and celebratory groups in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region since Hurricane Katrina struck. We are so grateful to call of you friends and promise to continue our efforts until everyone is taken care of in those areas most affected. Look forward to our involvement with the All-Star game in New Orleans in February and our next Icons of Music Sale in New York on May 31, 2008. To all of you we wish you the best of the holiday season and many blessings in 2008.

All the best,
The Music Rising team

Music Rising Wins Another Award!

2007-10-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Music Rising won the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) PRism Award for Ongoing Entertainment Organization last night. Music Rising also won a PRism Award of Excellence in the non-profit campaign category. We are thrilled with the recognition and thank all of you once again for your continued support. We recently visited New Orleans and was able to see Music Rising in action. Children at Andrew Jackson Elementary performed for us with their new instruments provided by Music Rising and the vibrant choirs of Corpus Christi Church and the New Israel Missionary Church rejoiced in song when we visited. What a site it was to see and how grateful we are to be able to continue the work of Music Rising.

Happy Anniversary Superdome!

2007-09-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

Music Rising says "Happy Anniversary" Louisiana Superdome. Many of you may remember that it was this time last year that Music Rising supported the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit. An amazing pre-game show featuring U2 and Green Day helped lift the spirits of the city and showed the world that New Orleans and its rich musical heritage was here to stay. "The Saints Are Coming," performed by the two bands was available for download and soon become an anthem for Music Rising. All of us are proud of what Music Rising has been able to accomplish since the Hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast Region and we are working hard every day to continue to aid those in need. Thank you to all of you for your continued support and thoughts. A special thank you to Irene you continues to be passionate and enthusiastic about what Music Rising continues to do and a thank you to Josh in Newton, MA who just sent us a nice donation from his bar mitzvah tzedakah project, both of you are inspiring. Good luck to CJ also who has taken on Music Rising as his Eagle Scouts project, we can't wait to see the results. Thank you to all of you whom's names we may not know but whose spirit we feel every day. Music Rising, replacing the Gulf Coast Music Note by Note!

Music Rising Says Thank You 2 Years Later

2007-09-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

On the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina we at Music Rising wanted to say thank you to everyone who has donated or supported us through volunteer work in our efforts to bring the music back "note by note." To date we have served thousands of musicians, students and church parishioners in the hope that the sounds of the music coming from the streets in New Orleans to the lives it has helped nourish makes a difference. Thank you to all of you for your continued support. As many of you know there is much still to do proven once again by the vast media coverage this past weekend on how much need New Orleans still has. Lets keep the faith, keep the energy and keep the support going until every person in New Orleans can call it home again.
Thank you once again.
Your friends at Music Rising

Music Rising: Two Years After the Storm

2007-08-09T12:43:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release:

Music Rising Continues to Support Musicians, Schools and Churches Two Years after Hurricane Katrina

Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Note by Note Remains Mission of Campaign Which Has Aided Thousands

New York, New York…August 13, 2007…Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to rebuild the musical culture that was nearly destroyed by the hurricanes which ravaged the Gulf Coast Region, announced its continued support of professional musicians, schools and churches two years after Hurricane Katrina. Music Rising initially supported the replacement of instruments lost by professional musicians so that they could regain their livelihood. It has since entered into a second phase which supports churches and schools with replacement instruments so that musical programs can once again be initiated. To date, Music Rising has benefited 30,000 students and parishioners and over 2,500 professional musicians. The campaign has assisted in providing instruments to 21 schools and 41 churches allowing those music programs to become operational again.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans. So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions. Music Rising was created to ensure that this unique music culture did not die out, and on this second anniversary of the Katrina disaster it is apparent that we still have much to do. We will continue to support and stay focused on the needs of the musicians, schools and churches,” said U2’s the Edge.

Music Rising was founded by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz (www.musicrising.org). Thousands of instruments have been provided and millions of dollars have been provided in an effort to continue to strengthen the culture and communities of those areas hardest hit. Music Rising is dedicated to supporting the musical needs of the area for as long as it takes. Several major events have raised funds for Music Rising including an unprecedented auction of rock memorabilia which took place in April of 2007 in New York and raised over $2 million. The auction was hosted by Juliens Auctions. Supporters include former President Clinton and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, ACT (All Congregations Together) and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms. We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a co-founding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage which originates from New Orleans. With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt “Note by Note,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.

For thousands of Gulf Coast residents including those hardest hit in New Orleans, the circumstances are still grim and for many others the chances of going back home are remote. Two years after Hurricane Katrina there are still over 30,000 displaced families and more than 13,000 families living in makeshift trailers. In spite of hopelessness and despair, Music Rising has continued to persevere and aid many people in the task of regaining their livelihood through music.

About Music Rising:Music Rising is, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by the hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative was founded by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. The initiative continues to support those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, schools and churches. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, All Congregations Together (ACT) and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has participated in press coverage for the campaign and presented a Music Rising instrument to a needy musician in Baton Rouge La. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information or to donate go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org

CONTACTS:Caroline Galloway Gibson/Music Rising 440-338-3469/440-725-9265
Caroline.galloway@gibson.com

Maureen O’Connor Rogers & Cowan 310-840-8116
moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

Music Rising: Rebuilding the Gulf Cost Note By Note

Music Rising:Two Years After the Storm

2007-08-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

The Edge Rocks Out on ABC New Nightline Show

2007-08-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you who continue to support Music Rising. U2's The Edge was recently featured on the highly rated ABC News program "Nightline" where he spoke of New Orleans and Music Rising. You can see the transcript or view the video by clickin on http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Playlist/Story?id=3440730&page=1
If the link doesn't work just copy and paste into your URL.
Enjoy,
Caroline Galloway

The Skids Offer their Support of Music Rising

2007-07-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Some great news from The Skids in London: Many of you know that U2 and Green Day performed "The Saints Are Coming" at the historic re-opening of the Superdome in Louisiana this past September. The song was cover of the song originally recorded by the Skids. Since the event, the Skids have gotten back together and produced a 30th Anniversary show in Scotland to huge audiences. Their manager reports that all entry fees paid by the guests will benefit Music Rising and has since informed us that the band will be sending the donation to Music Rising to continue the campaign's focus of helping churches and schools in the area. Thank you to the Skids!

More Music Rising News!

2007-05-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello All: We wanted to keep you up to date on what is happening in the world of Music Rising. Since our great auction event in New York we have continued to help schools and churches in the Gulf Coast region and recently were able to announce that to date we have helped over 25,000 students and parishioners. That number keeps growing and we will move towards helping as many schools and churches in need as possible. We should also let you know that the Edge recently played that wonderful Epiphone Music Rising guitar on the steps of the red carpet at this year's Cannes Film Festival in France. How cool is that? Check out YOU TUBE to see the video if you like. We continue to sell our Music Rising t-shirts through all the Hard Rock locations around the world and amazingly still receive letters and calls everyday about how to help Music Rising. There is still so much to do. Two years later and still people are displaced. Lets not forget! We also were advised that the FOX Television Network has a new series premiering in the Fall which will recognize various cities and their struggles....one of them is said to be New Orleans. We had a great time supporting the French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this year as well. Keep the letters and support coming. We love you all and look forward to the day when we can say the Gulf Coast HAS been rebuilt NOTE BY NOTE! Have a safe and healthy Memorial Day no matter where you are!

Can you believe what happened last night????

2007-04-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted here, mostly because the elegant and talented Caroline has been here to spread the news. But this is one time that I have to share my excitement with all of our friends.

Last night we witnessed one of the greatest examples of selflessness and pure giving in the history of charitable events. Scores of friends and associates gave us little pieces of themselves - their instruments, clothing, photos and other memorabilia - to auction to a crowd of ardent supporters of Music Rising (and U2). The greatest contributions came from Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions who put this incredible event together at considerable personal expense; from Henry, Caroline and all the folks at Gibson who pulled out all the stops in getting donated instruments and memorabilia from artists from all over the world; from our dear friends and supporters who paid more than anyone could have predicted for all of the items on auction and made it possible for us to sell more than $2.4m worth of stuff IN ONE NIGHT!

But perhaps the greatest thanks has to go to my dear friend and partner, Edge, as well as Bono, Larry and Adam for so generously providing us with the greatest collection of U2 memorabilia ever offered to the public. Sometimes people don't realize this but every item the members of U2 gave us to auction was something that they were personally attached to in a fundamental way. And in the case of the instruments, these were their actual creative tools and extensions of their musical identity. This wasn't just a case of some celebs signing 8x10's or cheap new guitars and putting them up for sale. This was a group of committed, giving artists who put their prized possessions behind their convictions for the benefit of others. How amazingly cool and impressive is that? I have never been more proud to be in the same trench with someone. I told Edge that last night after the sale was over. I'm telling you too because you should know that about the man and his band mates. There are no better people anywhere.

Caroline will no doubt write about the experience of the auction. I couldn't be there because of an illness in the family, but I watched and participated online - plus folks were calling me from the floor of the auction to let me hear what was going on - so I had a small sense of the excitement in the room. The reports were uniformly ecstatic.

This money and the rest that we have been raising through the kindness of Gibson and Musicians Friend by selling the new Epiphone Music Rising Guitar as well as from numerous other sources will give us the wherewithal to make good on our commitment to bring the music back to the Central Gulf by providing instruments for its musicians, churches and schools, and through the music to help the essential process of community building in the region.

There's so much more that I could say about this but I'm going to close with a simple "Thank You" to everyone who participated in, and helped to support, this amazingly successful event.

Think we should do it again? Let us know.

Best wishes to all!

Bob

TICKETS ON SALE FOR MUSIC RISING EVENT IN NYC

2007-04-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR “ICONS OF MUSIC” AUCTION BENEFITING MUSIC RISING

SATURDAY APRIL 21st, 2007 NEW YORK

New York, NY (April 7, 2007) – Music Rising has announced that tickets are now on sale for the Icons of Music Auction to benefit Music Rising on Saturday April 21, 2007 at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) for the auction event, which will offer one of the most significant collections of music memorabilia from many of music’s greatest legends with proceeds benefiting Music Rising (www.musicrising.org), a campaign co-founded by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The live and online auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com), will be offering approximately 200 pieces of music memorabilia, much of which has been specifically donated for this cause. In addition to the live auction event, performances by New Orlean’s own Preservation Jazz Hall Band and legendary musician Allan Touissant will take place.

A limited number of tickets are available to the general public for the Music Rising auction event at Hard Rock Cafe New York. Benefit tickets are $1,000 each and include food and beverage, a VIP guest bag, entry into the private exclusive event, a chance to mingle amidst celebrities from around the world, viewing of some of the world’s most iconic pieces of music memorabilia and the live performances. Further information regarding ticket sales and auction details can be found on various websites, including Musicrising.org, U2.com, Gibsonfoundation.org, Gibson.com, Juliensauctions.com and Hardrock.com.

The auction will feature several items donated by the band members of U2, including The Edge’s 1975 Cream Gibson Les Paul (est. $60,000-80,000), an instrument highly significant to his career and U2. Other auction items include John Lennon worn sunglasses (est. $4,000-6,000); Jimi Hendrix guitar (est. $60,000-80,000); Paul McCartney hand-painted Epiphone Texan Guitar (est. $6,000-8,000); President Bill Clinton signed saxophone personalized to winning bidder (est. $2,000-4000); a Rolling Stones’ signed Gibson Les Paul Music Rising Guitar (est. $20,000-30,000); and more.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign when he presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by The Gibson Foundation.

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS TO ICONS OF MUSIC AUCTION EVENT AVAILABLE NOW FOR SALE

2007-04-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! A very limited number of tickets have been released to go on sale via Ticketmaster today for the Music Rising "Icons of Music" Auction Event on Saturday, April 21st at Hard Rock NYC. The ticket includes food and beverage, a VIP gift bag, entry into the private exclusive celebrity attended event, a chance to view and bid on some of the world's most iconic rock memorabilia, attend performances by the Preservation Jazz Hall Band and Legendary performer Allan Touissant. Once the tickets are sold out there will not be anymore. Go to www.ticketmaster.com for information or go to www.hardrock.com. See you there........

The Edge Announces Icons of Music Auction In New York

2007-03-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

“ICONS OF MUSIC” AUCTION BENEFITING MUSIC RISING

SATURDAY APRIL 21st, 2007 NEW YORK

UNPRECEDENTED COLLECTION OF MUSIC MEMORABILIA
TO BE OFFERED IN A LIVE AND ON LINE AUCTION

New York, NY (March 26, 2007) -- U2’s The Edge announced the Icons of Music Auction to benefit Music Rising on Saturday April 21st 2007 at Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square at 5pm.. The auction event will offer one of the most significant collections of music memorabilia from many of music’s greatest legends with proceeds benefiting Music Rising (www.musicrising.org), a campaign co-founded by The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The live and online auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com), will be offering approximately 200 pieces of music memorabilia, much of which has been specifically donated for this cause.

Amongst the donations from The Edge is his 1975 Cream Gibson Les Paul (est. $60,000-80,000), an instrument highly significant to his career and U2. “I wanted that Steve Jones ‘Never Mind The Bollox’ sound, so I got the same guitar right down to the color. I never could get that sound, but I found a bunch of songs in this instrument, and have used it extensively ever since, on tour and in the studio,” said The Edge.

Included in the unprecedented collection of auction offerings will be John Lennon worn sunglasses (est. $4,000-6,000), Janis Joplin seven-page handwritten love letter to her boyfriend (est. $1,000-2,000), Jimi Hendrix guitar (est. $60,000-80,000), Bruce Springsteen hand written lyrics (est. $2,000-4,000), Elvis Presley early recording contract (est. $3,000-5,000) Kurt Cobain’s MTV Video Music Award for Nirvana (est. $4,000-6,000), Paul McCartney hand-painted Epiphone Texan Guitar (est. $6,000-8,000), President Bill Clinton signed saxophone personalized to winning bidder (est. $2,000-4000) and a Rolling Stones’ signed Gibson Les Paul Music Rising Guitar (est. $20,000-30,000). U2 highlights donated by band members to support Music Rising include a pair of Emporia Armani (Project Red) concert-worn sunglasses (est. $2,000-4,000) donated by Bono, a Tom Tom drum (est. $8,000-10,000) donated by Larry Mullen and a concert and studio-played bass guitar (est. $20,000-30,000) donated by Adam Clayton. Other memorabilia from Madonna, Ray Charles, KISS, James Brown, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, The Beatles, Jim Morrison, Cher, The Grateful Dead and much more is also included.

Highlights from the Icon’s of Music auction will be previewed in special exhibits at:

Los Angeles: (March 27-29 @ The Beverly Hilton),
Dublin, Ireland: (April 3-6 @ The Clarence Hotel)
London: (April 11-13 @ The Hard Rock Cafe)
New York: (April 16-20 @ The Hard Rock Café)

Catalogs will be available for sale and can be purchased directly from the Julien’s Auctions website. A limited number of tickets will be sold to the Music Rising auction event in New York at Hard Rock Times Square. Details of the ticket sales will be announced by March 30th on various websites including Musicrising.org, U2.com, Gibsonfoundation.org, Gibson.com, Juliensauctions.com and Hardrock.com. In addition to the live auction event, Grammy winner Aaron Neville will perform as a tribute to his native New Orleans. The performance will follow the auction.

The ongoing efforts of Music Rising have thus far aided over 2,400 professional musicians and over 20,000 students and parishioners. After Music Rising received a Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund grant, former President Bill Clinton personally presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006.

Registering to Bid
Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done either in person at any one of the exhibitions showing the highlights from the collection or by visiting www.juliensauctions.com any time before the sale, or calling (310) 816 1818.

Placing Bids
There are four ways to bid in this sale:
• Bid through the Internet using real-time and absentee bidding at www.juliensauctions.com or by downloading an absentee bid form from the website. Note that online registration only enables bidding online.
• Place bids in the room by attending the auction .
• Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative, who sits in the room and conveys the bid to the auctioneer.
• Enter Absentee bids. Absentee bid forms are printed in the back of each catalogue, and are available at Julien’s Auctions offices and on the website.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. The initiative continues to aid those in need through its consistent efforts to aid professional musicians, churches and schools. Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign when he presented a Music Rising Gibson Les Paul guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge, LA in 2006. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by The Gibson Foundation.

STAY TUNED! TOMORROW BIG NEWS ON MUSIC RISING

2007-03-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all: Tune in tomorrow, March 26th for some great news about Music Rising and an event you won't want to miss.

All the best to everyone!

MUSIC RISING AUCTION IN NYC ANNOUNCED

2007-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Hi All: We wanted to let you know that on April 21, 2007 in NYC we will be hosting a very special Music Rising auction event conducted by Juliens Auctions with all proceeds going to Music Rising. It is the ICONS of MUSIC Sale offering some remarkable opportunities to purchase incredible rock memorabilia. Think about owning one of Edge's Les Paul guitars, the Music Rising t-shirt he wore during Grammys 2006, a love letter written by Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan's guitar, Jim Croce's acoustic guitar, A Beatles ticket, Elvis Presley signed recording contract, Madonna's pants, KISS Gold Record, John Lennon's sunglasses, autographed U2 memorabilia, Emeril Lagasse's Baldwin Piano signed by numerous New Orleans musicians and the list goes on and on and on. Go to www.musicrising.org or www.juliensauctions.com to check out the latest news. We will be selling tickets to the star-studded event held at the Hard Rock in Times Square in NYC too so keep looking at the blog for updates. Thanks again for your support.

Only Ten Epiphone Music Rising Gutiars Signed by The Edge Now on Sale

2007-02-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

U2’s The Edge Signs ten Epiphone Music Rising Guitars on Sale For Limited Time at Musician’s Friend
Exclusive Offering Benefits Music Rising Campaign Administered by Gibson Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE….Nashville, Tennessee…February 6, 2007…Epiphone and Music Rising have announced the sale of ten Epiphone Music Rising guitars signed by U2’s The Edge. All proceeds will benefit Music Rising (www.musicrising.org) which has recently launched the second phase of the campaign which grants musical instrument assistance to churches and schools of the Gulf Coast region. On September 25, 2006 U2 and Green Day helped re-open the Louisiana Superdome in a pre-game show where they performed “The Saints Are Coming.” to a worldwide audience. The Edge personally put his autograph on ten of the Epiphone Music Rising guitars prior to the show. The ten exclusive guitars will sell for $10,000 each and are available through Musician’s Friend (www.musiciansfriend.com/musicrising) until they are gone, with all proceeds benefiting the charity directly. There will be no others offered with the legendary artist’s autograph and each have been signed by him on the front portion of the guitar. A photo of him signing the guitar will accompany each guitar as documentation.
Music Rising, a campaign originally launched in November 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region was formed by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Administered by the Gibson Foundation and partnering with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and All Congregations Together, Music Rising has provided instruments and/or gear to over 2,400 professional musicians, 5,500 parishioners and nearly 2,000 students.
Many people from the ravaged region are still living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or are without a permanent residence. Those musicians who have depended on the local music industry for their livelihood have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost instruments and equipment.
The Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar features exclusive artwork and the campaign’s slogan “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork which was emblazoned on The Edge’s t-shirt at the 2006 Grammy Awards and designed by William Cathcart has become a symbol of the campaign and is also available on limited edition t-shirts sold exclusively through U2.com and Hard Rock Cafés around the world.
The guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with a great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. It also includes a custom “Music Rising” gig bag.
For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Questions or inquiries can be emailed to info@musicrising.org. Checks may also be sent to the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, 309 Plus Park Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37217.
About Music Rising:
Music Rising is a national campaign created by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Inaugural partners Guitar Center Music Foundation, MusiCares, Musician’s Friend, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ticketmaster, ESPN, The NFL, ABC News Now, Real Networks, Hard Rock International and Live Nation constitute the most dynamic and comprehensive organized group to launch a relief program since the hurricanes hit the United States. The campaign’s goal is to help rebuild the musical heart and culture of the Gulf Region by replacing the musical instruments and gear that were lost in the Inundation of 2005. Music Rising will continue to be administered by The Gibson Foundation. For information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. For information on the Epiphone Music Rising guitar go to www.epiphone.com or www.musiciansfriend.com/musicrising

MUSIC RISING ALL OVER SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

2007-01-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. We just returned from the Sundance Film Festival where Music Rising was a hit once again. At the Gibson Guitar Lodge we offered celebrities from everywhere the chance to pick up th the Epiphone Music Rising guitar and play it during our jam sessions. People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight were there to capture it all among other media so you should be seeing some great coverage coming out this week. From Justin Timberlake to Jared Leto, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Arnold, Ella Fanning, Donovan Leitch from Camp Freddy, Mandy Moore and so many others, they all loved the Guitar which benefits Music Rising. You can purchase one with 100% of the proceeds going to Music Rising by going to www.musiciansfriend.com. And on February 5th, 2007 there will be ONLY 9 of these guitars which were signed by The Edge himself during the Superdome re-opening going on sale. Once those are gone there won't be anymore. So you might want to reserve them now. Stay tuned for information on the Music Rising auction in New York in April. A star studded VIP affair offering you the chance to bid on some of the most spectacular rock-n-roll memorabilia anyone has ever seen. Stay tuned and thanks for the support. We are making a difference!!!

Music Rising T-Shirts Now on Sale at Hard Rock

2007-01-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone. Beginning this week you can purchase the exclusive Music Rising t-shirts at all Hard Rock locations worldwide with proceeds benefitting the charity. Of course they are still available on the U2.com site but now you can also go to your local Hard Rock and buy one, two, three and more if you like. It is the same exact shirt worn by The Edge during Grammys 2006, during the Louisiana Superdome Re-opening Pregame show and so many other performances throughout the world. You can also purchase them on line. We are very excited to have Hard Rock as our partner and for their great support for Music Rising. Some other upcoming news which is also very exciting includes a major April auction event in New York to benefit Music Rising so check back at this blog for more details as the plans come together. And don't forget, keep your fingers crossed for the upcoming Grammys because "The Saints Are Coming" was nominated. What a great statement that would be for the people of the Gulf Region if it won.
Let us know your thoughts. You can always write to us at info@musicrising.org. Thanks again for all your support. The emails, letters and warm wishes are so great!

Happy Holidays from Music Rising

2006-12-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

We send our warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday to all of you who continue to write and support the efforts of Music Rising. Without you we would not be able to continue to help so many still in need. We look forward to 2007 with new hopes and the continued plan to help as many churches and schools who need our aid. By JazzFest 07 we plan on celebrating the progress we have made together. May 2007 bring all of you love, laughter and many blessings. May each of you have a joyous holiday. We thank you for keeping the spirit!

Happy Holidays from The Edge, Bob Ezrin, Henry Juszkiewicz, Caroline, Nina and the entire Music Rising team.

2006-12-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

Hi All: Wanted to let you all know that we are swiftly moving through Phase II of Music Rising and helping several churches and schools in the Gulf Region. Its unbelievable how many people still need help. Did you know that most of the churches that were destroyed in the Katrina aftermath are not even fully functional yet. We are replacing instruments so the choirs can sing again and the people in the parish can have a place to sing their praises. We are supporting the musical instrument needs of schools so the children can not only hear the sweet sounds of music but benefit from all those wonderful things that come from music education. On another note the Hard Rock has stepped in to help and will begin selling the Music Rising t-shirts with proceeds benefitting Music Rising. Over 70 locations worldwide will begin selling the t-shirt you saw Edge wore on the Grammys 2006 telecast, during the pre-game show at the Louisiana Superdome in September and throughout various other performances including the re-opening of the Preservation Jazz Hall in New Orleans. Stay tuned for more news on this blog. And a special thanks to all of you who have taken it upon yourself to have events and programs in your local areas benefitting the cause. Have a blessed Holiday Season from all of your friends at Music Rising!

U2 & Green Day Grammy Noms News Release

2006-12-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

U2 AND GREEN DAY’S “THE SAINTS ARE COMING” GARNERS GRAMMY NOMINATION

Download Available via iTunes with Proceeds to Benefit Music Rising Charity Administered by Gibson Foundation

Los Angeles, CA…December 8, 2006….U2 and Green Day’s collaborative performance of “The Saints Are Coming” garnered a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal it was announced yesterday by the Recording Academy® at the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood. This version of “The Saints are Coming,” which is currently available for download on iTunes, was preformed by the two super-groups at the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome on September 25, 2006 and has become an anthem for the Gulf region that was devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Proceeds from the sale of the song on iTunes will directly benefit Music Rising, a campaign launched in late 2005 by U2’s the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz with a mission to replace the musical instruments that were lost in the devastation of the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Music Rising has now extended its mission to its second phase dedicated to helping churches and schools of the Gulf Coast region. To date, Music Rising, has helped over 2,200 musicians regain their livelihood and has been recognized by President Bill Clinton when he presented a Gibson Music Rising guitar to a recipient in Baton Rouge. It has also been the recipient of the 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and a generous grant from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

The hurricanes left 80% of New Orleans under water and destroyed 200,000 homes. Most of the musical instruments from the region were also lost in the flooding. Music Rising is dedicated to helping to rebuild the musical culture of the region by replacing those lost instruments.

To download “The Saints Are Coming” with proceeds to benefit Music Rising please go to:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=204741943&s=143441

About Music Rising:Music Rising is a national campaign created by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz along with support from Guitar Center Music Foundation and MusiCares. The campaign is the recipient of the 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award. It has been recognized by former President Bill Clinton through his own Katrina Fund and continues to be recognized around the world by media. Partners such as Guitar Center Music Foundation, MusiCares, Musician’s Friend, VH-1 Networks, MTV Networks, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ticketmaster, ABC News Now, ESPN, The NFL, Real Networks/Rhapsody and Live Nation constitute the most dynamic and comprehensive organized group to launch a relief program since the hurricanes hit the United States. The campaign’s goal is to help rebuild the musical heart and culture of the Gulf Region by replacing the musical instruments and gear that were lost by musicians. Phase II was launched to help rebuild churches and schools and is administered by The Gibson Foundation.

The Saints Are Coming Nominated for Grammy!

2006-12-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hello All: Great, great, great news! "The Saints Are Coming" has been nominated for Grammy in Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Lets gather all of our Music Rising friends and call all of the radio stations in our hometowns and tell them to start playing the song all the time. This is amazing news and a testament to what we can do as a team in helping the people of The Gulf Region continue to recover. There is still so much to do and Music Rising is there every step of the way. Don't forget the song benefits Music Rising so MAKE SOME NOISE and lets tell everyone the great news.

All the best,
Caroline Galloway

The Saints Are Coming on Top 20 VH-1 Today!!!!!

2006-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hey all of our U.S. friends, we have great news. "The Saints Are Coming," the single performed by U2 and Green Day during the Superdome re-opening was featured on VH-1's Top 20 Countdown today and its climbing the charts! And did you know proceeds from the sale of the single will benefit Music Rising which means more help for the Gulf Region which still needs so much help. Thank you so much for all of your support. Tell your friends and family all about it. Call you local radio stations to play it more and visit your local music store and ask for it. You will notice the Music Rising logo on the latest U2 release that this is featured on, U2 18. The more we hear it the more it will send a clear message to the world that Music Rising lives!!! We love you guys. Watch the video....it is beyond Awesome! Let us know your thoughts. You can reach me at info@musicrising.org email address.
All the best,
Caroline Galloway
Music Rising

The Saints Are Coming on MSN.Com Today

2006-12-01T03:11:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, "The Saints Are Coming" video is highlighted today, December 1st, 2006 on MSN.com. You can go to www.msn.com and scroll down to Video Highlights and see it. Now call every single one of your local radio stations and tell them to play it more. Support your favorite band and help Music Rising. We need your help. So many people are counting on good folks like you. We love you...Happy Viewing!
Caroline

Music Rising Animated Screensaver Now Available

2006-11-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

Hi all: Just wanted to let you know that you can download the Music Rising animated screensaver now. Its easy and you can do it by going to our website at www.musicrising.org and clicking the button on the homepage for either a PC or a MAC. This the animated winged logo created by well known designer Bill Cathcart. Its the same one we used for the broadcast of the pre-game performance at Louisiana Superdome. Have fun and enjoy. Thanks. Caroline

The Saints Are Coming Now on iTunes

2006-11-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

Music Rising announced that the download for the much anticipated “The Saints Are Coming” collaboration between legendary rock groups U2 and Green Day is now available via iTunes in the U.S. The song has topped the charts throughout Europe since its release.
All proceeds from the sale of the song will go directly to Music Rising (www.musicrising.org) a campaign launched in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar. Its mission to replace the musical instruments that were lost in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has now extended to its second phase dedicated to helping churches and schools of the area. To date Music Rising has helped over 2,100 musicians regain their livelihood, been recognized by President Bill Clinton and has won the 2005 Halo Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award.

“The Saints Are Coming” was performed by the two supergroups at the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome on September 25th, 2006 and has become an anthem for the region. People continue to struggle in their efforts to recover from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. The song which was originally written and performed by The Skids in 1978 has been recorded and performed by U2 and Green Day. Both U2’s The Edge and Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day led the debut of this collaboration at the Louisiana Superdome performance. The hurricanes left 80% of New Orleans under water and destroyed 200,000 homes. Most of the musical instrument from the region were also lost in the flooding. Music Rising is dedicated to helping to rebuild the musical culture of the region by replacing those lot instruments.

To download “The Saints Are Coming” with proceeds to benefit Music Rising please go to: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=204741943&s=143441: <http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=204741943&s=143441>

News from The Music Rising Team

2006-11-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

Hello All. Its been awhile since I wrote and updated all of you on what's new at Music Rising. Wanted to give you a few updates and let you know that Music Rising continues to help musicians and many more in the Gulf Region. To date we have now helped over 2,200 musicians get back their livelihood and we thank all of you for your support. On September 25th we hosted the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. U2 and Green Day performed at the pre-game show which was broadcast on ESPN and ABC and it was the most phenomenal experience any of us ever had. When U2 and Green Day took the stage and performed "The Saints Are Coming" live it was as if the top of the Superdome was going to explode with energy. It was amazing. It was magical and it was a gift to the people of New Orleans. The Edge wore his Music Rising t-shirt and was so instrumental in making all of this happen. If you are reading this you need to spread the word to call your local radio station and ask them to play "The Saints Are Coming." Its available on iTunes and if you download it all of the money will go straight to Music Rising. So download and know you are doing something great for people in need. Call every radio station you know and tell them to play it and play it alot! It all goes to help Music Rising. On November 9th Music Rising accepted the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award. Edge is traveling and on tour so our co-founder Bob Ezrin accepted it on behalf of all of us in New York. We were honored that night along side Elton John who received the Living Legend award. Pretty good company for Music Rising and all of us are very proud of the recognition. We also officially launched Phase II of Music Rising. Phase II will focus on replacing the musical instruments lost by schools and churches in the Gulf Region. We are currently working to help many and have already assisted several in the region. In March we will host a star-studded international auction in New York City where fans and interested donors will have the chance to bid on some of the greatest rock n roll memorabilia ever known. You can periodically check at Julien's Auctions site for updates and the auction will be live in New York, online live and also broadcast. This is another way you can help support the people in need. Many of you may not know that thousands of people of New Orleans still are displaced and their homes are not restored nor are they being renovated. We must continue to work hard to help these people get back on their feet. We cannot thank you enough for supporting Music Rising and let us know your thoughts or ideas on our efforts. Remember "The Saints Are Coming" recorded by U2 and Green Day is one of the most phenomenal arrangements you will ever hear. When they performed it live it was if time stood still. To see the two supergroups on stage singing for New Orleans was incredible and to hear Bono at the very end simply sing the words Music Rising to an audience of millions is something we will never forget. Don't forget to download it on iTunes and don't forget to call your local radio stations to play it. Keeping the music rising, we are forever indebted to all of you for your help and support. Thank you and Happy Holidays. Caroline Galloway

Music Rising Receives Halo Award

2006-06-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

By now, Regina has already shared the news with most of you but we thought it'd be good have it posted here in the blog as well...So here it is.

The Awards were held last Tuesday in New York. Unfortunately, Henry and Caroline were in Nashville, Edge was in Europe and I was in LA so none of us could attend but Henry did a lovely video piece that was shown at the Awards dinner.

We're all really proud of this recognition of our efforts, but to Edge and me this award really belongs to Henry and Caroline and all the good folks at Gibson Musical Instruments who have given so much of themselves to make Music Rising a reality.

Henry (he'll probably blush at this) is the most committed and giving CEO that I have ever met. I wish that the rest of the country's business leaders had 10% of his heart and determination to make a difference. If they did, we'd have solved a lot of society's problems and would be far better off as a nation. But we're thankful that this CEO puts his money and his effort behind what he believes in and, though he's very quiet about his contribution, it is Henry's belief in this initiative that made it possible in the first place.

And Caroline has been Music Rising's mom :-) She came up with the name, by the way. Edge and I were playing around with all sorts of ideas but the minute Caroline said "Music Rising" we said, "that's it!!!" She has done a truly remarkable job of moving us forward, creating opportunities for us and keeping us in the public consciousness. The marketing part of this "cause marketing" initiative is all her. And she's a big part of the "cause" bit too.

So, Henry and Caroline, this Award is for you . Congratulations to you both!!!!

Bob and Edge

June 14 (New York) –Music Rising, a campaign launched to replace the lost or destroyed instruments of the musicians affected by the Gulf Region hurricanes, received the Gold Cause Marketing Halo Award for Best Transactional Campaign at the fourth annual Cause Marketing Forum conference on Tuesday, June 13^th in New York.

The campaign, launched by U2’s The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, The Guitar Center Music Foundation and MusiCares has since aided over 1,600 Gulf Region musicians. Gibson Guitar produced 300 exclusively designed Music Rising Gibson guitar which were sold by Guitar Center. The $1 million raised went directly to Music Rising which was facilitated by MusiCares and the Gibson Foundation.

The Cause Marketing Halo Awards demonstrate the good that can be done when businesses and nonprofits team up,” said David Hessekiel, president of Cause Marketing Forum, Inc., the program’s organizer. “It’s a competition in which we all win.” Cause marketing is the strategy of building mutually beneficial alliances between companies and causes.

“In 1990 cause marketing spending was a bit more than $100 million – this year it is forecast to top $1.3 billion,” said Hessekiel. CMFI produces an annual conference, workshops, teleclasses and causemarketingforum.com, a website offering free resources to businesses and nonprofits interested in developing such programs.

“Music Rising was an initiative formed by passionate inaugural partners in the music industry and the desire to help people in need,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “To date we have helped many people regain their livelihood and our goal is to continue to help many more. The music of the Gulf Region can once again be heard throughout the world and capture the essence of one of the countries richest traditions.”

The Cause Marketing Forum also announced that The Home Depot and KaBOOM! each received Cause Marketing Golden Halo Awards for their leadership in this fast-growing field.

LONG Overdue Post

2006-06-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

We have really been remiss in our duties here and we apologize. Along with working our little tails off for Music Rising, we are all busy with our "day jobs". Edge is busy making music (as he always is), Henry is busy taking over the world with Gibson Musical Instruments and I am busy in the studio. Caroline is spinning more plates than anyone I have ever met. Nina Miller, who runs the Gibson Foundation, has joined our team as well and she is busy managing the many charitable efforts of that wonderful company. All of our friends at MusiCares continue to work very hard at finding, qualifying and taking care of the professional musicians who are recipients of Music Rising grants, all while running scores of other programs that they offer. In short, the wheels keep turning but that's no excuse for not being here more often. We all apologize and will try harder to be closer in touch.

It's been over 8 months since the disaster of last summer. It's hard to believe it's been that long as it sometimes feels like only yesterday to us. And yet, to hundreds of thousands of displaced residents it must feel like an eternity.

The good news is that many things are beginning to happen in the Central Gulf. Most importantly, the Army Corps of Engineers has acknowledged its mistakes in maintaining the levees and has corrected them and brought the levees up to proper code (at least, that's the assurance and we are all hoping that it is true). Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest were both successful and important for the economic recovery of New Orleans in particular, Ray Nagin has been given a mandate to lead the charge and rebuild the city, money is pouring into projects (see exerpt from Times Picayune article below) and the Saints will re-open the SuperDome on September 25th!

The bad news is that whole parishes and towns continue to languish, mired in bureaucracy and red tape, as they try to figure out how to rebuild. Many of the displaced will never return to their old neighborhoods and have already moved on. I do believe that everyone means well and is working hard, but they seem hampered by layers and layers of process that make it hard to move forward even under the best of circumstances.

Music Rising, on the other hand, marches along and continues to have an impact on the health of the region. So far over 1,700 musicians have gotten the instruments and/or gear they needed to get back on their feet via Music Rising grants. And now, as we have stated publicly, we are turning our attention to providing instruments to churches and schools.

Our ticket/guitar auctions are over and involved more than 100 acts, including Madonna, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Elton John, Toby Keith and Bonnie Raitt. We raised some money and a HUGE amount of awareness across the country. We are so thankful to Ticketmaster for their leadership in this effort and to our promoter partners Live Nation, House of Blues, AEG Live and Nederlander Concerts for their hard work in carrying this off. We especially want to thank our friend Arthur Fogel for being the catalyst that brought us together with all of these wonderful people starting back in the fall of last year.

We want to thank our partners at MusiCares for making the professional musicians' program possible and for doing all the hard work. And now we are joined by the wonderful folks at the Gibson Foundation who are supporting and housing our efforts going forward.

Edge, Henry and I also want to shout out personally to Marty Albertson, Larry Thomas and all the folks at Guitar Center and Musicians Friend, and to Lian Lunson who designed, and Sebastian Clayton and the wonderful team at U2.com who implemented, this lovely website for us.

And we want to thank all of you for your donations, ideas and efforts on our behalf. Please know that every dollar we raise goes directly back into the replacement of musical instruments and performance gear. We have no big infrastructure, no offices or rent, no paid staff. In fact, it's just us and the chickens here...and ALL of you.

This is just the beginning of a new phase of activities for Music Rising. Check back here from time to time to read about our new initiatives (we'll be more communicative, you'll see).

It may be summer holidays for some, but for us it's the beginning of a new phase of even harder work for us to keep the awareness up and the commitment alive to bring the music, the heart and the soul back to this wonderful region.

Best wishes to you all.

Bob

*******

New city hall, jazz park
planned near Superdome
Hyatt owner commits financing,
leadership
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By Rebecca Mowbray
Michelle Krupa and Greg Thomas
- Staff writers

Under a sweeping downtown
revitalization plan unveiled
Tuesday, the defunct New
Orleans Shopping Centre and a
nearby aging government office
complex would be converted
into a modern 20-acre multiuse
National Jazz Center and park
buttressed by public office
buildings.

The $715 million project,
spearheaded by Strategic
Hotels & Resorts, the
Chicago-based owner of the
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Hotel, is the first major
redevelopment project
announced since Hurricane
Katrina.

If it comes to fruition, the
project could revitalize the
upper end of Poydras Street
and refashion New Orleans by
encouraging additional
residential construction
downtown. It would also give a
boost to the adjacent medical
corridor and to long-discussed
notions of creating an
entertainment district on
South Rampart Street and
redeveloping the nearby Union
Passenger Terminal.

THE 9TH WARD, A CITY LEFT FORGOTTEN

2006-05-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

So today I had a profoundly life changing day. Not since my daughter was born at 1lb/15 oz (26 weeks) and spent three months in an incubator did I feel my emotions and physical being take on such a feeling of disbelief and heavy concern.

We toured part of New Orleans today that would stun even the most hardened human being. I walked the 9th Ward. Complete devastation and at times I wondered if I was in a war zone somewhere else far away. Block after block you saw cars turned over, houses fully collapsed, numbers painted on what was left of a house signifying how many people were found dead there. Water lines, garbage and debris everywhere and in some cases flattened foundations was all you saw left. Houses which literally floated and flew to new locations sat in the middle of roads and still not a sound of life. We met an 83 year old man living with no electricity, no water and amongst ruins literally. He wouldn't leave the house he raised 9 children in and swore he would die there. He painstakingly is trying to restore his life on his own. It was street after street and block after block of what you could tell from walking around. We looked through broken windows to see furniture, family photos, personal belongings full of mold, water debris and turned over as if a giant came in and literally played with the pieces like they were match sticks. Every once in a while you would turn a corner and see one lonely person sweeping a step or picking thru debris. Still.....8 months later they are still waiting for someone to come help them. Stories of still finding the dead are true. It looks like nothing has changed except the water isn't there anymore. I asked myself all day how these people could be let down like they have been.

We met two ladies in the street who lost everything. They are volunteers who come down to the 9th Ward just to check on things and help where they can. But there isn't anyone there except a few who won't give up. We heard stories of the displaced and forgotten poor and how the land in which all the debris now sits is valuable to developers who hope that if they leave the 9th Ward empty for long enough and do nothing to clean it up it can become public property rich for development of casinos and other attractions.

For miles we saw a broken city, a broken community and what I can only describe as a national disappointment. We met Reverend Leonard who has been preaching out of a makeshift tent everyday since the disaster in the middle of the 9th Ward to anyone who will listen in hopes that people will come back. The stories we heard from two lovely women named Willie May and Tiarra would break anyone's heart and send most screaming. Yes these women had not lost their spirit.

I am forever changed. I didn't think it could get worse than what you saw on television but I am here to say it truly is and disheartening to think that 8 months later familes are still displaced, not a piece of debris has been moved and a struggling society has been left to just dwindle away.

I had to share this with you....

Caroline Galloway/Gibson Guitar

2006-05-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

April 27th

On Thursday night, Gibson Guitars and Music Rising presented new instruments to the Preservation Jazz Band and helped to officially re-open Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. One day before the official kick off of the miraculous Jazz Fest, this was symbolic of the work that we had all been doing to preserve the musical heritage of the Gulf Coast region by replacing lost instruments and gear for 1,400 professional musicians since we launched the initiative on Thanksgiving weekend, 2005. A number of the folks who were there for the party came up to Edge, Henry and me and thanked us for providing them with the tools they needed to be themselves once more. Henry presented a new Music Rising guitar to the band and talked about our efforts. Then the band invited Edge up and proceeded to do a Second Line version of “Vertigo” that had the crowd laughing and shouting with appreciation. It was great – funky, slinky and swingin’! Edge loved it. After a brief set, the band picked up their instruments and headed for the streets, parading through the Quarter with the crowd in tow behind them, dancing and singing and radiating the joy of rebirth.

Henry treated us all to dinner and regaled us with amazing stories about his formative years, his start in business and the early days of Gibson. He is a unique character – one of the smartest people I’ve ever met with a very special view of the world that was forged in the fires of a rare and fantastic childhood. It’s his story to tell so I won’t get into it here except to say that he was born in South America, came to the US and became a musician, a B School geek, a successful entreprenuer, and then a visionary who is now the CEO of one of the best run and most principled companies in the world. It’s an enormous honor to work with a man of his caliber.

Henry had a 6 am flight to catch so he returned to the hotel and some of us went on to Tipitina’s to see the phenomenal Trombone Shorty and his incredibly talented cousin, Glen Andrews, sit in with the fusion/funk band, Gallactic. They brought special electricity to the stage and had everyone in the club literally jumping up and down to the music. New Orleans crowds don’t just listen to music, they participate in it physically. Everyone in the joint was dancing. We stayed until 3 and then headed back to our hotel. Everyone in the party was on a real emotional high.

April 28th

Edge, Lori, Caroline, Andy, Dallas, John, Ed and I drove down to the Lower 9th along with the Frantic Films crew to meet with Reverend Leonard Lucas at Light City. I really wanted Edge and Caroline both to meet him and to see the neighborhood surrounding the church and community center. Light City was more than a church. It was a whole city block of hope and education, ministry and love. But since the flooding, it had become a shell that needed to be rebuilt.

Reverend Lucas still had the same small marquee in the parking lot that he had when Lynne, Don, Reid and I met him for the first time back in December when we were astounded at the breadth and depth of the destruction and the wasteland that stretched for miles in all directions, and we saw a sad irony in the Light City sign that marked this place of darkness and what we thought was despair. But then we went into the parking lot where Reverend Lucas and the remnants of his once mighty congregation were conducting their Sunday service under the little white canopy and we found a man of God filled with a sense of purpose and the determination to rebuild both his center and the community that surrounds it.

Back then, the streets all around him were deserted and there was no traffic in any direction. The ladies of the church, dressed in their Sunday finery, stood in dramatic contrast to the grayness all around them. We were very moved by this encounter and we determined to keep in touch with him and to be there to provide the instruments he would need when he was ready to bring his choir and band back into the sanctuary. Don even stayed on in December and spent part of Christmas with the Reverend’s family and part of it shooting some of the more affluent areas of the city as they observed the first Christian holy day since the floods.

Now here we were 4 months later coming to meet Pastor Lucas again and to hook up with some folks that had begun to rebuild their homes – even without official sanction or support.

On the drive to the church, I was amazed that virtually nothing had changed in that time except that the roadways were cleared of debris, one or two shops were open and there seemed to be more, though still light, traffic. The homes on either side of the roadway were still destroyed and derelict and still bore the markings left by rescue teams in September signifying that they had been searched. Some bore legends like “two dogs and cat”. Thankfully none that we saw had numbers in the lower quadrant of the circled X. Those signified the number of bodies found inside. We had only seen a very few of those on earlier trips and that had been more than enough to make it tough to sleep. Still there were flattened buildings, collapsing houses, homes moved off their foundations and down the street, lots filled with nothing but mounds of debris that had once been a shop or someone’s home. Block after block of total decay (see photo above). Caroline, Lori, Dallas, John and Andy were speechless as we drove through this wasteland. They were experiencing the same shock and horror that we did the first times we came down in the fall and winter of last year. To the first-timers, it was horrifying. To Edge, the film crew and me it was maddening because virtually nothing had changed in all that time.

But here around Light City there were a few folks working, digging and clearing out, removing debris and beginning to rebuild. In the parking lot, we met a crew of young roofers who were also part of a rap posse. C-Styles stood bravely in front of us and the camera and delivered a passionate and moving flow about the realities of life in the 9th and, though written months before, prophetically speaking about the sense of abandonment and being left behind. We made sure we got a clean recording of it and are going to try to use it in the documentary.

The building had been swept out, stripped to its skeleton and the mold that had blackened even the outer walls was gone. There was electricity and running water, though Reverend Lucas said that no one was drinking it yet since it had not yet been tested. There was space for volunteers to come and stay as they participated in the rebuilding effort. Reverend Lucas said that thousands of university students had come from all over the country during spring break to help in the clean up. They had done an amazing job though there were still parts of the vast complex that had pooling water and were open to the elements. Pigeons had roosted in some of the rafters and there was bird excrement on the concrete floor. I wondered about health issues.

But basically, the place was ready to receive new materials and furnishings and to become a vital center once again. There was traffic and even a passing taxi cab – signs of life. Folks had come down to meet us and to show us that they were committed to working on rehabilitating the neighborhood, a concept bordering on grandiosity or even madness in the face of the enormity of the task. There were no signs whatsoever of a government presence or of any systematic work begin done either to clean up or rebuild anything. There were no trailers that we could see though we heard that some had been delivered but remained locked until they were approved. We were told that FEMA would not send trailers to the area or approve the ones already there because there was no potable water. The residents said they didn’t want to drink the stuff anyway and were using bottled water. They didn’t care about water conditions, they needed somewhere to live while they dug out their homes and attempted to restore or replace them.

Everything was mired in profound absurdity and paradox. As an example, nothing could be done to rebuild without tearing down most if not all of the existing structures. The structures could not be bulldozed without giving the owners 30 days notice in writing. Writing could not be given to the owners because no one knew where most of them were. So, the decision was made to post notices to homeowners of the fate of their properties on the internet. On the internet! These people were either living hand to mouth, couch surfing or living in borrowed quarters somewhere far from home without any of their possessions. How the hell were they expected to have internet access? What genius made that decision? Or was it, as the residents believed, something more sinister than that? Was this part of a veiled plan to appropriate their homes and land from them and put it into the hands of the city to do with as it pleases? And the notices on the internet could appear at any time. So, if someone looked today and did not see their house, it did not mean that they wouldn’t find it tomorrow or even 15 minutes later. This is not commonly known – even to the owners themselves.

There weren’t even piles of building materials that could be used by the residents if they had wished to try to rebuild on their own. Pastor Lucas told us that sheet rock was now going for $17 a sheet, versus $2.50 prior to the hurricanes. He said there was price gouging everywhere. And they had no budget for rebuilding. They simply looked to God to provide.

Pastor took us to see another church down the street. It had suffered the same level of water damage and needed to replace everything but the building itself which, because it was made of brick, withstood the rushing water very well. We could see how important the churches are to the communities surrounding them. In this part of the world, they are the hub of community activity and they provide many essential services in place of the government. It is clear to us that they are the key to the rebirth of this area – if that will ultimately be allowed.

We moved on to visit with some folks in the neighborhood who had begun to rebuild their homes on their own. We met an 83 year old man who was rebuilding his house while living in it by himself – without electricity, water or gas. He had been sleeping on an army cot and using a Coleman camping stove with a single burner to heat his meals. He drank bottled water. He said that, for his meals, he would drive his truck down to the one restaurant that had re-opened in the area. He told us that he had built this house himself 50 years ago and that he had raised 9 children and many grandchildren in it and that no one was going to tell him what he could or could not do with it. He had stripped all the walls and ceilings bare, exposing the studs and beams. He showed us where the water line had reached 3 feet into the attic. He had to evacuate through a back window before the water choked off his exit and was plucked from his roof by rescuers. He returned to the house as soon as the waters had receded enough for him to drive his truck back there. He had been rebuilding ever since. It seemed to us that this sinewy, small old man might die before ever completing the daunting task of reconstructing his home. And as we contemplated that, our eyes filling with tears, two vehicles drove up outside and out poured two volunteer building teams of about 6 people each, one from Missouri and one from Texas, and they marched up to the front door and into the house with an air of confidence, determination and even something that felt like joy as they basically took over and told the old man that they would “take care of it”. He was disoriented at first, almost a bit shell-shocked. “How I’m gonna organize all y’all”, he said into the air. But they said they’d work it out and that he should not worry anymore. Amazingly, we got all of this on camera for the documentary. We could not believe the turn of events and our tears were replaced with laughs and warm smiles. It was truly a miracle.

But outside, everywhere around him, was that same profound and broad destruction that characterized the whole coast. Houses were flattened. Vehicles of all kinds lay on their backs and sides. Everything was ruin and rubble.

There were two happier stories as well. We met another Pastor and his wife who had almost completely restored their home themselves. He had stripped the house bare and brought it back to livable conditions, even improving on some things like the old flooring, and prayed to God to provide the necessities. God did better than that and the Pastor and his wife had a lovely, comfortable living room with TV and a music system, a couch and chairs, tables and lamps etc. - everything that was needed.

Another family, ironically named the Crafts, was renovating a once-derelict 10,000 sq foot building in the middle of what must once have been a grand neighborhood – before the blight of poverty deflowered it many generations ago. Rodney Crafts had been lovingly restoring it before the storms and now found himself redoing work that had taken him years to do. Fortunately, he is a contractor and builder by trade and has the skills necessary to do the job correctly. We were amazed at the size and layout of the place. It would provide housing for his entire extended family including parents, siblings, children and future grandchildren. He was a very determined, capable guy and we were impressed by his resourcefulness and ingenuity. He had both water and power, though the water was still not potable. Most of the interior of the house was still a disaster but he was painstakingly and unflaggingly working his way from the front to the back, restoring it room by room. He took us out on the huge rooftop where he had painted messages in enormous letters that could be read from the helicopters. WE LOVE YOU JESUS. THE CRAFTS FAMILY NEED GAS. WATER. ICE.

Everywhere we found people whose faith had been tested and remained stronger than ever. They were all Jobs in their way, having suffered deeply through the entire ordeal and still suffering for a lack of support and proper leadership, but still and always believing in God and that he would provide for them.

It was now past the time when we were supposed to be back at the Jazz Fest for the Bob Dylan show. Edge had even been thinking about getting up onstage with Bob. But we all decided that this tour was far more important for us all and that we should call ahead and let them know we weren’t going to be able to make it. We carried on.

On driving deeper into the area, we came upon the field headquarters for Common Ground, a volunteer organization from San Francisco made up mostly of young adults and dedicated to helping willing residents to clear and rebuild their homes. We interviewed Michelle Shin, a tiny young and blonde firebrand who came from providing legal services to the homeless in the Bay Area to southern Louisiana to brave personal danger, arrest, disease, injury and abuse while acting as an advocate for the poor folks of the Lower 9^th. She reminded me very much of the Freedom Riders of the 60’s civil rights movement. In fact, the situation reminded me of some of the inequities of that time: in the mayoral election – crucial to determining the fate of these neighborhoods – the displaced folks who wished to cast absentee ballots were only allowed to do so if the ballots were notarized. Now, it is understandable that, with all the displacement of people and essential documents as well, caution and validation are important in the electoral process and in the dispensing of aid. No one wants to see impostors walking away with relief money that should go to people with a legitimate need. And no one wants to see bad votes cast. On the other hand, if necessary, it is acceptable to make a few such errors in order to serve the larger group and ensure that the vast majority who are legitimate receive the proper support and are enfranchised. So, the imposition of this requirement which not only demands that the voter find a notary, but also that they have the $20 necessary to pay them becomes a de facto Poll Tax – something that people sacrificed and died to rid the South of over 40 years ago. It is unconscionable.

Another major problem is one of official categorization of the land and the houses on it. Before Katrina, this area was not considered a flood plain and no flood insurance was required of homeowners. Of course that absence of insurance has cost many of them what little hope they had to return to and rebuild their homes. But now, the area is considered flood lands which will require insurance, and also a new building requirement may be imposed demanding that all houses in the area be raised an additional 5 feet from the ground. And still, no one has determined exactly which houses can be rebuilt and which are marked for demolition. She talks about the internet postings with deep suspicion. Again, no one wants anyone to slip through the cracks so public posting is really the only solution to getting this vital information out. She points out that to be equitable (and humane) it is essential to ensure that all the evacuees are aware of the posting, have the means or access to the means to view them, and know exactly what rights they have and how to exercise them. None of that has happened. Michelle Shin’s fine complexion turns scarlet as she spits out these facts. And, at that very moment, a group from the State of Louisiana legislature including the state senator for the 9^th Ward walks right up to us and we are able to grill the senator on these and other questions. He is clearly uncomfortable but also very willing to stand and attempt to account for his part in the unfolding drama. The legislators are stymied, he says, by layers of bureaucracy at the federal, state and local levels and by conflicting regulations and rights that have created a form of gridlock. All levels of government and social services are feverishly hanging on to control over their small patch of the governmental process. What is clear once more is that there is no coherent and empowered leadership that is capable of coordinating all of these agencies and special interest groups in a concerted effort to provide some measure of relief and to bring home as much of the displaced population as possible before it is too late. We keep muttering the name, Colin Powell.

We end our afternoon in the 9^th Ward and head to St. Bernard’s Parish – the white, blue-collar neighborhood that adjoins it. Here there are definite signs of clean up and some small amount of rebuilding. There is a FEMA office and one can see trailers, though only a few. There are big box stores all along the main road here and, though none have reopened, the parking lots of these have been cleared and often house relief stations, tents or trailers. We are brought to meet Pastor Randy Millet of the Adullam Church in Christ, a fundamentalist church that was once the home of Jimmy Swaggart. We assume that there is no connection between the two ministries beyond location. Pastor Randy’s church has suffered as well. He is rebuilding the sanctuary and is adding quarters for relief workers and groups as well as classrooms and meeting rooms. His church is the center for rebuilding this neighborhood. In contrast to Pastor Lucas empty parking lot, this one sports a mobile dental clinic, a semi-tractor trailer full of food, some heavy equipment and a large tent with feeding stations for the people of the community – actually anyone is welcome as he is quick to point out. In the back of the church is a warehouse full of building materials neatly stacked and sorted – like the inside of a Home Depot store – which he says are available to his community.

In contrast to Light City, this church complex is completely covered and clean. Though Pastor Randy is the only one here, it has the feeling of a well-organized construction site and the appearance of having been worked on by the hands of many skilled craftspeople. We ask him point blank why there are so many resources in and around his church and so few just a half mile away at Light City. He tells us that it was only a matter of reaching out and organizing. He intimates, but in the most loving and concerned way, that he may just be better at pulling things together than his brothers from the 9^th Ward. He says that he had sent them whatever they needed whenever they asked and that he had pointed many of them in the direction of aid and resources. He says that they are welcome to anything that he has now. He and Reverend Lucas are on a first name basis. It is clear that they have worked together in the past.

He also tells us that this great devastation is the work of the Lord and a way to beat back The Enemy – his words for Satan. He says that The Enemy had taken hold of his beautiful city and made it unclean and a breeding ground for evil. In fact, just a few days after Katrina would have been a march of church folk from 85 different congregations in the area to protest the modern day orgy and celebration of the Golden Calf (my words, not his) and to bring God back to this dark place. In his view, God had provided an opportunity to rebuild now in His name and the expunge The Enemy and replace him with faith, hope and charity. He is a very compelling speaker and a man of obvious passion and conviction. We can see how he has grown this church and made it the social hub that it is.

We offer to help in whatever way we can and, when he finds out that we’re in the music business, he asks us if we could help him to hook up his brand new PA system. He takes us out to another trailer truck and shows us a beautiful new, multi-component system that has been donated by some company in California. The only problem is that he had to dismantle it every Sunday after service and lock it back up in the truck for security reasons and, once he had done that, he was unable to get it working again. We agree to be at his church at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning to get it set up for him in time for his 10:30 services.

It is now 5 p.m. and Reverend Lucas accompanies us back into town for a very late lunch. In this upscale eatery in the Quarter, he is greeted by everyone from the busboys to the owners of the restaurant. Clearly, Leonard Lucas is a well known personality in New Orleans. The word travels quickly that the Edge is in the house but even so, people are polite and respectful and mostly leave him alone. A large table is arranged for us in the main dining room and we sit down to a huge communal meal with everyone from our crew, Leonard and some of his family and church members.

Before we break bread, Pastor Lucas has us all join hands and gives a prayer of thanks to God for the bounties that we has bestowed on us, and he asks God to bless this group of people who are here to help. The irony in all of this is almost overwhelming and it is a scene that I will remember forever.

We say good-bye to Reverend Lucas and his crew, drop off a few of us and Edge, Lori, Andy, John, Dallas and I go directly back to Tipitina’s where Walter “Wolfman” Washington – one of our Music Rising recipients - is opening for Dr. John. Tips is fairy quiet at the start of the show which is at a very early 8 p.m. We go directly up to the balcony to watch from above the stage. Walter hits the stage looking positively resplendent and pimped out in a beautiful new pin-stripe suit with mauve shirt and a shiny new Gibson guitar. His demeanor has changed completely from the last time I saw him back in December. He is really playing now – with a full band, on a real stage, making real money and playing his new axe. What more can a guitar player ask for?

Near the end of Walter’s set, Adam Shipley from the club fetches me to come out to the bus and see Dr. John. My friend Mac Rebbenac a.k.a. Dr. John The Night Tripper, is a true New Orleans icon. He is very much responsible for the modern love affair that I have had with this city. When I worked with him over 30 years ago, he brought New Orleans and his own personal voodoo to the living room of my little house in downtown Toronto. He was – and probably still is – a Grand Houngain of the Voodoo Church; a true practitioner of the magic and mystery. When he came to my house, a black cat perched on the windowsill outside the living room and remained there the entire time that he was inside. When he left, it left. The next day when he returned, it returned as well and stayed there, watching him, the whole time he was inside. This went on for 4 days. After he went back home, the cat never reappeared.

New Orleans was in his drawl, his fingers, his dress, his beliefs and his music. In the few months it took us to do his album, I became infused with it without ever having actually seen it. And now here we are so many years later, on a tour bus outside of Tipitina’s in the husk of the city he had taught me to love. We pick it up as though no time has passed. Except it has and many of the players with whom we had worked are now gone. Mac tells me all the stories and he revisits his youthful experiences with some of them. We talked about that magical night in 1974 when we turned Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles into Willie Purple’s - a club in Lafayette Louisiana - and put on a live show, which of course we recorded, for the musical elite all of whom were in town for the first American Music Awards. It was a musicians-only affair co-hosted by us and Ringo Starr and featuring a big band with 2 drummers, percussion, guitars, bass, full horn section under the guidance of the amazing Fred Wesley, three backing singers and two keyboards. We put a stage up in the studio with lights and p.a. and put tables and chairs around it. We had checkered table cloths and Creole cooking, tuxedoed wait staff and a sound crew all in costume. The control room glass was covered with a two way mirror so that we could look out but no one could see in and which completed the illusion of being in a real Louisiana club watching the Dr. John Rock’n’Rizzum Review. It was an amazing night and a whole other story.

Mac gets called to the stage and I return to join Edge and crew upstairs to watch the show. Mac hobbles out to the stage on his famous cane, sits down at the keyboards and proceeds to take us all to school. His band rocks and he rolls and the music is purely New Orleans. During the encore, Shorty gets up onstage and joins the horn section, picking up the energy again – as we see him do every time and everywhere he sits in. The old New Orleans meets the New New Orleans. White meets black. There is joy, brotherhood, respect, optimism and all the while the Music is Rising.

******************* Bob Ezrin

Preservation Jazz Hall

2006-05-05T02:07:00.000-07:00

We opened Preservation Jazz Hall this week for the first time since the Katrina disasters.
This historical landmark in the middle of the French Quarter which stands for the music and tradition of New Orleans stood proud that night as Music Rising along with U2's the Edge, Gibson Guitar and producer Bob Ezrin helped the Preservation Jazz Hall band make music again.
It was a phenomenal evening of music but the most impressive thing was the spirit of the people. Many of who were devastated from the storms and lost everything came out to rejoice in the music and let the world know that New Orleans is back. Music Rising to date has served over 1,400 musicians and we are proud to be a part of it. There is so much to be done in New Orleans and the Gulf Region and everyone should help where they can remembering that New Orleans is responsible for so much music which enriches our lives today.

You can find out more about Music Rising at www.musicrising.org or www.gibson.com. Let us know your thoughts or special stories of New Orleans.

Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO Gibson