CD RECOMMENDATION – MUSIC TO LIFE 2006
The CD is the result of a contest is sponsored by the Public Domain Foundation, a non profit organization founded in 1971 by Noel “Paul” Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary fame. Wanting to give something back, Noel created the foundation to collect and distribute all royalities from his composition “Wedding Song“. Over 2 million dollars has been distributed to a variety of family and childrens programs including Habitat for Humanity, the Welfare Rights Initiative in New York, Toxic Actions Center in New England and the Selamta Children’s Home in Ethipia among many others.
In conjunction with the
Kerrville Folk Festival, the Public Domain Foundation started the
Music For Life Songwriting Contest in 2001. Songwriters were asked to submit songs dedicated to social issues and political concern.
The songs were judged by a panel of esteemed musicans from the folk music community. Judges have included Tom Chapin, Peter Yarrow, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin and others. The ten finalists were given travel stipends and passes to the Kerrville Folk Festival where they would perform their songs. Following the success of the 2001 contest, another was held in 2003 and again in
2006.
The grand prize winner and the first and second runner ups received charitable
donation prizes that were presented to organizations of their choice. All the finalists performed their songs at a June 3, 2006 concert that was held at the Kerrville Folk Festival.The new CD featuring studio and Kerrville Folk Festival performances from the 2006 finalists was recently released, and is available from the Public Domain Foundation’s website –
www.pdfoundation.org . Several of the finalists have been guests and longtime friends of WFDU–FM’s TRADITIONS, notably Eric Balkey, Arlon Bennett and Amy Carol Webb.
Erik Balkey, teaming with songwriter Jonathan Byrd, wrote “Cut Em Down“, a song chosen as first runner up in the competition. The song was based on an idea that Erik had about the cutting down of trees and he created the song with Jonathan that describes how choices such as working in a lumber mill or joining the army can result in waste and neglect. For their effort, a donation was made to Habitat for Humanity.
A native of Texas and now based in Nashville, songwriter Zane Williams was the second runner up for his song “The Big Picture“. 2006 was a good year for Zane. Zane was the grand prize winner for the John Lennon Songwriting Award in the country catagory for another song called “Hurry Home” – the title cut for his new CD.
The grand prize winner was Kate Power‘s song “Travis John“. Kate grew up in NYC during the folk revival of the 1960’s. She later moved to Oregon where she continues to write and perform music with her partner Steve Einhorn, and the duo also run Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon. Kate wrote the song “Travis John” in memory of Corporal Travis John Bradach–Nall, one of the first young Oregonians to be killed in Iraq by a landmine. John was also a neighbor of Kate and Steve,. and he went to school with their son. The 21 year old Travis was killed by a land mine in Iraq on July 2, 2003. Kate designated Adopt-A-Minefield as the receipent of her grand prize award, in memory of Travis.
Amy Carol Webb has two cuts on this year’s CD – the moving “Lay the Shovel Down” as well as “Rosa“, a heart-felt tribute to Rosa Parks. Amy won the grand prize in a previous competition with her song “This is Peace“.
Rosa Parks also inspired New Jersey singer-songwriter Arlon Bennett (pictured at the left with Noel Paul Stookey after the showcase at Kerrville) to compose “Be The Change“. The chorus can inspire all of us –
( Copyright 2007 Arlon Bennett )
Songs alone cannot change the world. Songs can teach, give us opinions and motivate. The motivation might be the most important aspect to these songs. Political songs and protest songs are often critized for preaching to the choir, but often that choir needs the motivation to carry on the work – and to realize they aren’t alone. In that sense, all of these songs help to build a community.
One of the goals of this songwriting competition is to inspire songwriters to create music that will make a difference. Spreading the message, and taking action, is something that we all can do.