Lightworks
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“Stand By Me” is the lead song on the CD for a reason. As Johnson tells it, one day while walking down the Santa Monica, California, promenade, he heard Roger singing “Stand By Me” in the distance. He ran to witness the performance and realized that Roger’s voice, soul and passion had to be shared with the rest of the world. Click on the “Find Out More” link and you get a short bio on Roger Ridley and a couple of YouTube videos of Roger and other contributors doing their gigs.

     Roger’s bio says a lot, not only about him, but also about all the street musicians who are contributing to Playing For Change:

     “Roger Ridley and his music embody everything that music is: soul, perseverance, and talent. He has often been called “the voice of God” by the other street musicians on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. His dedication to his audience is clear, traveling from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to his spot in Santa Monica every Saturday and giving his best performance before returning home that night. It was Roger’s performance of ‘Stand By Me’ that sent Playing for Change off on its mission to connect the world through music by adding

other musicians to his recording.”

     But you don’t have to wait for a musician to be featured to find out more about him or her. Just go to the Musician’s Index. There you will find photos with names and countries. Click on any of these and you will get a chance to read their individual bios and see an assorted collection of YouTube videos. The list of musicians is long and includes (just a sample): Bhekani Memela, Umlazi, South Africa; Clarence Bekker, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Django “Bambolino,” Strasbourg, France; Francois Viguié, Barcelona, Spain; Grandpa Elliott, New Orleans, Louisiana; Junior Kissangwa, Kinshasa, Congo; Pokei Klaas, Guguletu, South Africa; Reggie McBride, Detroit, Michigan; Roberto Luti, Livorno, Italy; Sinamuva, Umlazi, South Africa; Stefano Tomaselli, Pisa, Italy; Twin Eagle Drum, Zuni, New Mexico; Vusi Mahlasela, Mamelodi, South Africa; and Washboard Chaz, New Orleans, Louisiana.

     But Playing For Change is not only a website to visit and enjoy—it is a community that you can join and participate in. At the bottom of the home page, there is a “Get Involved” link that states: “There are a number of fun ways

you can join the movement and help spread the word about Playing For Change. We need your help.” Click the “Get Involved” link and you can explore the different ways you can become part of the Playing For Change community. One of the ways, of course, is to donate. Your donation not only helps create the music collaborations, but supports the Playing for Change Foundation, which brings musicians together for benefit concerts that help fund the building of music and art schools throughout the world. Other ways to become part of the community include hosting screenings of the Playing For Change DVD, spreading the message to friends by placing the Playing For Change banner on your websites or social network profiles, and participating in Playing For Change social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Flckr and YouTube.


My Advice: Go to the Playing For Change website and enjoy all it has to offer for the ear and the soul, and the spirit. But then become part of the Playing For Change community. As they say at the site, “Together, we will connect the world through music!”