PLAYING FOR CHANGE CONNECTING THE WORLD THROUGH MUSIC

THE JOURNEY Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. In 2005, producer Mark Johnson created the concept of the Songs Around The World. The first song released was a version of Stand By Me filmed and recorded on 4 continents between the Himalayan mountains, the South African townships, the streets of Barcelona and New Orleans... A few years after, this international version of Stand By Me has been viewed 60 millions times online. The success of the Songs Around The World helped the movement to reach another level with the creation of the Playing For Change Band and the Playing For Change Foundation, who develops music schools in different countries. playingforchange.com

WHAT WE DO

Producing Records and Videoclips Since our first CD/DVD, “Songs Around The World”, who sold 300,000 copies worldwide, we released several albums and videoclips, a documentary film on our journey and we collaborated with organizations such as the , for the 7 Billion Actions Campaign. The follow up CD/DVD, “PFC2: Songs Around The World” was released in the summer of 2011 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts. This new album features over 150 musicians from 25 countries, including , Keb’ Mo, Granpa Elliott, , , Carlos Vives, Roger Ridley, Stephen Marley, Clarence Bekker, Char and Toumani Diabaté.

Playing for Change Band concerts

An original and emotional live music experience who brings together musicians from different countries (The Congo, , Italy, Ghana, USA…) than have col- laborated to the Songs Around The World. The band per- formed over the last years in some of the best venues and festivals in Europe, USA, Latin America and Africa.

Creating Positive Change through music education

The Playing For Change Foundation was created in 2007 in order to help communities in need of resources trough education and music. We have developed 8 music programs and music schools in the following countries: Ghana, , South Africa, and Rwanda. Our music schools are playing a role in the transmission of cultural heritages, creating a a social and economic activity in developing countries. PLAYING FOR CHANGE BAND THE LIVE EXPERIENCE

The creation of the Playing For Change Band has been a dream turned into a reality: to bring together on stage the musicians we met during our journey. The result is a unique fusion of influences and talents in constant evolution since the first concerts in 2008. Grandpa Elliott, legendary street musician from New Orleans sings alongside with Clarence Bekker (Netherlands), Titi Tsira (South Africa), Jason Tamba and Mermans Kenkosenki (Congo). The rhythm section features Reggie McBride (USA) on the bass, Peter Bunetta (USA) on drums and the percussionist Mohammed Alidu (Ghana). When audiences see and hear musicians who have traveled thousands of miles from their homes, united in purpose and chorus on one stage, everyone is touched by music’s unifying power.

The Playing For Change Band has collaborated with artists such as Toots & the Maytals, , Babaa Maal, Tinariwen and on several occasions, PFC musicians like Tal Ben Ari, Roberto Luti or Pierre Minetti joined the band on stage. The CD/DVD Playing for Change Live (2010) introduces the band in concert during a tour between the US and Europe. Grandpa Elliott released his solo album (Sugar Sweet) in 2009 and and we are now putting the finishing touches on Clarence Bekker’s solo album.

After extended world tours in 2010 and 2011 across Brazil, Europe, Morroco and the US, the Playing For Change Band is back on stage for a world tour in 2012. Several live videos of the Playing For Change Band are available on our website, including the amazing interpretation of One Love, featuring south African choir Sinamuva, in Madrid.

playingforchange.com/band

contact info: Mark Johnson Raan Williams [email protected] [email protected] PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION

“DEVELOPING MUSIC SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD”

The Playing For Change Foundation has created 3 music schools in Africa and manages today 8 educational music programs located in 5 countries. More than 500 kids are attending to free classes (in dance, instruments, languages, musical theory…) involving qualified teachers and administrators on the ground. By providing children a safe place to learn, flourish and express themselves, PFCF helps provide a creative alternative to the struggles many of these children face daily.

MUSIC PROGRAMS

NTONGA Gugulethu, South Africa BIZUNG SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE Tamale, Ghana ÉCOLE DE MUSIQUE DE KIRINA Kirina, Mali INTORE CULTURE & MUSIC PROGRAM , Rwanda TINTALE VILLAGE MOTHERS SOCIETY Tintale, Nepal MITRATA NEPAL MUSIC PROGRAM OUR COMMITMENT , Nepal SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT HARI KUL MUSIC SCHOOL Patan, Lalitpur District, Nepal LOCAL LEADERSHIP UDAYAPUR NEPAL MUSIC PROGRAM Katari, Nepal MUSIC AS A TOOL TO EMPOWER POSITIVE LOCAL CHANGE

CREATIVE EDUCAT IONAL PROGRAMS We are always looking for new valuable partnerships in ADAPTED TO EACH LOCAL CONTEXT order to sustain the development of our projects, create benefit events and spread the message of our work INTERACTIVITY OF OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH through education and music. OUR WEBSITE playingforchange.org

A Global Day of Music for a Cause

All over the planet, musicians play on stages, cafes and street corners to raise funds for a cause. For the first edition in 2011, 225 events where organized on the same day in 41 countries, and raised 62,000 $.

playingforchangeday.org