Playing for Change

Playing For Change is a multimedia music project, featuring musicians and singers from across the globe, co-founded in 2002 by American Grammy award-winning music producer/engineer and award-winning film director Mark Johnson and film producer/philanthropist Whitney Kroenke. Playing For Change also created in 2007 a separate non-profit organization called the Playing For Change Foundation, which builds music and art schools for children around the world.

Playing For Change (PFC) logo.
This article is about the multimedia project. For the album by Jack Sheldon, see Playing for Change (album).

Origin

Playing For Change (PFC) was founded in 2002 by Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke.[1][2] Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley (deceased in 2005)[3] singing "Stand By Me"; it was this experience that sent Playing For Change on its mission to connect the world through music.[4]

Travelling the world with a small film and recording team, producers Johnson and Enzo Buono developed a mobile recording studio (originally powered by golf cart batteries) for recording and filming musicians live outdoors, and progressively editing all the separate artists, blending all into one performance as PFC travelled from artist to artist, country to country. Starting with a studio made demo in the right key and tempo, "we would deconstruct [the track]" as each recorded musician or singer could listen with headphones to what had been recorded before them, and playing the same song, adding into the mix their own style. [5][6] For the project Johnson has recorded and filmed music in more than 50 countries across the world.[7]

More than 150 -- mostly street -- musicians from 25 countries have combined their talents to create a global phenomenon with millions of followers across the world.[8] Artists participating or openly involved in the project are Mermans Mosengo, Marcus King, Lukas Nelson, Char, Orbe Ortiz, Paulo Heman, Peter Bunetta, Roberto Luti, Titi Tsira, Jason Tamba, Keiko Komaki, Vusi Mahlasela, Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, David Guido Pietroni, Tal Ben Ari (Tula), Bono, Keb' Mo', David Broza, Manu Chao, Grandpa Elliott, Keith Richards, The Pocket Queen, Toots Hibbert from Toots & the Maytals, Taj Mahal and Stephen Marley.[5][9][10][11][12] This resulted in the documentary A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians that won the Audience Award at the Woodstock Film Festival in September 2008.[13][14]

In April 2009, the first album was released with ”Songs around the world” a collection of the first years of the multimedia project, debuted at number 10 on Billboard's Pop Chart.[6][8] The band's version of the Ben E. King classic -- which interwove the performances of 18 street musicians, including a South African choir -- in 2012 had more than 40 million views on YouTube alone.[8] The Playing for Change Band an international touring band that brings artists of all backgrounds together, raising money and awareness for the foundation, features individual musicians from across the globe that the multimedia project has met through the years of travelling, recording and filming, and is regularly touring the world to spread the word of the basis of the Playing For Change foundation.[6][8]

During their travels the project met and recorded many musicians from across the globe, some of whom lived in underprivileged communities, Playing For Change project decided to give something back. After the making of two documentaries about the multimedia project, Playing for Change: A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians, and Playing For Change: Peace Through Music, the founders of Playing For Change project created the Playing For Change Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[6] PFC was approached by the United Nations Population Fund to celebrate via a virtual concert the United Nations' 75th anniversary in December 2020.[7]

Musical collaborations

● PFC has recorded more than 1,000 musicians from 50+ countries[15]

● PFC has worked with Kiran Nepali,[16] Bono[17] (from the band U2), Keith Richards[18] (from the band The Rolling Stones), Manu Chao,[19] Toots Hibbert,[20] Ziggy Marley,[21] Keb' Mo', Baaba Maal, Char,[22] Tinariwen,[23] Los Lobos, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal,[24] Jimmy Buffett,[25] Sara Bareilles,[26] Maroon 5, Robert Plant, John Densmore,[27] Stephen Marley, Bombino,[28] Bill Kreutzmann[29] (from the band Grateful Dead), David Crosby,[30] Chad Smith (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Jake Shimabukuro, Yo-Yo Ma, Citizen Cope, Bernie Williams, Trombone Shorty, Buddy Guy,[31] The Doobie Brothers[32] (Tom Johnston, John McFee and Pat Simmons), Jack Johnson,[33] Ben Harper, Tom Morello,[34] Nattali Rize[35] Billy Branch[36] James Gadson,[37] Pancho Amat, Warren Haynes,[38] Ivan and Cyril Neville,[39] Rocky Dawuni,[40] David Guido Pietroni, Jon Cleary, Donald Kinsey,[41] Lee Oskar[42] (from the band War), Robbie Robertson, Dr. John,[43] Ringo Starr,[5] Aloe Blacc, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jim James, Keith Richards, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty,[44] and Sherieta Lewis.[45]

Playing For Change Foundation

Since 2007 the Playing for Change Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has created and supported fifteen music school programs across eleven developing countries:[5]

In 2011, the Playing For Change Foundation established an annual Playing For Change Day.[48] The goal of Playing For Change Day is to "unite a global community through the power of music to affect positive social change".[48] In 2012, the PFC Day consisted of over 330 events across 52 countries and helped raise over $150,000 for the Playing For Change Foundation, and in 2014, PFC Day saw over 400 events in 60 countries.[48] It is held on the Saturday nearest the United Nations' International Day of Peace, which takes place each year on September 21. In 2015, Playing for Change Day was celebrated on September 19. The sixth-annual Playing for Change Day was on September 24, 2016.[48]

In 2019, the Playing For Change Foundation was awarded the Polar Music Prize.[6]

Discography
YearAlbum titlePerformersCountriesNotable achievements
2009Playing For Change: Songs Around The World100 musicians21• Debuted #10 on Top 200 Billboard Chart 2009
• #1 on World Music Charts 200
• AP Top Ten album of the year 2009
• Platinum Award - Brazil
2010Playing For Change Live
2011PFC 2: Songs Around The World150 musicians25• Debuted #1 Billboard World Music Charts 2011
• Platinum Award - Brazil
2014PFC 3: Songs Around The World185 musicians31• Debuted #1 on the 2014 FNAC charts in Brazil
2018Playing For Change: Listen To The Music210 musicians25

See also

References
  1. Playing For Change Explained Archived 2014-06-05 at the Wayback Machine Mark Johnson explaining Playing for Change
  2. "Mark Johnson, Co Creator of 'Playing For Change'" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Focus on the Good, April 21, 2016.
  3. "Roger Ridley - Roger Ridley/street performer - HOME". Roger Ridley. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008.
  4. "Roger Ridley". Playing for Change. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  5. "Watch Robbie Robertson Play 'The Weight' With Ringo Starr and Musicians Across Five Continents". Rolling Stone. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  6. "It all started with a song". Polar Music Prize. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. "Billie Eilish, Gary Clark, Becky G, Peter Gabriel And Many More To Play For Change December 1". Forbes. November 30, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  8. "Playing for Change: Street musicians unite world through songs". CNN. March 20, 2012.
  9. "Playing For Change". Discog. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. "Playing for Change Foundation" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Performing Art, Pureland Foundation.
  11. "Playing change Team and Keith Richards Connect World Through Music". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  12. "Playing for Change" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Bill Moyers Journal, October 24, 2008.
  13. "Playing for Change" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Concord.
  14. "2008 Awards" Archived 2008-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, Woodstock Film Festival.
  15. Musicians Archived 2018-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  16. georginapfc (2016-08-16). "Kiran Nepali". Playing For Change Foundation. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  17. "Bono" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  18. "Keith Richards" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  19. "Manu Chao" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  20. "Toots Hibbert" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  21. "Stephen Marley" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  22. "Char" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  23. "Tinariwen" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  24. "Taj Mahal" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  25. "Jimmy Buffett" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  26. "Sara Bareilles" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  27. "John Densmore" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  28. "Bombino" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  29. "Bill Kreutzmann" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  30. "David Crosby" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  31. "Buddy Guy" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  32. "The Doobie Brothers" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  33. "Jack Johnson" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  34. "Tom Morello" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  35. "Nattali Rize" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  36. "Billy Branch" Archived 2020-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  37. "James Gadson" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  38. "Warren Haynes" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  39. "Cyril Neville" Archived 2019-04-23 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  40. "Rocky Dawuni" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  41. "Donald Kinsey" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  42. "Lee Oskar" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  43. "Dr. John" Archived 2019-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Playing For Change.
  44. "Gibson Announces Partnership with Playing For Change". Music Instrument News. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  45. "Musicians Archive". Playing For Change. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  46. "Bizung School of Music & Dance". Playing For Change Foundation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  47. "Joudour Sahara Music Program". Playing For Change Foundation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  48. "Playing for Change Day - September 24th, 2016". playingforchangeday.org. Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-09-27.
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