musicians and artists launched the Christmas holiday season early, recording
a new Christmas song to support local and international AIDS efforts. Written
byJeffrey C. Martin, singer/songwriter for new folk-rock group The Caretakers,
the song is being produced by Glen Marshall and Michael Keire of Hamilton's
Vibewrangler Recording Studio. Local musicians including The Mississippi
Kings, Tom Wilson, Mike McCurlie and Jesse Lewis have contributed to this
Christmas fundraising initiative.
Sing Merry Christmas will be released on Monday, December 1st - World AIDS Day
- and will be available for free to download atwww.singmerrychristmas.com. "When
people go to the website to download theMP3, they have the choice of making a donation
in whatever amount they wish inthe spirit of goodwill," says Martin. "During this Christmas season, peoplewill have the choice of donating to the (Hamilton) AIDS Network and/or the Stephen Lewis Foundation. They'll be helping children and families not only in the Hamilton area who are simply trying to hang on to life, one challenging and often frightening day at a time, but also the millions of orphans andwomen suffering from AIDS in Africa."
In order for this Christmas song to sustain some long-term fundraising
capacity, Martin (composer), Marshall and Keire (producers) have agreed to
direct all future publishing royalties to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
indefinitely. "We want to make an official presentation once a date and time
can be arranged with the Foundation," says Martin. "Every time this song is
played on radio, Internet or performed publicly, royalties will accrue and go
to support the Foundation."
"I think every songwriter would like to pen a song for Christmas that has
the potential to become a holiday favourite," says producer Glen Marshall. "I
think Jeff has done it with Sing Merry Christmas. We all liked it the first
time we heard the demo. It's a song about hope, goodwill and the true spirit
of Christmas. But more important, the song will lend a hand to a cause that is
in great need of help."
Organizations like the AIDS Network work to recognize and respond to the
stigma and challenges posed by HIV/AIDS on individuals and communities through
education and support. "But we don't do it alone," says Adrian Betts, interim
executive director. "Events like SingMerryChristmas.com are crucial. It's a
wonderful way to bring the AIDS prevention message to a broad cross section of
the public in a non-confrontational manner. We're extremely grateful to
organizer Jeff Martin for including the AIDS Network and the Stephen Lewis
Foundation in his holiday gift list. Thanks to his hard work, and the talent
of all the generous musicians and producers, every person who makes a donation
for this song over the holiday season will be making a very real contribution
to the fight against AIDS, here at home and around the world."
The statistics about AIDS are mind-boggling says Martin. "There are 40
million people infected with the HIV virus around the world, 28 million of
them in sub-Saharan Africa, of which nearly two thirds are women - and more
than 11 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. Since the beginning of
the epidemic more than 15 million Africans have died from AIDS. This 20th
century plague has caused immense human suffering everywhere."
"Christmas is supposed to be that time of year filled with joy and
happiness, but too many people don't even have the necessities of life, like
shelter, food and basic healthcare," says Lena Smye, lead vocalist with The
Caretakers. "We take much for granted today and get so hung up on our own
problems that are relatively small stuff compared to what the majority of
people on this planet, particularly children, are facing every day. So this is
one small way of helping those in both our local and global community who
desperately need it."
The coalition of Hamilton musicians and supporters are hoping that at the
very least, local businesses and organizations will promote the Sing MerryChristmas URL - www.singmerrychristmas.com - to their employees, suppliers and peers. "Our only goal is to offer people a new sing-along Christmas song that they can play this season and many more," says Marshall. "But most
importantly, we want to encourage people to help us rid the scourge of AIDS
everywhere, especially from our developing world in exchange for this song.
The first part is easy, the second part will define the extent of our humanity."
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