Thursday, August 23, 2007 at 1:01am
Music rises again in New Orleans
Column: Executive Soul
Two years ago this month, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The city that gave birth to jazz had served for many years as an incubator for great musicians. Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans' music. With musicians homeless and separated from their bands, their instruments and sound systems damaged or lost, and their performance venues in ruins, it appeared that the New Orleans music scene was irrevocably damaged.
Would Hurricane Katrina spell the death of New Orleans jazz and the other music it had spawned? Not if The Edge, lead guitarist of U2, could help it. In a press release, The Edge (born David Howell Evans) commented:
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans. So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock 'n' Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions."
In the post-Katrina leadership vacuum in New Orleans, The Edge founded Music Rising, partnering with producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Strongly committed to getting instruments back into the hands of musicians, The Edge led the effort with heart and soul. Along with Bob and Henry, his partners, he dared to dream that members of the music industry, so often in competition, could come together for a worthy cause. The Music Rising partners invited all who are involved in the industry to participate, from musicians to instrument manufacturers to promoters.
In late 2005, The Edge visited New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities, talking to musicians and helping them to envision how their music could rise again. As he met musicians whose instruments had been lost or damaged, as he learned about their needs, he invited each musician to dream with him about what was possible.
The result? Each qualified musician received $1,000 from Music Rising to purchase an instrument and the gear to go with it. Furthermore, MusiCares, a partner non-profit which had signed on to distribute the grants, was able to make the instruments available to the musicians at wholesale prices.
Music Rising raises money through donations, auctions, benefit concerts, and sales of a specially designed Gibson guitar that has wood from New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas replacing the usual plastic body. An online ticket auction held throughout the entire month of April 2006 involved 60 artists, working alongside Ticketmaster and other promoters. Fans bid on tickets to more than 80 concerts, and also bid on special Gibson guitars, autographed by participating musicians, that had been donated for the cause. Artists were quick to support the effort, and Ticketmaster donated all of its service fees. The auction raised substantial funds and dramatically increased awareness of the need.
Music Rising's biggest fundraising event, an April 2007 "Icons of Music" auction in New York, raised $2.5 million. Auction items included The Edge's 1975 cream Gibson Les Paul custom guitar, which he had played on every U2 tour since 1985 (which sold for $240,000).
Two years after Katrina, with the need as great as ever, The Edge and the rest of the leadership team have recommitted themselves to rebuilding the music of New Orleans. Over 2,500 professional musicians are back on their feet, with instruments received through Music Rising, and school and church music programs have been served as well. With all that it has already accomplished, Music Rising knows it can make a difference. The Edge has demonstrated that leadership in the midst of despair is possible, and that when given an opportunity, people will open their hearts to those in need.
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Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.
Would Hurricane Katrina spell the death of New Orleans jazz and the other music it had spawned? Not if The Edge, lead guitarist of U2, could help it. In a press release, The Edge (born David Howell Evans) commented:
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans. So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock 'n' Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions."
In the post-Katrina leadership vacuum in New Orleans, The Edge founded Music Rising, partnering with producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Strongly committed to getting instruments back into the hands of musicians, The Edge led the effort with heart and soul. Along with Bob and Henry, his partners, he dared to dream that members of the music industry, so often in competition, could come together for a worthy cause. The Music Rising partners invited all who are involved in the industry to participate, from musicians to instrument manufacturers to promoters.
In late 2005, The Edge visited New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities, talking to musicians and helping them to envision how their music could rise again. As he met musicians whose instruments had been lost or damaged, as he learned about their needs, he invited each musician to dream with him about what was possible.
The result? Each qualified musician received $1,000 from Music Rising to purchase an instrument and the gear to go with it. Furthermore, MusiCares, a partner non-profit which had signed on to distribute the grants, was able to make the instruments available to the musicians at wholesale prices.
Music Rising raises money through donations, auctions, benefit concerts, and sales of a specially designed Gibson guitar that has wood from New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas replacing the usual plastic body. An online ticket auction held throughout the entire month of April 2006 involved 60 artists, working alongside Ticketmaster and other promoters. Fans bid on tickets to more than 80 concerts, and also bid on special Gibson guitars, autographed by participating musicians, that had been donated for the cause. Artists were quick to support the effort, and Ticketmaster donated all of its service fees. The auction raised substantial funds and dramatically increased awareness of the need.
Music Rising's biggest fundraising event, an April 2007 "Icons of Music" auction in New York, raised $2.5 million. Auction items included The Edge's 1975 cream Gibson Les Paul custom guitar, which he had played on every U2 tour since 1985 (which sold for $240,000).
Two years after Katrina, with the need as great as ever, The Edge and the rest of the leadership team have recommitted themselves to rebuilding the music of New Orleans. Over 2,500 professional musicians are back on their feet, with instruments received through Music Rising, and school and church music programs have been served as well. With all that it has already accomplished, Music Rising knows it can make a difference. The Edge has demonstrated that leadership in the midst of despair is possible, and that when given an opportunity, people will open their hearts to those in need.
— — —
Margaret Benefiel, Ph.D., author of "Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations," works with leaders in business, healthcare, government and non-profits to help them develop spiritual leadership. Visit her website at www.ExecutiveSoul.com. Copyright 2007 by Margaret Benefiel.