ARE YOU LISTENING: A LOVE SONG FOR HAITI: GMC TO PREMIERE VIDEO OF HAITIAN RELIEF SONG ON JAN. 22
The vast majority of the gospel industry was in Nashville, TN already poised to lift their voices for the 25th Annual Stellar Awards a week ago. In support of relief efforts in earthquake shattered Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Kirk Franklin acted as the "MJ of Gospel" and seized the moment to galvanize his peers for recording what has been dubbed the gospel community's answer to "We Are the World." With the cooperation of various "go-to" people in the gospel industry, a historic call to action was answered quickly to quell the cries of Haiti's desperate survivors.
The word spread rapidly via social media, emails and a personal plea from Franklin at a scheduled industry prayer service that not only were the prayers of the gospel industry needed, but so were their voices. Within 48-hours, a 150-member, all-star gospel chorus, now known as Artists United for Haiti, came together to record "Are You Listening?: A Love Song for Haiti," some working into the wee hours of the morning.
As "Are You Listening?: A Love Song for Haiti" was recorded to raise funds for recovery efforts in the third world island, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Haiti relief. While everyone invovled donated their time and talent for the cause as an expression of compassion, Claude Latalliade's connection to the project was more personal. A Port-au-Prince native, the Director of Central South Distribution/Gospo Centric Records co-founder Lataillade, has family in Haiti.
"It's really sad. It's the worst scenario for Haiti. They don't have the right infrastructure to handle the kind of devastation that has befallen Port-au-Prince. What I'm hoping is with all this world outpouring, Haiti can get a fresh start out of the ashes," he said according to Gospel Music Channel.
Artists United for Haiti includes (listed in alphabetical order) Yolanda Adams; Jeremy Camp; Shirley Caesar; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Natalie Grant; Fred Hammond; Tamela & David Mann; Mary Mary; Donnie McClurkin; Bishop Paul S. Morton; J. Moss; Smokie Norful; Marvin Sapp; Karen Clark-Sheard; Kiera "KiKi" Sheard; BeBe Winans; CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans along with other gospel artists featured in choir including Shari Addison; Kathy Taylor Brown; John Gray; Anthony and Tarsha Hamilton, Bishop Darryl Hines; Stephen Hurd; Karima Kibble; Judith McAllister; Nicole C. Mullen; Jessica Reedy; The Neville Sisters; Troy Sneed; Micah Stampley; Melinda Watts and Brian Courtney Wilson.
Franklin recognizes Americans are struggling economically, but the needs of our neighbors in the Atlantic ocean are more dire.
"This initiative is so important because while we are asking America to give we know that many are giving sacrificially. The people of Haiti are very spiritual people with an unwavering faith and belief in God and still count The Lord as the main source and provider. We will continue to pray and stand with them. We hope this song will bring much needed support and awareness in an effort to raise funds in the near and long-term future."
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT
"Are You Listening" also features top musicians in popular music including GRAMMY Award-winning co-producer Shaun Martin. Franklin is the executive producer along with, James "Jazzy" Jordan, executive vice president/GM of Verity Gospel Music Group; and Carla Williams and Jessie Hurst of FoYo Soul Entertainment.
There are numerous people in the gospel and Christian communities supporting the people of Haiti and this initiative. Top radio hosts Steve Harvey and Tom Joyner are supporting Kirk Franklin in effort to support our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean. On Friday, January 22, Kirk Franklin will do call-ins to both shows and Steve Harvey will play the song during his radiothon.
The Gospel Music Channel
(http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com)television network had exclusive access to the historic gathering and recording session. GMC is producing the official music video for "Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti" which will world premiere in a one hour special presentation on GMC Friday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 p.m. (ET), immediately before GMC's airing of the global "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon (8:00 p.m.). The special will be hosted by Lisa Kimmey-Winans and will feature exclusive interview footage with Kirk Franklin from the recording session interspersed throughout multiple runs of the music video. GMC will encore the special on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The music video will then go into heavy rotation in all GMC music video blocks. GMC will also produce and premiere an exclusive "A Love Song for Haiti: The Making of 'Are You Listening'" behind-the-scenes special in February.
"Are You Listening" will be serviced simultaneously to a variety of radio formats, including Gospel, Urban AC and Pop to create a seamless and ubiquitous presence on the airwaves, inspiring more people to lend their hand to Haiti by purchasing the song.
PURCHASE THE PROJECT
"Are You Listening" will be available for purchase at www.verityrecords.com starting at 5 p.m. Friday, January 22. The single will be available next week on iTunes after January 30 at Wal-Mart and other major retailers.
For additional information on the project, please visit,
www.kirkfranklin.com.
In other Haiti news. . .
Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean will host the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon that will air on all major US networks on Friday, Jan.22. In addition to musical performances, former President Bill Clinton will appear along with Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Muhammad Ali, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of other film, television and music stars.
The benefit will also feature Wyclef Jean reporting from New York City, George Clooney from Los Angeles and CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti the Albuquerque Express reports.