Hey... good weekend. But, a little odd.

If you were in Central Park on Saturday, thanks for showing up. It kinda threatened to rain most of the day... even drizzled off and on. But, I had a wonderful time sharing my songs with those of you who hung out with me at "the Hill". My personal energy was a little... off. But y'know, that'll happen once in a while. It was still very cool. I'm a lucky, lucky man.

Then, yesterday... we had a beautiful day down by the river, at the "Storyteller's Hill" in Riverside Park. But, y'see, sometimes people wonder how I power the stuff I use when I'm playing in the park. Here's the secret.

In that duffle bag behind me, is a marine batttery... that weighs about as much as Meatloaf! Getting it down to the river is always an interesting exercise. But, getting it back up to Riverside Drive is... well... an extreme chore! So for yesterday, I thought I'd bring a smaller power source that doesn't weigh as much. I figured, y'know, I play a 5 and a half hour set in Central Park, but I don't play quite as long in Riverside, so maybe it would work out just fine.

It didn't.

Sorry.

Power ran out around 4:30. Next weekend, I'll bring the usual stuff.

But listen... that's not the BIG news for today. The BIG news is the launching of the VOICES TOGETHER website!!!

As of 12 noon today, you can click on this logo...

and visit the new WEBSITE!

That's where you're gonna be able to go to find out everything you wanna know about the evolution of this amazing project... this concert we wanna do at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City to help the innocent civilians, especially the children, who are being so badly hurt in the war in Iraq.

It's also where YOU will be able to go to really help us help them.

Hopefully, this event will be the most amazing concert you have ever attended. But, here's your chance to really be a part of it. It'll feel wonderful to be a real part of it. We're planning it for late January. But, there is nothing abstract about this effort.

Y'know? It's not like you are giving twenty five, or a hundred dollars, or five hundred dollars to the Red Cross... and it might be used for pamphlets, or pencils, or a poster on a bus stop.

The money you give right now, is going directly to the production of this event. Directly! So, on the Voices Together website, you will be listed as a "producer" of the concert.

AND, EVERY NICKEL IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE FOR YOU! (We're under a 501(c)(3) called Fractured Atlas, so you'll get a thank you letter and a receipt from us so you can deduct it from your taxes this year.)

And, YOUR voice will be one of the voices together.

Already, these very cool people have shown up and helped. These are the first "producers" of the Voices Together Concert.

Steven Shukow
Francine Giarrizzo
Susan Hannah
Linda Grahek
Fred Fleisher
Dan Rivelis
Brian Sheinberg
Joe Ippolito
Nikki Binns

EVERYONE who helps will be listed from now on at the new website! You can add your name to the list. We hope it grows and grows and grows... so,the world will see how the "People on the Hill" show up when there is a real need for compassion and care.

"It's just us!"

Y'see, after we raise that money, we will be able to tell people honestly that all of the proceeds of the show will go directly to beautiful and remarkable people like Elissa Montanti and others who are doing this...

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Ahmed lost both eyes and his arm in the Iraq war... but, got help here.

And, this...

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Here's little Dalal, showing off her new beautiful dress... and leg.

Got news for you.

The American government didn't work this little miracle. The Iraqi "government" certainly didn't.

A handful of remarkable but ordinary people are doing this. My friends and I, and the "People on the Hill", simply wanna do something to help them... therefore, the VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT.

By the way... here's a link to Elissa Montanti's website:

Global Medical Relief Fund

Look, the whole theme of this thing is ordinary people helping ordinary people.

It's just us.

Listen... I'm just a singer/songwriter. What can I do? Write another song?

I recently wrote in the "Forum" (message board) that one act of kindness, one heroic act of healing is more powerful than all the armies that ever marched, all the orators whoever uttered a word, and all the songs ever written. Some people are just not capable of getting their hearts around that simple Truth. And so, the seeds of fear and hate are sown that grow from war to war. But, that shouldn't deter those who understand.

Yes, we're talking to a couple of very "big name" artists. But, this is gonna be about YOU... the "People on the Hill"... and, people just like you.

Good people. Ordinary people. Who are capable of doing something extraordinary.

Y'know what?

Now that the VOICES TOGETHER WEBSITE has hit the web, you can be listed as being among the FIRST to get the project off the ground... click here and send... something... either by credit card or by check. The instructions are all there, okay?

In the window that says "On Behalf Of", just look for "Voices Together Concert".

Click here if you wanna be among the FIRST to help!

Remember, everything IS tax deductible. It's more than a worthwhile cause. It will help us make difference in this troubled world...

..right now.

Whew!

Being this excited about something this wonderful can be exhausting. I hope you guys all get behind this. Besides opening up your check books, I'd love it if you all opened up your minds and hearts, too. Any ideas for promoting this show in the media will be welcomed. A bit down the road, we'll also be looking for volunteers to staff the show. It's gonna be something special.

Anyway, listen... check out the new site and let me know what you think.

Thanks for showing up.

Thanks for everything.