~~September 17, 2014~~
~~Biography~~
“As it appears on Roger’s Facebook page …. “
“Hello, my name is Roger Ridley and I was in the “JOY” business. I was born in Lumpkin, Georgia, a small town near Atlanta. My career started in elementary school when I sang in a school program to get out of English class. I moved to New York City in 1964 and launched my professional career with Maley & The Isles as the lead singer, the first of many times as a singer.
At the age of 26 I married and became a father of three, two girls and one boy. They too are musically talented and sing with much feeling and authority. While I was playing in many clubs around New York City and throughout the tri-state area, the Ridley genius also ran deeply in the house.
I come from a musical family, “all my life I have been surrounded by music: my mother, my sisters and brothers are all singers and my father played the guitar, a little.
My goals were to share my music and songs with the world. “I pray these goals have been accomplished.” I thank God and appreciate the fact that I have the ability to draw crowds wherever I perform whether it be on the city streets, in the subways, concerts, street fairs or the night clubs.
On March 29, 1997 I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where I performed in a show about street musicians called “Madhattan” produced by Kenneth Feld. After one years of the show running it closed and a close friend of mine introduced me to the 3rd street Promenade in Santa Monica California and all of a sudden I was back to performing in front of millions of people, a diversified audience with one thing in common, good music.
On November 16, 2005 my Lord and Savior called me home and I had to go. I have made my mark and am very satisfied in knowing that my family is keeping my music alive.
Roger Ridley and his music embody everything that music is: soul, perseverance, and talent. He has often been called “the voice of God” by the other street musicians on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California. His dedication to his audience is clear, traveling from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada to his spot in Santa Monica every Saturday and giving his best performance before returning home that night.
It was Roger’s performance of Stand By Me that sent Playing for Change off on its mission to connect the world through music by adding other musicians to his recording.
~~SOURCES~~
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roger-Ridley/131076863581310?sk=info
http://playingforchange.com/musician/roger_ridley/
~~Tears On My Pillow/You Send me~~
~Playing For Change~
~~Published on Sep 12, 2014~~
Directly from the YouTube video description … Playing for Change YouTube channel
“Sending you love from your worldwide PFC Family. Today we are proud beyond words to bring back our hero, the voice that started our first ever Song Around The World, “Stand By Me“, many years ago on the streets in Santa Monica, CA. Roger Ridley inspired us from the very beginning, and his music continues to inspire as we share this with you 9 years and 95 Episodes later.
When I first met Roger, I had no idea we would collaborate on something that would reach so many people and help them feel more connected as a human race. Today we are growing the PFC family all over the world and thanks to Roger, all of you, and music everywhere, we can see that if we stand by each other everything is going to be alright. Turn up this classic medley of “Tears on My Pillow” and “You Send Me“, the final PFC video featuring Roger Ridley, and for a moment find peace in your heart and in your world. Music is the Key.
RIP Roger, we LOVE you and your music shines as bright as the sun.”
Mark Johnson … Playing for Change co-founder
~~Stand By Me~~
~Song Around the World~
~~Uploaded on Nov 6, 2008~~
Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. Join the movement here: http://www.playingforchange.com/membe….
From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music“, comes “Stand By Me“, the first of many Songs Around The World produced by Playing For Change. This Ben E. King classic features musicians around the world recorded by the Playing For Change team during their travels. This song continues to remind us that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
~~GALLERY~~
We ALL are ONE!!