Playing for Change is a multimedia music project, created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, that seeks to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Playing For Change also created a separate non-profit organization called the Playing For Change Foundation, which builds music schools for children around the world.
~~Origin~~
Playing For Change was born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. Producers Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono, traveled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland.
Using mobile recording equipment, the duo recorded local musicians performing the same song, interpreted in their own style. Among the artists participating or openly involved in the project are Vusi Mahlasela, Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, Tal Ben Ari (Tula), Bono, Keb’ Mo’, David Broza, Manu Chao and Grandpa Elliott. This musical journey resulted in the award-winning documentary, “A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians.”
~~Smell The Rain by Genevieve Chadwick~~ ~Live Outside~ ~~Playing For Change~~
~~Published on Jul 26, 2014~~
Today’s video, “Smell the Rain”, was recorded and filmed live on the streets of Sydney, Australia and features our soul sister, Genevieve Chadwick.
We are proud to announce the release of Genevieve’s solo album, produced by Playing For Change and recorded in Sydney with PFC Band members Roberto Luti, Orbe Ortiz, and Peter Bunetta. The album is exclusively available on our website, both the CD and Digital Download!
Feel the love in this moment and share the joy with everyone you meet!!
Playing For Change was born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. Producers Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono, traveled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland.
“La Bamba” is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll’s best-known songs. Valens’ version of “La Bamba” is ranked number 354 on Rolling Stone magazine′s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and is the only song on the list sung in a language other than English.
~Playing For Change’s “La Bamba” Video With Los Lobos Members~
Los Angeles – July 16th, 2014 – Playing For Change premieres “La Bamba” video featuring David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Andres Calamaro and musicians across the world on Relix.com.
“La Bamba” is off the latest album Playing For Change 3 “Songs Around The World” which was released on June 17th, 2014. The CD/DVD is available both digitally and physically at all major retailers and via Starbucks in North America, and includes performances from Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, Andres Calamaro, Toots Hibbert from Toots & The Maytals, Los Lobos, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Keb Mo, and Taj Mahal in addition to a song produced by Jackson Browne. Album is now available on iTunes.
La Bamba, off of our new release PFC3: Songs Around The World – available everywhere now! This CD/DVD set highlights the passion and talent of 185 musicians from 31 different countries.
We started this recording on a back porch in East Los Angeles with members of Los Lobos, and then returned to the roots of the song in Veracruz, Mexico. As we traveled, musicians everywhere mixed the traditional and rock ‘n’ roll styles of “La Bamba” into a new Song Around The World.
Check these links, review the contents and start following them.
There are plenty of very interesting videos on YouTube.
Playing For Change was born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. Producers Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono, traveled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland.
We started this performance with PFC Band members Titi Tsira and Clarence Bekker while on a trip together in Rio de Janeiro. Wherever we traveled we would add more musicians, strings in Serbia, guitar and bass in Chicago, pandeiro in Brazil and the final piece came together with Sara Bareilles’ vocal performance at Washington Square park in NYC.
The message of this song is as strong as ever and it’s up to us to make the change we want to see.
Playing For Change was born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. Producers Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono, traveled around the world to places including New Orleans, Barcelona, South Africa, India, Nepal, the Middle East and Ireland.
In 2005, Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley (now deceased) singing “Stand By Me.” Roger had so much soul and conviction in his voice, and Mark approached him about performing “Stand By Me” as a Song Around The World. Roger agreed, and when Mark returned with recording equipment and cameras he asked Roger, “With a voice like yours, why are you singing on the streets?” Roger replied, “Man I’m in the Joy business, I come out to be with the people.”
Ever since that day, the Playing For Change crew has traveled the world recording and filming musicians, creating Songs Around The World, and building a global family.
Creating Songs Around The World inspired the PFC crew to unite many of the greatest musicians they met throughout their journey through the creation of the Playing For Change Band. These musicians come from many different countries and cultures, but through music they speak the same language. The PFC Band is now touring the world and spreading the message of love and hope to audiences everywhere.
The true measure of any movement is what it gives back to the people. The founders of Playing For Change therefore created the Playing For Change Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world, and creating hope and inspiration for the future of our plane
~~CD/DVD sets~~
A CD/DVD compilation Playing For Change: Songs Around The Worldwas released in 2009 on the Concord Music Group label. The CD has 10 songs. The DVD has seven tracks, including video versions of five of the songs that appeared on the CD, plus a video film,The Playing for Change Foundation. The DVD also contains a three-minute trailer of the documentary film Peace Through Music.
In October 2009 an 83-minute documentary film, Peace Through Music, directed by Mark Johnson and Jonathan Walls, was released on DVD. The directors and their crew travelled the world recording and filming musicians in places such as USA, Barcelona, Ireland, the Middle East, India, Nepal, and South Africa. The film includes the clips from the CD/DVD, interviews and musical performances.
The Playing For Change website also sells the tracks in MP3 format via download, although this is limited to US customers only. The album was also released on iTunes in April 2009.
In June 2010, Playing For Change released the CD/DVD showcase “Playing For Change LIVE” as the next chapter in their journey to connect the world through music. Ten years ago, they started recording and filming musicians from across the globe and uniting them together through “Songs Around The World.”
This DVD/CD is a showcase of the first time they have ever met in person and played together on the stage. The musicians come from different countries and cultures but when the music plays, they unite as one heart for the human race. This showcase contains 19 tracks on 2 CDs.
~~Clandestino | Playing For Change | Songs Around The World~~
This song is one that touches the heart of many people who leave their countries in search of “the dream for a better life”. They come to a country where they have no legal documents, where they are considered “illegal” and all ills in that country are due to the presence of these “clandestine” human beings. They tolerate persecution, name calling and legal proceedings … and still they come.
~~Published on Apr 16, 2014~~
We are excited to share another Song Around The World with all of you!
“Clandestino” is a song of the people and this video represents the hearts and spirits of all those in search of a better world. We began this Playing For Change version with an Oud master in Morocco and gypsies in Budapest and then layered in bass, percussion, strings and vocals from Manu Chao and friends until it formed into a Global Roots Reggae-Latin jam around the world. United people will find their way and music is our guide.
Our newest album of Songs Around The World, featuring 185 musicians from 31 countries, will be released on June 17th! Look for a copy at any major retailer near you! Also be sure to check out the upcoming PFC Band tour dates, and be sure to visit http://www.playingforchange.com/ to explore music from around the world.
We ALL are connected through MUSIC!! 
It Is What It Is 