The Back Story

When my own children were very small I would play these silly songs for them and at their birthday parties. Then a good friend of mine with a special needs child was visiting a Cincinnati hospital. When he came back he told me about a guy who played guitar and sang for the kids, in the common areas of the children’s wing and for individuals in their rooms. 

I was very inspired but my subconscious resolve to remain indifferent was strong. I didn’t set anything in motion until God told me to do this. Well, I didn’t actually hear his voice, because I was in my car listening to the Ramones beyond the threshold of pain at the time. Rather, appearing in the sky, or . . .  just my mind’s eye, I saw a giant spreadsheet, but not Excel because I’m certain God doesn’t use Microsoft products.  I can’t remember the actual numbers now because he didn’t give me a soft copy but it went something like this.......

  • How many people can play a guitar well enough for simple kids songs. The number was something really high, in the millions. 
  • How many of those who can play, live within 30 minutes of my local children’s hospital? I think it was twenty one thousand. 
  • How many of those who can play, and live near by, have a job flexible enough to volunteer time? Maybe it was seven thousand. 
  • How many of those who can play, live close, have a flexible job and are cognizant of the human condition around them? Now down to just fourteen hundred.
  • How many of those who meet all those previous requirements have seen some form of this spreadsheet? Now down to just 28. I think he has a thing about numbers divisible by 7.
  • How many of them will chose to do something? No number this time, just a question mark. 

After that vision I went ahead and jumped through all the necessary hoops and began volunteering at a local children’s hospital.  Playing music for the children and their families was life affirming and life changing, for me.  A few years after that I decided to reach out to LifeMoves, then known as The InnVision Shelter Network.  They and St Jude Children's Research Hospitals do amazing work and now through your help and this CD project I’m fortunate to feel like I'm a tiny part of it. 

Related Charity Music Projects

Turf Fire Liars pays tribute to Irish music in aggregate and donates the money raised from sales to charities in support of immigrants and refugees. 

Currently supporting UNHCR. To give directly go to ​https://www.unhcr.org/
​

Extended Staff& VOLUNTEERS 

Phil Anthropik
Justin Casey Whanstu
Marry Ng-Fermuny
Andy Winnarez
Hugh Gesdit
Claire Voiyent
Sue Da Bastudz 
Amal Shukup
Juan Fordamuny
Xavier Breth
Al Truisstik
Siobhán Yernikkers
Betty Cheets
Alicia Macondo
Lucinda Streets 
Denny Kisder
Izabella Ringen
Nick O’Ragwa
Amelia Cook-Youssef
Anita Drengk
Oliver Kloezov
Farah Seas
Lee Vite
Frank N. Senz
Jimmy Da Winda
Anne O’Nimity
Wendy Kouz-Cumholme
Bob Ferrapples
Noah Gudplummer
Isadora Jar
Tim Altuous
Connor Induit
Seamus Induit
Aidan Annabettin
Ed Monishmunt
Tran Ziyent
Jen U. Flect
Colin Ahlkarz
Kay Sarah Surah
Shiwanna Daitmi
Heidi Eva Dence
Abbey Kwhiyet
Ann Drodgeny
Frida Beemi