Giving the gift of the blues Nonprofit provides instruments to children with challenges By Daniel Dunkle Jul 10, 2010
(Photo by: Daniel Dunkle) James Kennedy, 5, of Rockland tries out his new guitar on stage July 10 at the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Kennedy has been struggling with medical problems and received the guitar through the non-profit Raising The Blues.
Rockland Maine - A nonprofit organization that provides instruments to children struggling with medical problems or special needs donated a guitar to a 5-year-old boy from Rockland July 10 at the North Atlantic Blues Festival. James Kennedy of Rockland received the gift of an acoustic Martin guitar on the stage right after the first act at the festival. Kennedy was diagnosed with leukemia in March, and though he is in remission, he has since been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as well, according to his mother, Crystal Kennedy of Rockland. The guitar was donated by Raising The Blues Ltd., a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that uses the blues and music to brighten the lives of children facing devastating illnesses and disabilities. In addition to providing instruments and music lessons for children, the organization arranges for musicians to perform in children's hospitals, group homes, special education schools and summer camps for children with medical problems. Raising The Blues also works with Camp Sunshine in Casco. The guitar was presented by Raising The Blues founder and Executive Director Ruth Atherton. She said she met Kennedy during a visit to Maine Medical Center and learned he is from Rockland. During that visit, he tried all of the different instruments and had great rhythm. After trying them all, he decided he would love to get a guitar. "I don't take life for granted," his mother said at the festival grounds July 10. "The doctor said your life as you know it just changed," the boy's grandmother, Julie Bemis of Warren added. Atherton said she was inspired to start the charity after her son Natan, now 4 years old, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. Fortunately, his illness could be successfully treated, but he had to spend some time in the hospital, she said. She noticed during that ordeal that music reduced her child's fear. In the course of her organization's efforts to bring music to more children, she has seen that it also helps their families as well. Raising The Blues had a booth at the festival where it gave out harmonicas in return for donations and showed off homemade cigar-box guitars. "The kids in this program are so remarkable," she said. "They don't want people to feel sorry for them. They just want to be kids." For more information, visit RaisingTheBlues.org. click here for link to orig story
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Raising the blues in Rockland
By Dagney C. Ernest | Jun 30, 2010 Blues Trail marker commemorating the Mississippi to Maine connection. The unveiling will take place at 2 Park Drive, along the edge of the Trade Winds Motor Inn parking lot -- appropriate as that parking lot was host to a years-ago afternoon of blues music that evolved into the two-day North Atlantic Blues Festival. Local bluesman Vince "Blind Albert" Gabriel will play around the public event, and that evening, the Time Out Pub and the Trade Winds Lower Deck Sports Bar will offer live blues which means the blues festival, which has been pushing the weekend festival envelope for some time, is spreading to four days this year. Friday night, some 11 downtown clubs will host many of the same bands that will play the Saturday night festival club crawl. Included is Gabriel, whose Blind Albert Band will host its annual blues jam at Rock City Books & Coffee. And earlier in the evening, the Farnsworth Art Museum will jump on the blues bandwagon by hosting Lydia Warren in the library and a Pat Pepin lawn party from 6 to 8 p.m.
Raising The Blues partnership - The 17th annual North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland Harbor Park officially gets under way at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10. This year marks a new partnership between the NABF and Raising The Blues, Ltd., which has been designated the fest's official charitable partner. The 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, founded by Maine native Ruth Atherton, is dedicated to bringing interactive blues music, instruments and lessons to children undergoing medical treatment and those with physical, emotional or educational challenges. The partnership was announced June 28 by NABF co-founders and co-producers Paul E. Benjamin and Jamie Isaacson. Benjamin has served as a volunteer advisory board member for the organization since its inception. "I went with Ruth to the Shriners hospital in Boston," said Benjamin. "An act goes in and plays. For the kids who are burned too badly to leave their beds, the artists will go right in the room and visit." He said the children, many of whom are quite young, really respond to the blues and it helps them get through what they have to get through -- which for burn victims can mean daily, extremely painful changing of bandages and dressings. "If the kids know the bands are coming, they'll say they want to get it done early so they can go to the concert," Benjamin said. "The blues has always been music of hope and healing. It reflects our power to overcome adversity and empathize with others," said Atherton, who will attend the festival and make a presentation Saturday from the stage. During the weekend, NABF's partnership with Raising The Blues will be evident via a donation and information table. Benjamin said the partnership will be a permanent part of the festival going forward. "It's absolutely a no brainer," he said. Click here for full story
Giving the gift of the blues Nonprofit provides instruments to children with challenges By Daniel Dunkle Jul 10, 2010(Photo by: Daniel Dunkle) James Kennedy, 5, of Rockland tries out his new guitar on stage July 10 at the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Kennedy has been struggling with medical problems and received the guitar through the non-profit Raising The Blues.
Rockland Maine - A nonprofit organization that provides instruments to children struggling with medical problems or special needs donated a guitar to a 5-year-old boy from Rockland July 10 at the North Atlantic Blues Festival. James Kennedy of Rockland received the gift of an acoustic Martin guitar on the stage right after the first act at the festival. Kennedy was diagnosed with leukemia in March, and though he is in remission, he has since been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as well, according to his mother, Crystal Kennedy of Rockland. The guitar was donated by Raising The Blues Ltd., a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that uses the blues and music to brighten the lives of children facing devastating illnesses and disabilities. In addition to providing instruments and music lessons for children, the organization arranges for musicians to perform in children's hospitals, group homes, special education schools and summer camps for children with medical problems. Raising The Blues also works with Camp Sunshine in Casco. The guitar was presented by Raising The Blues founder and Executive Director Ruth Atherton. She said she met Kennedy during a visit to Maine Medical Center and learned he is from Rockland. During that visit, he tried all of the different instruments and had great rhythm. After trying them all, he decided he would love to get a guitar. "I don't take life for granted," his mother said at the festival grounds July 10. "The doctor said your life as you know it just changed," the boy's grandmother, Julie Bemis of Warren added. Atherton said she was inspired to start the charity after her son Natan, now 4 years old, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. Fortunately, his illness could be successfully treated, but he had to spend some time in the hospital, she said. She noticed during that ordeal that music reduced her child's fear. In the course of her organization's efforts to bring music to more children, she has seen that it also helps their families as well. Raising The Blues had a booth at the festival where it gave out harmonicas in return for donations and showed off homemade cigar-box guitars. "The kids in this program are so remarkable," she said. "They don't want people to feel sorry for them. They just want to be kids." For more information, visit RaisingTheBlues.org. click here for link to orig story
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Raising the blues in Rockland
By Dagney C. Ernest | Jun 30, 2010 Blues Trail marker commemorating the Mississippi to Maine connection. The unveiling will take place at 2 Park Drive, along the edge of the Trade Winds Motor Inn parking lot -- appropriate as that parking lot was host to a years-ago afternoon of blues music that evolved into the two-day North Atlantic Blues Festival. Local bluesman Vince "Blind Albert" Gabriel will play around the public event, and that evening, the Time Out Pub and the Trade Winds Lower Deck Sports Bar will offer live blues which means the blues festival, which has been pushing the weekend festival envelope for some time, is spreading to four days this year. Friday night, some 11 downtown clubs will host many of the same bands that will play the Saturday night festival club crawl. Included is Gabriel, whose Blind Albert Band will host its annual blues jam at Rock City Books & Coffee. And earlier in the evening, the Farnsworth Art Museum will jump on the blues bandwagon by hosting Lydia Warren in the library and a Pat Pepin lawn party from 6 to 8 p.m.
Raising The Blues partnership - The 17th annual North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland Harbor Park officially gets under way at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10. This year marks a new partnership between the NABF and Raising The Blues, Ltd., which has been designated the fest's official charitable partner. The 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, founded by Maine native Ruth Atherton, is dedicated to bringing interactive blues music, instruments and lessons to children undergoing medical treatment and those with physical, emotional or educational challenges. The partnership was announced June 28 by NABF co-founders and co-producers Paul E. Benjamin and Jamie Isaacson. Benjamin has served as a volunteer advisory board member for the organization since its inception. "I went with Ruth to the Shriners hospital in Boston," said Benjamin. "An act goes in and plays. For the kids who are burned too badly to leave their beds, the artists will go right in the room and visit." He said the children, many of whom are quite young, really respond to the blues and it helps them get through what they have to get through -- which for burn victims can mean daily, extremely painful changing of bandages and dressings. "If the kids know the bands are coming, they'll say they want to get it done early so they can go to the concert," Benjamin said. "The blues has always been music of hope and healing. It reflects our power to overcome adversity and empathize with others," said Atherton, who will attend the festival and make a presentation Saturday from the stage. During the weekend, NABF's partnership with Raising The Blues will be evident via a donation and information table. Benjamin said the partnership will be a permanent part of the festival going forward. "It's absolutely a no brainer," he said. Click here for full story
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Raising The Blues, Ltd. Receives NAMM Foundation Grant
The NAMM Foundation recently announced that Raising The Blues, Ltd. was one of 25 recipients nationwide of the organization's 2010-2011 grants program.
The NAMM Foundation allocated $585,000 in funding to support innovative community-based music learning programs that allow more people the opportunity to experience the proven benefits of active music making. Raising The Blues, Ltd. will receive $15,000 in support of its Music, Memory & Healing Program.
The new grants, while only a small portion of NAMM's overall annual multimillion-dollar-reinvestment into the music products industry, help worthy organizations operate programs designed to increase interest and participation in making music among seniors, college students and school-aged children. Since 1994, the NAMM Foundation has supported worthy music-making programs and has since then allocated more than $12.5 million to ensure their continuity.
Raising The Blues, Ltd., is MA-based 501(c)(3) educational organization that brings music to children with medical and special needs. Primarily through the use of Blues music, Raising The Blues, Ltd. brings interactive music and instruments to children in hospitals, special-needs schools, group homes and medical-needs summer camps.
"We are truly honored by the support of the NAMM Foundation for this important community program that brings music access and education to children who exhibit extraordinary courage every day of their lives" said Ruth Atherton, Founder & Executive Director of Raising The Blues, Ltd. Atherton, who spent her weekend prototyping an electric guitar that her group plans to build with teens at an oncology camp this summer noted "in such difficult economic times, the generosity of the NAMM Foundation makes creative music making possible. The reaction of the kids makes it all worth while."
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org
ABOUT RAISING THE BLUES, LTD. Raising The Blues, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation based in Melrose, MA. Primarily through the use of Blues music, the mission of Raising The Blues, Ltd. is to raise the spirits, abilities and aspirations of children undergoing medical treatment and recovery and children with physical, emotional or educational challenges. To learn more about the Raising The BluesTM services or to make a donation, visit www.RaisingTheBlues.org
A Collaboration for Kids
Musical medicine lifts the spirits
"There are certain kids who have a bent toward music and that's what helps them cope with their illness and with being in the hospital and it's really a great thing" said Anne Minton, music therapist.
The group also donated two guitars that patients can take home with them when they leave the hospital.
Grammy Winner Ed Gerhard & World Renowned Fingerstyle Guitarist Pete Huttlinger harmonized their support for children and music by performing a benefit concert at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, MA on Saturday March 6, 2010. Gerhard and Huttlinger was be joined by pre-war Blues master Jon Short and Berkee-based band The Beastonians to support the MA-based charity Raising The Blues, Ltd. Raising The Blues, Ltd. brings interactive music, lessons & instruments into in-patient pediatric hospitals, medical-needs summer camps and special-needs schools around New England.
Following the nearly sold-out show in 2009, Gerhard & Huttlinger returned to bring another spectacular evening to the Boston-area audience. Known for mesmerizing his audience, Grammy winner Ed Gerhard wowed the audience on his 6-string and Hawaiian Lap Steel guitars, with musical intensity and a sly sense of humor. Berklee-trained Pete Huttlinger again thrilled audience with his remarkable arrangements that left the audience saying "WOW, how did he do that?"
In a unique highlight that melded the diverse styles of the many artists, the concert ended with a spectacular version of Key to the Highway in which even the audience couldn't help by sing along. See video below.
Audience members traveled from NH, NY, NJ and even CA to see this unique event, which was quoted as "an incredible performance" and "a beautiful evening."
Melrose music therapy nonprofit on a roll
By Travis Andersen, Town Correspondent (Boston.com December 2, 2009)
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American Music Therapy Association Awards
2009 Advocate of Music Therapy Award to
Raising The Blues, Ltd.
San Diego, CA (November 13, 2009) The American Music Therapy Association Awarded its 2009 Advocate of Music Therapy Award to Raising The Blues, Ltd. for its work to bring interactive musical opportunities to children in hospitals across New England. In an award ceremony in San Diego, CA, President of AMTA Barbara Wheeler, presented the Award to Raising The Blues, Ltd. Founder & Executive Director, Ruth Atherton. "We were extremely proud of the nomination made by Shriner's Hospital Boston Music Therapist Annette Whitehead-Pleaux" said Atherton. "We were truly honored by this Award. It is a testament to the tremendous work of the musicians, Blues educators and volunteers working in the Raising The Blues, Ltd. programs. We greatly appreciate the national recognition of this remarkable organization, whose members have devoted their careers to the clinical benefits of music."
Ruth E. Atherton with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (The Soloist)
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Raising Abilities of Teens
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Canton, MA (October 5, 2009) Two students at the Massachusetts Hospital School, Nathan & Martial, received brand new Hohner guitars, amplifiers and all the gear to get them strumming up a storm. As part of the Raising Abilities Program, which provides guitars and instruments to children with unique life challenges, Raising The Blues, Ltd. brought some big smiles to the two teens who will be learning guitar on these beautiful instruments. Partnering with the school, Raising The Blues, Ltd. will also support their music education by providing introductory lessons. "We work closely with schools and hospitals to identify children with musical interest and potential" said Raising The Blues, Ltd. Founder, Ruth Atherton, PhD. "We were amazed at how quickly Nathan and Martial took their new guitars. It would not surprise me to see up on stage before long."
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Raising the Blues, Ltd. Donates Electric Guitar to
Shriners Hospitals for Children- Boston Patient
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Boston, MA (September 8, 2009) Lucas Leary, a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, received an electric guitar courtesy of Raising the Blues, Ltd. An eighth grader at Salem Academy Charter School, Leary was injured in a gasoline accident in August and has been receiving treatment at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston for his injuries. "He was injured while he was landscaping" said Stephanie Leary, Lucas mom. "We have been so amazed at his recovery since the accident and it is due to the great staff at Shriners. Everyone from his wonderful surgeon, Dr. Ryan, who made miracles happen, to the recreation therapist, Katie, who looked beyond Lucas' bad mood and pushed him to work hard. Lucas is doing much better and at this point he has no limitations on what he can do."
"During Lucas music therapy treatment, he expressed an interest in learning to play the guitar. We supported this as it would address many goals for him including increasing self-esteem, increase adaptation to being in a hospital, and increasing his repertoire of positive recreation skills," said Annette Whitehead Pleaux, music therapist at SHC- Boston. "Lucas was a quick learner and mastered each lesson with a few hours of practice. When Dr. Ryan saw him playing the guitar, she was excited at the prospect of him having a new skill and a positive recreation activity to use in his free time. This reminded me that Raising the Blues has said they will get a guitar for kids who want to learn to play. I contacted Ruth and started the ball rolling."
"When we heard from Shriners that there was a teenager who had responded well to learning the guitar, we were pleased to be able to donate an instrument to their patient," said Ruth E. Atherton, Ph.D., President of Raising the Blues, Ltd. "We look for children with unique life challenges and offer them a way to use music to help them cope and recover."
"Raising the Blues is a community partner that brings blues musicians to hospitals to play for the kids and families to brighten their spirits. They have donated a guitar to SHC -Boston for the music therapists to use to teach children to play guitar. We have loaned it to parents and guardians to play for their children" Whitehead-Pleaux explains. "When we have a patient who shows a real interest to play, Raising the Blues has offered to donate guitars to children. Raising the Blues is a great community partner. Part of their mission is to support music therapists and by having musicians play at the hospital and by donating these instruments, they definitely do that."
ABOUT RAISING THE BLUES, LTD.
Raising The Blues, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation based in Melrose, MA. Primarily through the use of Blues music, the mission of Raising The Blues, Ltd. is to raise the spirits, abilities and aspirations of children undergoing medical treatment and recovery and children with physical, emotional or educational challenges.
ABOUT SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN - BOSTON
Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston is a 30-bed pediatric burn hospital, research and teaching center and is one of the three hospitals specializing in burn care operated by Shriners Hospitals for Children. The hospital is verified by the American Burn Association. The hospital is staffed and equipped to treat children with acute burns, smoke inhalation and healed burns requiring plastic or reconstructive surgery. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no charge - regardless of financial need. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, visit www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Boston.
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RAISING THE BLUES, LTD HELPS TEEN RE-UNITE WITH MUSIC
Bangor, ME (July 2009) Following the theft of a teenage patient's guitar during his travels, a Clinician at Acadia Hospital in Bangor Maine looked to Raising The Blues, Ltd. for help. Through its Raising Abilities program, which provides instruments and training to children with unique life challenges, Raising The Blues, Ltd. provided the teenager (an accomplished musician) with a new Alvarez acoustic guitar & gig bag. "We understand how important a guitar can be in bringing focus, dedication and creativity to teenagers. We were thrilled to be able to assist this talented young musician following the terrible loss of his instrument" said Raising The Blues Founder, Ruth Atherton.
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HOHNER, INC. RAISES THE BLUES
Melrose, MA (June 30, 2009) In support of Raising The BluesTMRaising Abilities Program, HOHNER, INC. today donated two electric guitars (shown below) and two Laney practice amps. The Raising Abilities Program identifies students with unique life challenges who have an interest in learning to play guitar. Raising The Blues, Ltd. works with community & corporate partners to obtain instruments and identify instructors to provide introductory lessons. "Being able to give these kids such high quality instruments not only increases their chances of success, it sends a clear message that we believe in their ability to succeed," said Ruth Atherton, Founder of Raising The Blues, Ltd. "The generosity of instrument makers, such as Hohner, Inc. enables us to offer these children an opportunity they might otherwise never have. We can not thank them enough. These two beautiful guitars already have a home awaiting them."
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HOHNER ST-59 HOHNER MR800F
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AMERICAN & CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS BECOME LUTHIERS FOR A DAY TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH CANCER
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MAYNARD, MA (June 27, 2009) An international group of volunteers became guitar makers for a day to help Raising The Blues, Ltd. prepare for its summer camp partnership program. This program will bring interactive music and instrument building to children with cancer. The volunteers designed and prepared guitar-building kits to be used by teenagers in the upcoming summer camp. Using everything from table saws to drills, from sanders to stain, the group worked from morning until night to assure that the musical experience of these kids ends on a sweet note. Thanks to all of them for Raising The BluesTM!!
Thanks to Victory Cigar for the donation of cigar boxes!
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RAISING THE BLUES RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS
NAMM FOUNDATION GRANT
(May 19, 2009) Raising The Blues, Ltd. receives prestigious NAMM Foundation Program Grant. One of 31 program grants awarded by the Board of Directors, NAMM funding supports Raising The Blues' Music, Memory & Healing program, bringing the making of blues music into in-patient pediatric hospitals, medical-needs & special-needs summer camps. The program offers interactive musical opportunities, music access, music education and instruments to children undergoing medical treatment and recovery & children with unique life challenges. See full story at NAMM.org
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(March 28, 2009) Thanks to Jon Short, Pete Huttlinger & Ed Gerhard for making the Raising The Blues, Ltd. benefit concert a tremendous success!!!
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THE CONCERT...
"one of the best concerts that I have ever been to" - Cathy (Melrose, MA)
"a wonderful experience" - Dick (Canton, MA)
"a great concert!!"- Steve (Arlington MA)
"The show last night was great!!! Good work!!" - Dan (Peabody, MA)
"an amazing event" - Caren (New York, NY)
Click on the video above to see sampling of our Benefit Concert
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Click on the video above to see Pete Huttlinger & Jon Short perform for the Raising The BluesTM kids
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Thanks to the Raising The Blues, Ltd. volunteers & the Regent Theatre for all of their dedication & hard work to host a spectacular concert.
Thanks to Dan Foss & Rob Cobert for photos and video.
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Raising The BluesTM Brings Interactive Blues Concert Series to
Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS)
Concert Debuts with Former MHS Student
CANTON, MA (February 25, 2009) Raising The Blues, Ltd., a MA-based 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that brings music to children undergoing medical treatment and recovery and children with unique life challenges, today announced the opening of its Blues music concert series for students of the Massachusetts Hospital School.
In support of the Massachusetts Hospital School's music therapy and music education programs, Raising The Blues, Ltd. will offer a free concert series featuring national and local Blues musicians. Raising The BluesTM performances will include interactive concerts for students, families and staff in which students will have the opportunity to play percussion instruments along with the concert.
The series will open with MA-based ShadowBox Blues Band, a six piece Up-Tempo & Jump Blues band featuring Maria Breen (vocals), Barry Cohen (harmonica), Tom Glover (lead guitar), David Lawless (rhythm guitar & vocals), Dennis McHale (bass & vocals) and John Galeros (drums). Special guest Steve Minkevitch (guitar) will join the band for the debut event.
Minkevitch, a former student of Massachusetts Hospital School, attended the school in 1978 after his 30th surgery to ameliorate the affects of Neuroblastoma cancer and the associated chemotherapies and radiation. Minkevitch began playing guitar at the age of 14, while in rehabilitation, since it was the one thing I could really enjoy while being in the hospital so often.
"Identifying children, like Steve, who have an interest in learning guitar, bass or harmonica, is a primary initiative of Raising The Blues, Ltd.", said founder Ruth Atherton, Ph.D. "It is our hope that providing traditional Blues instruments to children with challenging life circumstances will provide them a medium to explore their potential and perhaps uncover a life interest they might not have otherwise discovered."
Why Blues Music? "The influence of Blues music as the basis of jazz, rock, country and most popular modern music forms, provides a familiar context that permits children the opportunity to react to their musical intuition. Even when the children have never heard Blues music, its patterns are familiar to them and they are able to immediately take part in the interactive elements of the Raising The Blues programs. But perhaps most importantly, Blues music has always reflected our ability to overcome adversity" said Atherton. "Support of the Blues music community and the enthusiasm of bands like ShadowBox Blues Band has been instrumental in the success of these programs."
As for Minkevitch, when asked what special challenges he faced while learning music during rehab, he stated "none, other than carrying my guitar while on crutches".
ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITAL SCHOOL: The mission of The Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) is to provide medical, habilitative, rehabilitative, recreational, educational and vocational services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their maximum level of independence in all aspects of life.
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February 24, 2009:
Raising The Blues, Ltd. thanks Daddy's Junky Music & Yamaha for their generous donation of four guitars in support of the Raising The BluesTM initiatives to bring music and instruments to children with special life challenges. In response to the kind efforts of musician Mark Nomad, Yamaha and Daddy's Junky Music each donated two brand new acoustic Yamaha Model F325 guitars, each with hard shell cases! Thanks to Daddy's Junky Music, Yamaha & Mark Nomad for Raising The BluesTM!!!
Photo Left to Right: Daddy's Founder & CEO Fred Bramante, Daddy's Artist Relations Director Candi Bramante, Raising The Blues, Ltd. founder Ruth Atherton & Daddy's Sr. Vice President Chris Gleason.
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Press Release February 11, 2009:
Raising The BluesTM Brings Interactive Blues Music to Pediatric Patients
At Maine Medical Center:
Raising The Spirits of Children with The Blues
PORTLAND, ME (February 11, 2009) Raising The Blues, Ltd., a MA-based 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization, today announced the opening of its hospital-based concert series for patients of the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center.
In support of the Child Life Program at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, Raising The Blues, Ltd. will offer a concert series featuring national and local Blues musicians. Raising The BluesTM performances include Playing With The Blues, an interactive Blues concert for pediatric patients and their families in the hospital's playroom, and Traveling Blues, which provides room-to-room musical performances for patients unable to leave their rooms.
The series will open on with Blues guitarist 'Mississippi' Jon Short, who specializes in the music and storytelling of the prewar blues masters. Short, who is also a music educator, brings a unique combination of Blues music, history and education to his performances.
"We are taking active steps to bring interactive music and music therapy to the Hospital, so the timing of our partnership with Raising The Blues, Ltd. was perfect" said Sherisse Wormell, Child Life Specialist at Maine Medical. "A primary goal of the Child Life staff is to minimize the stress and anxiety related to hospitalization through diversional and developmental play opportunities. Building community partnerships, such as with Raising The Blues, Ltd., is an important tool that benefits our patients and their families."
Why Blues Music? "Blues music has always reflected the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity," said Raising The Blues, Ltd., founder Ruth Atherton, Ph.D., J.D. "The natural progressions and cyclic nature of traditional and modern blues songs permit children the opportunity to respond to their musical intuition. Even when the children have never heard blues music, its patterns are familiar to them and they are able to immediately take part in the interactive elements of the Raising The Blues programs."
Blues musicians across the country and Industry leaders, have endorsed Raising The BluesTM including Paul Benjamin, a Rockland, Maine resident who currently serves as the President of The Blues Foundation, the worlds largest Blues music organization. With more than 25 years experience in the Blues music industry, Mr. Benjamin, who is also founder of the North Atlantic Blues Festival, "has been a wonderful friend and advisor to Raising The Blues" said Atherton.
"We are thrilled to bring these unique services to Maine Medical Center" said Atherton, originally from Freeport, Maine. "A primary initiative of Raising The Blues, Ltd. is to support the vital work of Child Life Specialists and Music Therapists. Being able to bring this program back to my home state of Maine makes it extraordinary."
ABOUT RAISING THE BLUES, LTD.
Raising The Blues, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation based in Melrose, MA. Primarily through the use of Blues music, the mission of Raising The Blues, Ltd. is to raise the spirits, abilities and aspirations of children undergoing medical treatment and recovery and children with physical, emotional or educational challenges. To learn more about the Raising The BluesTM services or to make a donation, visit www.RaisingTheBlues.org
ABOUT MAINE MEDICAL CENTER
Maine Medical Center is a complete health care resource for the people of Greater Portland and the entire state. MMC's unique role as both a community hospital and a referral center requires an unprecedented depth and breadth of services, including an active educational program and a world-class research center.As a nonprofit institution, Maine Medical Center provides nearly 23 percent of all the charity care delivered in Maine. MMC is a member of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in southern, central, and western Maine. For more information, please visit www.mmc.org.
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January 25, 2009 News:
The Lynbrook, NY High School Tri-M Music Honors Society put on a great fundraiser this week with proceeds going to both Raising the Blues, Ltd. and the Leukemia Foundation. With all aspects of the performing arts world, the audience had an entertaining show. Phenomenal performances of show tunes & jazz from the house band, tap dancing, and even a comedy act. This event was a success with both enthusiastic performers and family & friends in the crowd. Raising The Blues, Ltd. would like to thank Bryan 'Satchmo' McComb, a performer in the house band on trumpet and a junior at Lynbrook High School, for bringing our organization to the attention of their Tri-M chapter. Thank you Bryan for including us in your event and for Raising The BluesTM!!!
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January 5, 2009 News:
Raising The Blues, Ltd. thanks Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto for their generous donation in support of the Raising The BluesTM programs to bring interactive music to children with medical and physical challenges. This donation will help to expand our services in 2009. Thanks to FCH&S for Raising The BluesTM!!!
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August 21, 2008 News:
As a generous gift to Raising The Blues, Ltd. on the inaugural concert at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, Blues Educator TJ Wheeler writes an original song for Raising The Blues, Ltd which was inspired by TJ's love for the music of Elizabeth Cotton and the efforts of Raising The Blues.
Raising The Blues - by TJ Wheeler
Some people raise the roof
Others start raising cain
But when we raise the Blues
We can all help ease our pain
Chorus:
That's why we're raising...we're Raising The Blues.
It's an amazing grace... what music will help us through.
When feeling bad seems like its the only thing that's left to lose.
Then it's time to lift our hopes ... by Raising The Blues.
Some people might try to tell you
that the Blues will make you sad.
But we sing the Blues to lose them
and then we'll feel so glad.
(Chorus)
Some may start raising sand
while others raise the stakes.
We start Raising The Blues
when our hearts begin to ache.
(Chorus)
We've raised a lot of issues.
We've had a lot of fun.
But we're not raised to leave our friends
while they're good things to get done.
(Chorus)
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Press Release: August 19, 2008
RAISING THE BLUESTM DEBUTS CONCERT SERIES FOR PATIENTS AT
SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN - BOSTON
USING BLUES MUSIC TO HELP CHILDREN HEAL
BOSTON (August 19, 2008) Raising The Blues, Ltd., a MA-based 501(c)(3)charitable and educational organization, today announced the opening of its hospital-based concert series for patients of Shriners Hospitals For Children - Boston, a premier pediatric burn center in Boston, Massachusetts.
In support of Shriners music therapy program, Raising The Blues, Ltd. will offer a monthly concert series featuring national and local Blues musicians. Raising The BluesTM performances include Playing With The Blues, an interactive Blues concert for pediatric patients in the hospital playroom, and Traveling Blues, which provides room-to-room musical performances for patients unable to leave their rooms. The series will open with NH-based Blues Educator TJ Wheeler, who has performed for over 300,000 children. TJ Wheeler will be playing live for the patients at Shriners Hospital for Children Boston, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20 at 2pm. September will feature 'Mississippi' Jon Short, who specializes in the music and storytelling of the prewar blues masters.
"We are very excited about this concert series," said Annette Whitehead-Pleaux, MAMT, MT-BC, Music Therapist at Shriners. "Interactive musical opportunities play an important role in recovery by reducing patient stress, encouraging movement, and permitting therapeutic play."
Why Blues Music?
"The Blues is music of hope and healing. It is steeped in the traditions of story-telling and reflects the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity," said Raising The Blues, Ltd., founder Ruth Atherton, Ph.D. "In the same way that reading aloud to a child can bring a story to life, we believe that experiencing live music can inspire creativity, enhance musical memory, and promote happiness. Since children undergoing medical treatment and recovery cannot travel to live music venues, we decided to bring this powerful music to them."
More than 80 Blues artists and Industry leaders, have endorsed Raising The BluesTM including Paul Benjamin, The Blues Foundation, Lurrie Bell, Tab Benoit, Eric Bibb, Sugar Blue, Fiona Boyes, Bob Corritore, Debbie Davies, Ronnie Earl, Tinsley Ellis, Ruthie Foster, Harper, Doug MacLeod, Bob Margolin, Sugar Ray, Rod Piazza, Duke Robillard, Bobby Rush, Eddie Shaw, Bob Stroger, Hubert Sumlin, Art Tipaldi, Walter Trout, Jimmy Vaughan, Phillip Walker, Lydia Warren, Bill Wax and many more.
"It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to wholeheartedly endorse the most worthwhile work being done by Raising The Blues," said Blues Educator Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, who has provided Blues education for more that 500,000 children worldwide. "I encourage others to support the efforts of Raising The Blues."
"Our mission is to raise the spirits, abilities and aspirations of children with unique life challenges," said Atherton, "but at the end of the day, it is these courageous kids who inspire us."
ABOUT RAISING THE BLUES, LTD.
Raising The Blues, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational corporation based in Melrose, MA. Primarily through the use of Blues music, the mission of Raising The Blues, Ltd. is to raise the spirits, abilities and aspirations of children undergoing medical treatment and recovery and children with physical, emotional or educational challenges. To learn more about the Raising The BluesTM services or to make a donation, visit www.RaisingTheBlues.org
ABOUT SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN - BOSTON
Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston is a 30-bed pediatric burn hospital, research and teaching center and is one of the three hospitals specializing in burn care operated by Shriners Hospitals for Children. The hospital is verified by the American Burn Association. The hospital is staffed and equipped to treat children with acute burns, smoke inhalation and healed burns requiring plastic or reconstructive surgery. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no charge - regardless of financial need. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, visit www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Boston.