Music & Peace: Playing for Change

Watching Playing for Change perform was one of the most moving musical experiences of my life. At first, the artists stood contentedly behind their instruments onstage as the emcee introduced them: "From Louisiana to South Africa, please welcome Playing for Change." Little did I know the next two hours would give me a glimpse into the music movement for peace. The audience burst into excited applause as notes of reggae, deep soul, and blues were played into the venue. From the first song, "Don't Worry", they had me. Their electric energy was contagious, and everyone in the room clapped, danced, and sang along to hits such as "One Love", and "War/ No More Trouble". The encore was left to Grandpa Elliot, whose sonorous voice and dexterous harmonica gave Playing for Change an affable southern twang. As the musicians left the stage smiling and cheering, Grandpa Elliot remained on stage. The room descended into stillness as he continued standing alone. After a minute of silence, the southern patriarch began an a cappella version of Amazing Grace. No one in the audience breathed. Each note he sang resonated within the room. At the last verse, he abruptly stopped singing. Instead of finishing the song, he said, "Playing for Change has helped me do the impossible. This has been an incredible experience."


This group is not a traditional band, but a movement for peace through music. The project was created by Mark Johnson and Enzo Buono of Timeless Media Group, who began Playing for Change after they met the great Roger Ridley of Santa Monica. Street musician Ridley, known as "the voice of God" by other artists, stopped Johnson in his tracks with his rendition of "Stand By Me". Soulful, passionate, and beautifully rhythmic, Ridley embodied a combination of raw talent and humble lifestyle that inspired Johnson to found Playing for Change. Using Ridley's performance as a foundation, Johnson and Buono traveled the world recording street musicians performing their unique version of "Stand By Me". The cumulative effort resulted in a powerful online video montage that has reached over 24 million hits worldwide. Their website says it all: "No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual, or economic backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world."


Playing for Change has since developed a non-profit Foundation to create music programs and schools abroad in Rwanda, Nepal, Mali, Ghana, and South Africa. Wanna learn more? Click here.


And as always, the videos speak volumes. For more tunes click here.