New Compilation To Benefit
Arizona Humanitarian Group No More Deaths:
Border Songs CD
December 11, 2012 - Border
Songs, a new compilation
album to benefit the southern Arizona humanitarian group No More Deaths, is
attempting to raise awareness of the tragedy on the border, disseminate art
about the issue and raise money for humanitarian aid. Together, musicians, poets and artists are
coming together to save lives and spread the message. The album is available
online at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bordersongs
or through the Border Songs CD Project web page: http://www.bordersongs.org. Since its release October 12, Border
Songs has been in the top 40 best selling albums list on the CD Baby
website.
The two-CD set features 31
performances in both English and Spanish from a variety of different genres and
styles including blues, corrido, cumbia, folk/Americana, hip hop, instrumental
guitar, mambo, Nicaraguan new song, reggae, rock, and even an electronic
recording of the wall itself.
Renowned
artists contributing to the compilation include Sweet Honey In The Rock, whose song “Are We a Nation?” was written
in direct response to Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. Other prominent musicians include Amos Lee, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Calexico,
Joel Rafael, Tom Russell and Eliza
Gilkyson. Salvadoran Lilo González,
who himself crossed the border without documents, contributes a cumbia based on
his own experience, “Ningún ser humano es ilegal” (No Human Being is
Illegal). 93 year-old folk music legend Pete Seeger contributed his call for
unity, his song “My Rainbow Race”.
Spoken
word on the album includes a dramatic reading by Chicana performer Denise Chávez, excepts from an
interview with Charles Bowden and an
animal fable by M. Henry that will both entertain a child and inspire an adult
to think.
Poets
contributing work include Chilean Raúl
Zurita, one of South America’s most important living poets, Salvadoran Mario Bencastro, whose poem “Arizona”
honors migrants who have died in the desert, and North American Margaret Randall, whose poem “Offended
Turf” is blended with Glenn Weyant’s
electronic recording of the border wall. This diverse collection of border
songs is held together by a common thread—a deep concern and solidarity for
migrants, for people of all ethnicities, regardless of their country of origin.
All proceeds from the sale of the Border
Songs CD will go to No More Deaths/No Más Muertes, a volunteer group
that caches water in the desert, provides medical assistance and food to
migrants, and helps recently deported people on the Mexican side of the border.
Since 1994, more than 6,000 migrants have died along the US-Mexico border.
According to the album’s co-producers Robert Neustadt and Chuck Cheesman, the
mission of the Border Songs CD and No More Deaths is simple: to end death and suffering on the Arizona/Mexico border.
Since the album’s release, the project has raised approximately $14,000 for No
More Deaths. Each purchase will provide
29 gallons of water, or the equivalent in food or medical supplies to people in
need.
The complete list of artists contributing
to the Border Songs project features:
Amos Lee, Calacas Blues,
Calexico, Charles Bowden, Christa Sadler, Chuck Cheesman, Classik &
Pachuco, Cyril Barrett, Denise Chávez, Dúo Guardbarranco, Eliza Gilkyson, Eric
Skye, Giant Giant Sand, Glenn Weyant, Joel Rafael, Lakesigns, Lilo Gonzalez,
Los Románticos, Margaret Randall, Mario Bencastro, m. henry, Michael Franti
& Spearhead, Óscar Sarmiento, Pete Seeger, Raúl Zurita, Robert Neustadt,
Scott Ainslie, Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Ted
Warmbrand, Tom Russell.
The purpose of the album is to
raise awareness and provide aid to migrants who suffer and die in the Sonoran
desert.
Visit Border Songs on Facebook to
learn more:
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