These musicians worth watching
I first became aware of Roger Ridley just before he died in 2005. He was a gifted musician and singer, discovered on a street corner in Santa Monica, Calif., playing for tips and bringing much joy to his little world.
Eight years earlier, in 1997, a small group of Santa Monica filmmakers, calling themselves “Playing for Change”, decided to build a mobile recording studio and hit the road, looking for unknown street musicians to record. Their aim was to film musicians around the world, all singing or playing the same song.
The first guy they found was Ridley. They recorded him performing “Stand by Me.” Then, they added musicians in New Orleans, Cuba, Brazil, Italy, Japan and several other counties, melding all the pieces into a video. It’s amazing. You can find it on You Tube, and you should, but not just because I say so.
Since “Stand by Me,” Playing for Change has made many other such videos including “What a Wonderful World,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and my favourite, “Dock of the Bay” with Ridley and Grampa Elliott.
In the changing world we live in, most things like this don’t stand the test of time but Playing for Change has.
This year they initiated what they christened as “One World. One Voice. One Day.” On Sept. 15, musicians and music lovers gathered on stages, street corners, schools and cafes for 136 events across 38 countries on six continents to participate in Playing for Change Day. They intend to do it next Sept. 15 as well.
I’m a guy who does not appreciate friends and acquaintances sending me links to You Tube videos they think I will enjoy because they enjoy them.
But here I am, for the first time, doing that myself. If you don’t enjoy Ridley, Grampa Elliott and a World Cast singing “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” just as 68 million already have, I will give you your money back.
Born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome differences, “Playing for Change” continues to record and film street musicians in their natural environments and combine their efforts in innovative videos called “Songs Around the World.”
It wouldn’t surprise me if there are Christmas songs among them.