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| Soulful New Song To Benefit Homeless Vets Soul 1st Records, an independent soul, gospel and blues label in Birmingham, AL has launched a special project with the release of the benefit song titled, "Please, Can You Lend A Helping Hand." The song chronicles an encounter with a homeless person on the streets and explores a situation many people deal with on a daily basis when being approached by the homeless. The song written and produced by soul and blues singer, Omar Cunningham, paints such a vivid picture in its story that the Soul 1st felt people could not help but to identify with the song. Soul 1st Records, CEO, Reginald McDaniel, says the company had decided to release the song over the holiday season as a plea to help those in need. "It's a year round song, but we felt this time of year would give added meaning to it, " McDaniel said. A few days after recording the song in Nashville, McDaniel was watching a CNN feature on Roy Foster and his Stand Down program which takes in homeless veterans and puts them on the road to recovery. "I thought, wow, what a great story and cause!" McDaniel said. "Then it hit me like an epiphany that it would be a great idea to donate proceeds from sale of "Please" to the Stand Down Program for which Mr. Foster was recognized as one of CNN's ten finalist for Hero of The Year. Soul 1st Records contacted Mr. Foster's organization and sent them a copy of the soul and gospel flavored song. "I got an email from Roy Foster and Dr. Casimiro Crockett of Stand Down saying they loved the song and wanted to work with us on the project" McDaniel said. Released in this December, "Please" is gainig airplay on dozens of radio stations across the country including the American Blues Network (ABN) based out of Gulfport, MS which broadcasts to over 50 radio stations across the country. Tyrone "Da Don" Davis, program director and on air personality at ABN said, "We immediately put the record in high rotation because it's a great song first of all and we support the message. Our listeners are responding very positively to the song and its moved all way into our top ten in just a couple of weeks, " Davis said. William "King Smoke" Robinson of WZLA Z93 in Abbeville and Greenwood, SC says the song is getting heavy rotation on his Southern Soul weekend show and in rotation on WZLA's gospel programming. "It's a universal song that fits more than one format. It's gospel flavored with the strong vocals but also is very soulful. I think it will become a classic over time, " Robinson stated. The song is performed by The Soul 1st Family which is a collaboration of Soul 1st Records artists, Omar Cunningham, Vick Allen, Mose Stovall, Tonya Youngblood and Candy Campana who trade out vocal parts throughout the song. McDaniel said Soul 1st is coordinating the project with is donating proceeds from the sale of this song to several non-profit organizations such as National Coalition for Homeless Veterans' Stand Down program as featured in CNN's Heroes of the Year. The song was written by Soul 1st artist, Omar Cunningham and features collaboration with Omar, Vick Allen, Mose Stovall, Tonya Youngblood and the new artist on Soul 1st, Candy Campana. McDaniel said he is working hand in hand with Foster and Dr. Crockett. Stand Down House is an initiative of Faith*Hope*Love*Charity, Inc. and a amember of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. They are presently raising funds to open a stand alone facility that will be called First Stop Veterans' Resource Center that will provide immediate assistance to the homeless and at risk veterans and their families according to Dr. Crockett. "We have begun providing some of the services, but with limited space we cannot service the number of clients that come through the doors or provide all the required services; such as hot showers, hot food, a resting place, etc. This facility is urgently needed. We thank Soul 1st Records for their support and working with us to address the plight of the homeless. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |