KORI BARKLEY
Staff Writer
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently called SUNY campuses to contribute to their local communities’ economic development and communal engagement.
Renowned for their ability to combine the power of community and music to benefit not-for-profit organizations, Fredonia’s student-run record label, HAIL! Fredonia Records, responded to the call by joining forces with WhyHunger.
WhyHunger is a global organization dedicated to connecting people with nutritious, affordable food while providing solutions for self-reliance and community empowerment.
“When brainstorming what organization to partner with, we found that WhyHunger would be a great fit for us,” Brian Brown, senior Music Industry major, said. “Hillary Zuckerberg, the director of Artists Against Hunger & Poverty, [a division of WhyHunger,] is an alumna of Fredonia and recently visited Fredonia to speak to the Music Industry students and extend her support in the program if needed. Also, a student fulfilled an internship over the summer at WhyHunger so it kind of just made sense. [Zuckerberg] loves coming to Fredonia and was ecstatic when we presented her our plan.”
The Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program collaborates with top musicians and emerging artists to present concerts, auctions, song campaigns and other volunteer work, raising awareness about and funds for the cause.
Currently, WhyHunger and HAIL! Fredonia Records are working together to help promote the track, “Sweet Tuesday Morning.” Ladies First — Fredonia Record’s musician collective that performs to raise awareness for charitable organizations — has created their rendition of the classic Badfinger hit featuring band members Savannah King, an alumna of the class of ’14, and Mary Ramsey, an alumna of ’95 and member of 10,000 Maniacs, alongside Joey Molland, last surviving member of Badfinger.
Zuckerberg holds philanthropic work in high regard and has always felt it important for college students to work benevolently. “This partnership takes that idea one step further,” she said, “by immersing the music industry students in the experience of producing a song, working through the logistics of clearing that song through the proper channels, uploading the song on to iTunes, all while working hand-in-hand with a [charitable organization].”
Ladies First is excited to perform along the ranks of artists such as Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, moe., Chicago, Brandi Carlile and many more.
“I’m so grateful to join the ranks of these world renowned musicians through WhyHunger,” King said. “Collaborating with Joey and Mary for WhyHunger has been one of the highlights of my music career thus far. It’s a great feeling for any musician to use their music to change the world in a positive way.”
Ladies First’s “Sweet Tuesday Morning” is now available on iTunes, with purchases benefitting the eradication of poverty and hunger.
In addition to the single’s release, Fredonia’s Music Industry program will host two food drives: one this Saturday at the annual Music Industry Club’s Life is Art Festival, benefitting Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Inc, and the second at the Sportsmen’s Tavern music club in Buffalo later this month.