Miscellaneous - Sweet Relief
by Admin
published: 4 / 7 / 2012
intro
Our Website of the Month is Sweet Relief, the website of a charity dedicated to helping professional musicians in need of medical and financial care
According to the mission statement of the Sweet Relief Organisation www.sweetrelief.org, "over 65% of professional musicians do not have health insurance." Also, since the 1960s, many musicians have made their living performing pop music, as opposed to more conventional forms, so they find themselves impoverished when they age and can no longer perform. The program was founded by songwriter Victoria Williams in 1993, who had to cut short her touring with Neil Young when she was diagnosed with MS. After friends put together an album of her songs, she donated proceeds to start the organization. Celebrities who support the organization include Ani DiFranco, BB King, Brian Wilson, David Fishoff and Sammy Hagar, but the complete list is substantial. Sweet Relief allows viewers to contribute monies in a number of personalized ways: One option is to allocate funds for a specific musician in need, for example, Jesse Farner, son of former Grand Funk front man, Mark Farner, was paralysed after a bad fall and Cheb I Sabbah was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer. Another option is to donate according to a specific genre and there are many listed including Aboriginal rock, Jersey Shore rock and Philadelphia soul. In other words, the message is donors can "direct their donations to artists that create and perform music within the musical form you are most passionate about." A third option is to contribute directly to artists that are disabled and elderly. The website also updates viewers on fundraisers and about the progress of those who benefit from the donations.
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Jonny Fluffypunk - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Pere Ubu - Interview
Barrie Barlow - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart