A Love Song for Haiti: Gospel Community Rallies to Aid in Relief Efforts
By Lisa Collins, senior music editor, gmc.com
The directive – in the form of emails, text messages and word of mouth – was urgent: to spread the word about a live recording of the gospel music industry's biggest stars in response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the already poverty-stricken nation of Haiti, impacting an estimated three million people with a death toll some say could top 100,000.
It came from Kirk Franklin, who was moved to act while watching the horrific images broadcast on CNN Wednesday night from his hotel in Nashville. The next night he took the stage of an already planned prayer service of gospel industry professionals and insiders to make an impassioned personal plea to his fellow artists: to take part in the recording of "Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti" to raise funds to help those in Haiti so desperately in need. Click here to learn more about ways you can help.
The response was overwhelming for what Franklin had dubbed as the gospel community's answer to "We Are the World," with more than 150 participants joined swiftly. BeBe & CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, Natalie Grant, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Shirley Caesar, Jeremy Camp, Marvin Winans, J. Moss, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kiki Sheard, Bishop Paul Morton, Donald Lawrence (as producer) and Micah Stampley and James Fortune (as choir members) participated in an endeavor that was becoming more important than the one that brought them to Music City for the 2010 taping of the 25th Annual Stellar Awards.
Franklin contacted Don Jackson, executive producer of The Stellar Awards, to request that GMC (Gospel Music Channel), which will be premiering The Stellar Awards on Feb. 28, send cameras and crews to capture the historic recording event. GMC did so and is producing the official music video for "Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti" which will world premiere in a special one-hour presentation on GMC Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 PM ET, immediately before GMC’s airing of the national "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon at 8 PM. The special will be hosted by Lisa Kimmey-Winans and will feature exclusive interview footage with Kirk Franklin from the recording session interspersed throughout multiple runs of the music video. GMC will encore the hour special on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 PM ET. The music video will then go into heavy rotation in all GMC music video blocks.
"We see these people as God's children," Franklin said. "We want to do our part and I just want people to know that the gospel community can respond to a powerful natural disaster, and for the first time it will."
So committed was the gospel recording artist and star of Meet the Browns David Mann, that he and his wife Tamela stayed at the studio until 4:30 in the morning working on the track.
"It's our chance to give back to people in need. That's what ministry is all about," Tamela stated, as her husband David added, "We have never pulled together and done anything like this and it's one of those songs that really touches the heart and ministers."
"It's a great song," said Verity Records president Jazzy Jordan, whose label will release the song both digitally and commercially. "This is going to be a very strong tribute effort. Kirk has really laid himself out here and the industry has responded. Everyone is donating their time and their contributions, from the artists to the engineers and the studio."
Franklin said: "It's a song God gave me after 9-11 but by the time I finished it, the timing had passed and I was just never able to marry it to anything. But as I watched what was going on in Haiti, the Lord brought it to my attention that it would be perfect. We're trying to record it as quickly as we can so that we can have it to radio within a week and a half, with all of the proceeds going to the people of Haiti."
The effort couldn't be any more personal for Central South Director/Gospo Centric Records co-founder Claude Lataillade, who was born in Port-au-Prince and still has relatives there.
"It's really sad. It's the worst scenario for Haiti. They don't have the right infrastructure to handle the kind of devastation that has befallen Port-au-Prince. What I'm hoping is with all this world outpouring, Haiti can get a fresh start out of the ashes."
For Bishop Paul Morton, it brought back memories of Katrina, which devastated his home and church in New Orleans in 2005.
"Every day I think about Katrina and because of what we've gone through in New Orleans, I'm more sensitive to the people of Haiti and to the fact that people reached out to us," Morton said. "It's so devastating and I think Kirk's right for providing us the opportunity to come together and give back, particularly of our talents."
Mary Mary's Tina Campbell was in awe when she entered the studio and saw just how many artists had come together to help.
"There's nobody getting paid and it's just awesome to see so many people committed to helping. I'm listening to the song and seeing all of these artists and saying, Kirk is such a visionary. The lyrics to this song are so necessary and I’m so proud
to be part of it.
Adds sister Erica Campbell, "People of faith should be at the forefront of this. This song backs what we stand for and I believe it will help in the healing for victims of this tragedy."
Like Mary Mary, CeCe Winans believes it's only fitting that gospel artists lead the way.
"That's what gospel is about..." Winans said, "loving people and being the extended hands of God."
---About the Writer
Lisa Collins, a Los Angeles native and resident, is a syndicated columnist, writer, publisher and former Billboard Magazine columnist. Her career in gospel began in 1988 with her creation of "Inside Gospel," a daily/weekly syndicated radio series that provided news, profiles and product updates relative to the gospel music community. For the next eight years, she would also serve as executive producer of the show that was broadcast in more than 100 markets nationwide. Collins has also served as a segment producer for BET and authored well over 300 articles on a variety of issues for a number of national publications from Essence to Upscale. Her background in the field of entertainment reporting is extensive, featuring cover stories and interviews with the likes of Richard Pryor, Michael Jackson and Prince.
Your Comments
Let us know what you think about this recording suggested by Kirk Franklin of a song titled "Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti." Very cool effort.
http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/news/insider/kirk-franklin-haiti
My children and I were in the audience at the Stellar Awards Pre-show awaiting the results of our catergory "Children's Project of the Year" when the announcement was inviting all nominees to participate in this recording. My youngest daughter then informed me one of her 6th grade classmates has not heard from her grandmother in Haiti since the earthquake. At that moment, we decided to go the 11pm recording session. Once there, we felt a sense of purpose. There were at least 100 people piled into the recording studio to sing the chorus of Kirk Franklin's song. Many gospel superstars were also there - Donnie McClurkin, Karen and Dorinda Clark, Kiki Sheard, J Moss, Mical Stampley, Nicole Mullen, and Judith McAllister to name a few. However, as soon as you walked in the door, there were no gospel supertars, nor Stellar nominees, nor record produces/executives. There was a group of concern people who wanted to help. I prayer that everyone who listens to this song can feel the same sense of love, hope and unity that existed in that cramp studio space. My children were so inspired by the event that they asked could we do something to help when we get home. We are planning some church and school fundraiser concerts right now as the need for assistance is right now. Let us all pray for the people of Haiti. And let us pray that we do what Christians should do in a time of need. Thank you Mr. Franklin. God Bless, The Velazquez Family Singers.
I heard the Haiti love song for the first time last night on my way home from Bible Study and I was moved to tears, and I think I cried most of the way home, it is so moving and I plan to tape the special tonight. God Bless you for your efforts.
It is amazing what UNITY can accomplish. I was so proud, overwhelmed, filled with compassion and outright moved by the song when I heard it on my way home from working last night. IT IS AWESOME! Definitely more than just a melody. THIS SONG IS MINISTRY! KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Mr. Franklin, I like what I have heard of your new song. BUT I REALLY QUESTION your dission to give ALL the proceeds to Unicef a UN charity ( a government charity) if you do a little research you will see that they give to the countries governments NOT TO THE PEOPLE that need it , they see very little of what is given. If you would have said Food for the Poor, CBN's Operation Blessing, or World Vision or The Samaritian Purse-- Franklin Graham I would have bought one, But I will send my money one of them. Thank you for listen hope and pray you will change your mind, it will help more people. Leeana Carden
Your Comments
Let us know what you think about this recording suggested by Kirk Franklin of a song titled "Are You Listening: A Love Song for Haiti." Very cool effort.
http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/news/insider/kirk-franklin-haiti
My children and I were in the audience at the Stellar Awards Pre-show awaiting the results of our catergory "Children's Project of the Year" when the announcement was inviting all nominees to participate in this recording. My youngest daughter then informed me one of her 6th grade classmates has not heard from her grandmother in Haiti since the earthquake. At that moment, we decided to go the 11pm recording session. Once there, we felt a sense of purpose. There were at least 100 people piled into the recording studio to sing the chorus of Kirk Franklin's song. Many gospel superstars were also there - Donnie McClurkin, Karen and Dorinda Clark, Kiki Sheard, J Moss, Mical Stampley, Nicole Mullen, and Judith McAllister to name a few. However, as soon as you walked in the door, there were no gospel supertars, nor Stellar nominees, nor record produces/executives. There was a group of concern people who wanted to help. I prayer that everyone who listens to this song can feel the same sense of love, hope and unity that existed in that cramp studio space. My children were so inspired by the event that they asked could we do something to help when we get home. We are planning some church and school fundraiser concerts right now as the need for assistance is right now. Let us all pray for the people of Haiti. And let us pray that we do what Christians should do in a time of need. Thank you Mr. Franklin. God Bless, The Velazquez Family Singers.
I THINK IT A GREAT IDEAL
I heard the Haiti love song for the first time last night on my way home from Bible Study and I was moved to tears, and I think I cried most of the way home, it is so moving and I plan to tape the special tonight. God Bless you for your efforts.
It is amazing what UNITY can accomplish. I was so proud, overwhelmed, filled with compassion and outright moved by the song when I heard it on my way home from working last night. IT IS AWESOME! Definitely more than just a melody. THIS SONG IS MINISTRY! KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Mr. Franklin, I like what I have heard of your new song. BUT I REALLY QUESTION your dission to give ALL the proceeds to Unicef a UN charity ( a government charity) if you do a little research you will see that they give to the countries governments NOT TO THE PEOPLE that need it , they see very little of what is given. If you would have said Food for the Poor, CBN's Operation Blessing, or World Vision or The Samaritian Purse-- Franklin Graham I would have bought one, But I will send my money one of them. Thank you for listen hope and pray you will change your mind, it will help more people. Leeana Carden