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Sing Merry Christmas

Sing Merry Christmas

On Sunday, November 16, Hamilton musicians and artists launched the Christmas holiday season early, recording a new Christmas song to support local and international AIDS efforts. Written by Jeffrey C. Martin, singer/songwriter for new folk-rock group The Caretakers, the song is being produced by Glen Marshall and Michael Keire of Hamilton's Vibewrangler Recording Studio.
Local musicians including The Mississippi Kings, Tom Wilson, Mike McCurlie and Jesse Lewis have contributed to this Christmas fundraising initiative. Sing Merry Christmas will be released on Monday, December 1st - World AIDS Day - and is available for free to download at http://www.singmerrychristmas.com/.
"When people go to the website to download the MP3, they have the choice of making a donation in whatever amount they wish in the spirit of goodwill," says Martin. "During this Christmas season, people will have the choice of donating to the (Hamilton) AIDS Network and/or the Stephen Lewis Foundation. They'll be helping children and families not only in the Hamilton area who are simply trying to hang on to life, one challenging and often frightening day at a time, but also the millions of orphans and women suffering from AIDS in Africa."

In order for this Christmas song to sustain some long-term fundraising capacity, Martin (composer), Marshall and Keire (producers) have agreed to direct all future publishing royalties to the Stephen Lewis Foundation indefinitely. "We want to make an official presentation once a date and time can be arranged with the Foundation," says Martin. "Every time this song is played on radio, Internet or performed publicly, royalties will accrue and go to support the Foundation."

"I think every songwriter would like to pen a song for Christmas that has the potential to become a holiday favourite," says producer Glen Marshall. "I think Jeff has done it with Sing Merry Christmas. We all liked it the first time we heard the demo. It's a song about hope, goodwill and the true spirit of Christmas. But more important, the song will lend a hand to a cause that is in great need of help."

Organizations like the AIDS Network work to recognize and respond to the stigma
and challenges posed by HIV/AIDS on individuals and communities through education and support. "But we don't do it alone," says Adrian Betts, interim executive director. "Events like SingMerryChristmas.com are crucial. It's a wonderful way to bring the AIDS prevention message to a broad cross section of the public in a non-confrontational manner. We're extremely grateful to organizer Jeff Martin for including the AIDS Network and the Stephen Lewis Foundation in his holiday gift list. Thanks to his hard work, and the talent of all the generous musicians and producers, every person who makes a donation for this song over the holiday season will be making a very real contribution to the fight against AIDS, here at home and around the world."

The statistics about AIDS are mind-boggling, says Martin.
"There are 40 million people infected with the HIV virus around the world, 28 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa, of which nearly two thirds are women - and more than 11 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 15 million Africans have died from AIDS. This 20th century plague has caused immense human suffering everywhere."

"Christmas is supposed to be that time of year filled with joy and happiness, but too many people don't even have the necessities of life, like shelter, food and basic healthcare," says Lena Smye, lead vocalist with The Caretakers. "We take much for granted today and get so hung up on our own problems that are relatively small stuff compared to what the majority of people on this planet, particularly children, are facing every day. So this is one small way of helping those in both our local and global community who desperately need it."

The coalition of Hamilton musicians and supporters are hoping that at the very least, local businesses and organizations will promote the Sing Merry Christmas URL - www.singmerrychristmas.com - to their employees, suppliers and peers.
"Our only goal is to offer people a new sing-along Christmas song that they can play this season and many more," says Marshall. "But most importantly, we want to encourage people to help us rid the scourge of AIDS everywhere, especially from our developing world in exchange for this song. The first part is easy; the second part will define the extent of our humanity."