California Music Project to Release First CD of All-Star Music This Month to Support Music Education in the State's Public Schools.

Jackson Browne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Los Lobos All Appear on CD

LOS ANGELES -- Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Johnson, and a host of leading California musicians, singers, and bands will release a blockbuster compilation CD this month with the sole purpose of raising much needed money and awareness for music education in the California public school system.

Other artists featured on the new CD include Ben Harper, Perla Batalla, Los Lobos, Jack Johnson, Michelle Shocked, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Leela James, Rick Holmstrom, Dwight Yoakam, Anna Nalick, and Warren Zevon. A total of 18 songs are on the CD and all artists donated their music.

California Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission of strengthening music education in California public schools through advocacy and funding of effective programs and people. Its goals are to:

* Provide grants to music teachers, music professionals, and schools to bring more music learning into California public schools

* Spearhead joint-ventures with universities, companies, foundations, and music-focused organizations to fund, pilot, and expand music programs in schools across California

* Serve as an advocate to both public and private sectors to further music as a core discipline to which every student will have equal access.

The artists are donating their music to the cause and felt the project struck a personal chord with them, both musically and from the standpoint of bettering education.

"Every God-given child should have the right to music education in school, just like math, science, and reading," said singer Michelle Shocked. "The truth is that by denying children music and arts in school we are, in fact, leaving every child behind. Parents and communities need to put pressure on every school board and legislator to make sure we don't let this continue."

"It's a shame that we are depriving so many California children of the benefits of music in schools," said Grammy-winning artist Bonnie Raitt. "We all need to demand better of our school boards and legislators so every child has the chance to develop to their fullest with a well-rounded education, including the arts."

Artists and songs featured on the first CMP CD include:

Beck - Scarecrow 

Perla Batalla - Heaven & Earth

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Shuffle Your Feet

Bonnie Raitt - Love On One Condition

Chris Gerolmo - Over There

Jackson Browne - Never Stop

Rick Holmstrom - Pee Wee's Nightmare

Leela James - Music

Jimmy Dillon - Somebody Like You

Tremolo - Baby Blue

Michelle Shocked - Picoesque

Jack Johnson - Good People

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Parallel Universe

Anna Nalick - Satellite

Dwight Yoakam - Intentional Heartache

Ben Harper - Better Way

Los Lobos - Hurry Tomorrow

Warren Zevon - Keep Me In Your Heart

In addition to producing a series of CDs, California Music Project is planning special events and concerts around the state that will help to heighten interest. Musical artists, including those not on the CD, are very passionate about their work and their keen desire to see California's children get some of the same attention they received while growing up around music.

"Children need to learn how to communicate their ideas through music and the arts, regardless of their ethnicity and background," said singer/songwriter Stephen Stills, a major supporter of music education in the schools. "Playing music is a wonderful opportunity for young people to experience self-expression and greater self-esteem. These programs are in desperate need of our assistance."

"Some of my purest moments playing guitar were in afterschool guitar lessons taught by Ms. Rorro, my 3rd grade teacher," recalled Rick Holmstrom, one of the artists on the current CMP CD. "But this was a Catholic school in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the arts were celebrated. I'd hate to be a third grader in a public school in California now, where it seems little effort is made to encourage kids to appreciate music. Come on everybody, our kids could be the future Ellington's, Ray's, Cash's, and Flea's!"

The California Music Project CD is available at Best Buy and wherever good music is sold. It will also soon be available at californiamusicproject.com.

The California Music Project is a joint, long-term initiative to strengthen music education in California public schools. CMP unites the California music industry with the State of California, the California Arts Council, California Alliance for Arts Education, California Association for Music Education, the California State Student Association, and the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment.