Proceeds benefit Hunger and Health
Coalition
By Sherrie Norris
In February, The Mountain Times sent out a plea for local
musicians to get behind our promotion of the most exciting musical
projects to hit the High Country in quite a while. In fact, to
make the upcoming 2007 holiday deadline, work had already begun
when last year’s snow was still falling and continued right
up through the falling leaves of the current season. But the wait
is over, and we are happy to announce the completion and upcoming
release of “Christmas in the Mountains,” a Christmas
music CD filled with all that makes holidays in the High Country
so special.
Thanks to the innovative ideas and cooperation of a few local
enthusiasts, incredibly talented musicians, vocalists and a community
that cares, the Hunger and Health Coalition will benefit greatly
from this project – an estimated 2,000 CDs selling for a
very affordable cost of $10 each – that will go far in its
ongoing mission to feed the hungry of the High Country.
Featuring favorite Christmas tunes performed by local musicians
and choral groups, this project will prove to be a one-of-a-kind
opportunity for the community and is due to hit the streets next
week, following a release party at Chetola on Monday.
Early on, one of the project’s organizers, Todd Wright, director
of jazz studies at Appalachian State University, said, “We
hope to have a wide variety of music on the CD. Between church
and gospel choirs, jazz and bluegrass groups, and mountain music
performers and ensembles, we feel we can produce a good mix of
songs to reflect the diverse music of the High Country.”
Brought on board by Crae Morton, the man behind the plan, Wright
and several others immediately shared Morton’s enthusiasm,
when he asked, “What better way to express the spirit of
the season than to do something to help others?”
Choosing the Hunger Coalition as beneficiary for such an enormous
project was instantaneous, Morton shared. “(Hunger Coalition
executive director) Compton Fortuna said it best when she reminds
us that even though we don’t see it, there is a hunger problem
right here where we are and that every day we interact with people
and don’t even realize that they don’t know where their
next meal is coming from. In the spirit of the season, we are
all especially thankful for what we have and are more eager to
give to others. It’s just appropriate for a holiday CD to
benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition. There was no need for
us to debate it or put other charities on the table to discuss.
This just makes sense.”
Soon after Morton’s plan began to take shape during the last
Christmas season, he met with community leaders (musicians, retailers,
media outlets, etc.) to promote the project and was met with amazing
support from all.
Tommy Wilson, publisher of Mountain Times Publications, joined
Morton and others in their willingness to promote this event and
said, “There are a couple things that pull at my heart here.
I love any kind of music and feel music reaches most people on
the earth like nothing else can. Then there is hunger; there is
nothing sadder than knowing there are hungry people in the richest
nation in the world. There is absolutely no good or practical
reason for people in America to be hungry. If we can share the
talents of people in the High Country and feed people as a result
of that sharing, it is a win-win for everyone.”
While understandably only a certain amount of music would fit
onto any compact disc, the selection committee had a tough time
deciding which submissions to choose, believing strongly that
everyone will be pleased with their final choices.
Included in the CD is an especially touching song written by Becca
Eggers of Amantha Mill just for the project called “Christmas
Appalachian Style.”
The Hunger Coalition serves Avery, Watauga, and Ashe counties,
its mission to relieve poverty and hunger in a compassionate manner
for families and individuals who are experiencing immediate, but
temporary economic hardship and food shortages. Fortuna feels
a holiday CD is a natural fit for the Coalition during the season
of giving.
“There are so many people in the counties we serve who do
not know where their next meal is coming from,” she said.
“We all see and interact with these people every day and
don’t even know it.”
Representing the board of directors for the Hunger and Health
Coalition, Leslie Shavell has been instrumental in promoting the
CD and securing locations for its sale. She expresses appreciation
to all those involved from beginning to end – musicians,
producers, staff and volunteers at the Hunger Coalition, participating
vendors, etc.
“There is no way I can remember to name each one, but their
involvement has been overwhelming,” she said. “Because
of the generosity of this great community, the entire cost of
the production has been covered through donations. Now, every
time a CD is sold, that means 10 more dollars will go directly
to the Hunger Coalition.”
See next week’s Mountain Times for more from the Music in
the Mountains CD Release Party and upcoming events including Christmas
Music Fest 2007, Nov. 17 at Cornett-Deal Christmas Tree Farm,
featuring Amanda Mill, Meade and Branch Richter, Charlie Bradley
and more.
Tax deductible financial contributions are greatly appreciated
and can be made directly to the Hunger and Health Coalition. Donations
may be earmarked to help with the production costs of the CD,
or to the general operation of Hunger and Health Coalition. For
more information, call (828) 262-1628 or visit 141 Health Center
Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.
“Christmas in the Mountains” CD may be purchased
at the following locations next week:
Artwalk, Bandana’s, Bank of Granite, BB&T Boone, Black
Bear Books, Blowing Rock Market, Blue Moon Guitars and Music
(West Jefferson), all six Boone Drug stores in Boone, Blowing
Rock, Crossnore, Café Portofino, Changes Salon, Cheap
Joe’s Art Stuff, Chetola Gift Shop, Cornerstone Bookstore,
Cornett-Deal Christmas Tree Farm, Everything Scottish (Linville),
Grandfather Mountain (Linville), High Country Cleaners, Kilwin’s
Ice Cream (Blowing Rock and Tanger Outlet), Lavender Fields,
Libby’s in West Jefferson, all three local Mast General
Store locations (Boone and Valle Crucis), Maw’s Produce,
Monkee’s Shoes (Blowing Rock), Mother Nature’s Produce,
Mountain Times Publications, New Lifestyles Carpet (Banner Elk),
Pepper’s, Pleasant Papers (Blowing Rock), Serves You Right
(Blowing Rock), Stick Boy Bread, Tanner Factory Store (Boone),
University Book Store, Walgreen’s and Westglow.
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