Dear Friends,
This is a message from my good friend, Dan Navarro, about a new song that was written by his musical partner, Eric Lowen. Please
read on and visit the site that shows their new video. It is an incredible song and seeing Eric sing is a testimony to the human spirit, to joy
and the fact that every person has something beautiful to contribute to this world, no matter where we are on our journey through it.
Lots of Love,
Sara
FROM DAN:
In March 2004, my 28-year partner in Lowen & Navarro, Eric Lowen, was diagnosed
with the progressive neurodegenerative disease ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Though he can’t walk
or play anymore, he sure can sing, and we are still touring. And recording. We’re releasing a new album,
“Learning To Fall”, in a couple of months on our own label, Red Hen Records.
Last November, Eric and I gathered 30 or so people whose lives have been
affected by ALS — PALS (People With ALS), their families, friends, supporters and caregivers —
to sing on the recording of the title track of our new album. The song “Learning To Fall”, written by Eric Lowen and
Preston Sturges (son of the famed 1940s film director) chronicles Eric’s struggle with ALS and life as he’s known it.
Among the friends was Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik, who last year
launched a website devoted to promoting charitable causes and generating
click-through donations for those causes. The site WhatKindOfWorldDoYouWant.com, named after his similarly
titled hit song.
The event was captured by 5.1 surround-sound guru Mark Waldrep and his wife
Mona, and recorded (as was the entire album) by Grammy winning producer and
engineer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Dixie Chicks, Foo Fighters, Wilco, Sting) at
his private studio in Valencia. The resulting music video is currently
featured on Ondrasik’s site, and will be parked there, indefinitely.
When you view the video, you log a credit that earns the benefited charity
— in this case, Augie’s Quest, an ALS support and research group associated
with the Muscular Dystrophy Assn — a buck or so for each click. You can
also donate directly to the central clearinghouse, the California Community
Foundation, if you so desire. But this is NOT a request for a donation, and
you need not donate to be of help. Just give the video a view and you will
make a difference.
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/884613
Thanks so much for listening. Hope you enjoy the vid, and the music.
The album will be out in July.
Best,
Dan