June 26, 2020
Dear friends,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) and Promise Healthcare are the beneficiaries of a creative and beautiful musical tribute, put together by local musicians and singers, which is available to be seen and listened to today.
Donations from those who view/listen to the tribute will benefit both organizations. CCHCC’s Executive Director, Claudia Lennhoff said “We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in this amazing project. They donated their talents, their time, and their resources to put together a beautiful and moving music video that provides some solace in these challenging times, and that lets community members know that CCHCC and Promise Healthcare are here to help our community, and that together, as a community, we will get through these difficult times.”
The musical message:
Champaign-Urbana Illinois has a great treasure its music and art community. In the face of change and pandemic, a remarkable group of 41 singers and 15 musicians have come together to elevate the spirits of their cities and beyond, with a recorded musical message and video: “Let It Be”. All proceeds from the recording will be donated to Promise Healthcare who work diligently to provide affordable and accessible high-quality health care and Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) who help provide quality affordable health care for all and environmental health and justice.
How to make your donation:
A fund has been established with the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois and additional donations for these organizations can be through the Community Foundation’s website or to the Community Foundation at: 307 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820.
In order to ensure that the donation is dedicated to this project, donors should write in “CU Sings”, or CCHCC (or Promise Healthcare) in the “Designation” section of the donation form.
Or, you can donate directly to CCHCC.
Background:
Paul McCartney wrote Let It Be as message of positivity which remains relevant and necessary today. The message was a result of a dream where Paul’s mom Mary, who had died during surgery for breast cancer when he was 14, was reassuring him saying it’s going to be okay, just let it be. He was so taken with the positive message of those 3 words, he wrote the song.
How the musical project came to be:
The project was conceived by music fan and businessman James Barham of Barham Benefit Group, during a bicycle ride in the country. Barham enlisted engineer/producer/ drummer James Treichler of Wave Upon Wave Recording, artist/studio owner Ryan Groff of Perennial Sound, and engineer/producer/audio educator Mark Rubel. Together they assembled a cross-section of musical talent, from Groff’s young son Oliver to REO Speedwagon/Starcastle vocalist Terry Luttrell, Champaign’s Paulie Carman, and a host of singers and players of various genres, with one message.
James has paid for the entire production and all donation fees so 100% of all proceeds will go to Promise Healthcare and Champaign County Health Care Consumers.
Suggested donation is $10.
Recording safely was a challenge: observing health protocols in studios, with some people recording their own parts at home, and even outside. “Our only regret is that we couldn’t include more of the wonderful talent that Champaign-Urbana is so lucky to have”, says Rubel, “but hope that we speak for the arts community in saying that we are in support of the entire community, as it has supported us. We look forward to being able to perform for you in person, and hope that this might speak for us all until that time.”
Enjoy the video, and thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers