Skin Deep

Blues legend Buddy Guy and street musicians from around the world.

Maria

Maria featuring Louis Mhlanga.

Recorded and filmed in his backyard in South Africa.

Playing for Change Live Outside series

Stand By Me

Yesterday the sad news of the death Ben E King.

He died on Thursday.

Ben E King (1938-2015) started his career in the late 1950s with The Drifters, singing hits that included “There Goes My Baby” and “Save The Last Dance For Me”.

After going solo, he hit the US top five with “Stand By Me” in 1961.

“Stand By Me” transformed Playing For Change from a small group of individuals into a global movement for peace and understanding.

• Ben E King: R&B legend dies at 76

I’d Rather Go Blind

Classic Chicken Shack, performed by Playing for Change on their Australian tour.

Originally an Etta James classic, Chicken Shack reached No 14 in the UK charts in 1969, featuring Christine Perfect, later to become Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, on vocals.

I’d Rather Go Blind recorded by Etta James in 1967, released in 1968.

Rod Stewart covered the song on his 1972 album Never a Dull Moment.

At the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors concert honouring Buddy Guy, Beth Hart received a standing ovation for a rendition of the song accompanied by Jeff Beck on guitar. Buddy Guy, fellow inductees Led Zeppelin, and other celebrities, including Barack and Michelle Obama, were in the audience.

Edited version of what was previously published on Medium.

What a Wonderful World | Playing For Change

Louis Armstrong classic What a Wonderful World.

Playing For Change are an amazing group of musicians.

Also try the amazing improvisation of What a Wonderful World by Steve Lawson and Lobelia on Live So Far.

One Love | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

Playing for Change perform Bob Marley classic One Love, released in celebration of Bob Marley’s birthday on 6 February.

• One Love – Live In Madrid | Playing For Change Band

Dreams of Kirina | Baaba Maal | Playing For Change

Rest In Peace Makandjan Kamissoko. He donated the land for the Playing for Change Music School in Kirina, Mali.

Some Dreams Never Die and you Live Forever in our hearts and our songs.

Mali has a rich musical tradition and Playing for Change is helping to safeguard that tradition.

Mellow Mood | Playing For Change

Open your heart and let love come running in… — Bob Marley

Mellow Mood, a little known Bob Marley number performed by Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba, from Playing for Change, whilst taking a break from recording their album Afro Fiesta.

Gimme Shelter | Playing For Change

It is in the shelter of each other that people live. – Irish Proverb

Classic Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter: “War, children, it’s just a shot away… Love, sister, it’s just a kiss away”.

Top Story in Mad House Music News (Wednesday 18 April 2012)

The change is here

Baaba Maal and Toumani Diabate

Three of Africa’s legendary musicians

• Baaba Maal
• Toumani Diabate
• Habib Koite

visit a school in Mali established by musicians around the world through the Playing for Change Foundation.

The thousand-year-old village of Kirina has no electricity or running water, but enough happiness and soul to fill all of our hearts.

In February 2010 the Playing for Change crew broke the ground in Kirina Mali, to start the project of a music school and record Baaba Maal with Malian musicians in this very special village. A year later, the school has been built and Baaba Maal was back in the village, visiting the music school with Toumani Diabaté and Habib Koité.

– First Year Of Classes At The Music School Of Kirina In Mali

Mali now descends in violence and chaos.