Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti

Apr 20

With a national release on August 10, Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti is the first release from Spare the Rock Records. This unique collection of songs is filled with uplifting messages from some of today’s very best family musicians.

After the January 12th, 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of the Haitian capital, family musician Dean Jones (Dog on Fleas) found himself feeling helpless and desperately wanting to help the people of Haiti. Having close friends in Haiti and feeling a deep love and respect for the music from the region, Jones felt the need to create something that could help the ongoing rebuilding effort.

The idea for Many Hands came to him in the middle of the night and the very next day several of his fellow family musicians signed on. “When I had the idea for the Many Hands CD, I knew without a doubt that I could count on the big-hearted kindie community.” said Jones. “The generosity and the amazing work of all the musicians and everyone involved definitely exceeded my initial expectations.”

Almost all of the tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them recorded especially for this release. The gathering of artists featured here is a strong assortment of the unique and special talents creating and performing for today’s all ages audiences, from the legendary Pete Seeger to family hip-hop star Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. In addition, everyone involved in the process of getting this album out into the world from replication to distribution has also either drastically discounted or donated their services. Proceeds from this release will benefit the Haitian People’s Support Project and their long-standing work to help the people of Haiti.

Many Hands will be released as the debut album of Spare the Rock Records, founded by kindie rock connoisseur Bill Childs. “After speaking with Dean it was immediately obvious to me that this would be a great record, and, just as importantly, that it would have the potential to help keep people’s attention on the ongoing recovery of Haiti,” recalls Childs on how the partnership came to fruition. “Dean asked for some help reaching out to a few artists, and that just naturally flowed into my helping the record get a wider release; ultimately, that meant starting a label.” Childs produces, with his kids, the weekly radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Bill also writes about kids’ music for various parenting magazines and has produced numerous kids’ concerts and is the cofounder of KindieFest, the family music conference.

CD release shows are planned on both coasts, including:

  • Sunday August, 15: Dog on Fleas, Grenadilla, Uncle Rock, Rosendale Theater, Rosendale, NY (Details.)
  • Friday, August 20: Elizabeth Mitchell & Family and Frances England, Mill Valley Library, Mill Valley, CA (Free!)
  • Saturday, August 21: Dog on Fleas, Lunch Money, Randy Kaplan, Deedle Deedle Dees, Armory, Somerville, MA (Buy tickets here.)
  • Saturday, September 11, 11:00: Randy Kaplan, Johnny Bregar, and Recess Monkey , Multnomah Arts Center, Portland, OR, presented by A Child’s Time to Rock!  (Buy tickets here.)
  • Saturday, September 11: Deedle Deedle Dees, Gustafer Yellowgold, Dog on Fleas, Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
  • Sunday, September 26: Dan Zanes, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Deedle Deedle Dees, Grenadilla, and very special other artists TBA, Pines Theater, Look Park, Northampton, MA

Click on the thumbnail for a high-res image of the cover:

Media Contact: Stephanie Mayers

The record features the following artists:

Dan Zanes
Pete Seeger
Elizabeth Mitchell
They Might be Giants
Gustafer Yellowgold
Caspar Babypants
Frances England
Dog on Fleas
Lunch Money
Baby Gramps
Recess Monkey
The Deedle Deedle Dees
Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem
Bonga and the Vodou Drums of Haiti
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Jonathan Coulton
Uncle Rock
Grenadilla
Dean Jones
Emily Curtis
Randy Kaplan
Jerrice Baptiste

10 comments

  1. kelli ann f /

    Wow. where to start!? that is crazy, and great, and crazy-great. Congrats STR!!

  2. debinsf /

    Thrilled for you and for us. What a great thing on so many levels. Excellent!

  3. STR Records? Haiti relief?

    Truly the best news in my feedreader this year.

    Where do I sign up?

    Let me know what I can do to help.

  4. Looking forward to hearing this—what an amazing group of artists! And congrats on the start of your own label! Great news.

  5. Sienna W /

    VERY exciting, Bill!!! I agree with Kelly … crazy-great!

  6. Hooray, Hooray! A partnership set made in heaven.

    Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help promote when the release date gets closer…

    – boyhowdy
    Cover Lay Down

  7. Aaron /

    Will any proceeds go to the RIAA? Will this new label be a member of the RIAA?

  8. admin /

    In order to have the record in iTunes and the like, we’re required to pay the RIAA $75 to register the tracking numbers. That’s it.

  9. Great idea.
    T-Bone’s Radio Active Kids
    Asheville, NC
    http://j.mp/trakradio

  10. Didgeridoo /

    The “Saturday, August 21” show listed as being at the “Armory, Boston, MA” is actually at the Armory in Somerville, MA. Close by but could make a difference to people.

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