 Our mission is to use the power of song and video to promote the gift of music as it was intended. Melodical Hearts will continue to team with high profile recording artists, athletes, and television personalities to bring awareness to foster care, adoption, addictions/abuse, illness, and many other relevant societal concerns. We are made up of voices raised in unity, voices not content to accept the status quo, and who are willing to use our gifts and successes to make a difference. We will also support and highlight the many great foundations and organizations who unite in these causes. We will provide recruitment tools for seminars, PSA’s, and conferences, as well as strong outreach with a unique and powerful approach via radio, television, and all media outlets.
Former Atlantic Records recording artist Wayne Warner may have shared the stage with a variety of celebrities as his career transported him throughout the country, but his most prideful accomplishment is being “Dad” to three boys—two adopted and one foster son. As the founder of The Melodical Hearts Foundation, Wayne has always been grateful for the platform his work has given him to talk about the often misunderstood world of foster care and adoption, as well as the amazing rewards of being an adoptive parent. It has added a new dimension to the direction of his career, as he focuses his efforts on making MUSIC THAT MATTERS.
Fueled by his desire to give voices to these children in need of homes, Wayne launched the all-star project “God Bless the Children”, one of the most successful PSAs for the Dave Thomas Foundation to date. The video has been frequently used in seminars and on web sites as a recruitment tool for foster care and adoption.
The "God Bless the Children" Nashville All-Star Choir
L to R: Jamie Lee Thurston, Trevor Brunton, Tim Brunton, Terry Joe Rodrigues (Desert Heat), Ron Kingery (Hometown News), Kelsey, Scott Whitehead (Hometown News), Lila McCann, Laurelyn Carter, Ray Walker (Jordanaires), Wayne Warner, Louis Nunley (Jordanaires), Elsa Nine (Redd Hot Mamas), Barbie Isham (Texana), Sonja Williams (Redd Hot Mamas), Ken Isham (Texana), Richard Young (Kentucky Headhunters), Memarie Gayle, Brittany Roe, Kevin Sharp, Kalisa Ewing, Taylor Swift, Deborah Allen, Jason Grainger, Mila Mason, Jett Williams, Mark McGuinn, Billy Yates, Jimmy Fortune (Statler Brothers)
With The Melodical Hearts Foundation established, Wayne was ready to infiltrate the Nashville community with a second all-star musical project. Collectively known as “Major Rising”, artists Bryan White, Linda Davis, Mila Mason, Mark Collie, Kevin Sharp, Jimmy Fortune, and John Berry joined him to create the radio driven single “Dare the World”. The project not only promoted unity and positive messages in music, but it also highlighted many charities supported by the participating artists. Almost immediately after its first release, Major Rising increased its celebrity line-up with artists Aaron Tippin, Pam Tillis, Shawn King, and many more to produce the follow-up holiday album “Christmas Is”.
Major Rising
L to R: (Photo 1) Wayne Warner, Mila Mason, Kevin Sharp, Bryan White, and Mark Collie; (Photo 2) Jimmy Fortune, Wayne Warner, Linda Davis, Jackson Grainger, and John Berry
Now The Melodical Hearts Foundation is diligently working on the new compilation, “Music That Matters: 50 Files”, which serves as the follow-up to “God Bless the Children”. This upcoming CD/DVD combo aims to end the classification of being “files” from children in need of adoption, by reminding the world that they are much more than a simple manila folder tucked in a drawer—they are unique, loving children longing for a home. The title song “50 Files” is a beautiful ballad which personifies the importance of this mission by having one child from each state serving as a representative for the cause. Among the artists confirmed are Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Mark McGuinn, and Steven Curtis Chapman, with many more to follow. (Click here for an updated list of all participating artists).
To complement this celebrity edition, The Melodical Hearts Foundation is also extending the opportunity for each state/region to be represented with a compilation album intertwining some of its own residential artists with the two star-studded songs “God Bless the Children” and “Dare the World". This will offer these local acts the opportunity to have their music featured on an album with high-profile artists, significantly enhancing their demographic by offering increased exposure and attaching their names to a cause supported by some of country music’s biggest acts.
As we work together to lead Melodical Hearts into its next phase, we invite you to join us in this momentous crusade which will mark a first time unity among agencies in all 50 states in a concerted campaign offering a loud voice to the project, the artists, and to the cause.
For more information and updates on its progress, click here.
UPDATE 07/13/2009: Be on the lookout for more information regarding our next project as well, "EPIDEMIC X" which focuses on drug abuse/addiction awareness. Like foster care and adoption, this is an issue that is very close to everyone at the Melodical Hearts Foundation, and we will not sit idly by as and continue to watch more kids die from drugs and alcohol.
UPDATE 07/15/2009, from Melodical Hearts Founder WAYNE WARNER:
As many of you may know, being a dad of adopted children has certainly made it very meaningful to me to work on the “God Bless The Children” song/video. It made a huge impact on the adoptive community, and I thank my friends Taylor Swift, The Jordanaires, Kevin Sharp, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers, and many more for offering their talents to help make this project the success it was.
EPIDEMIC X
In addition to being a dad and a Nashville recording artist, I am also a recovering alcoholic, gratefully 17 years sober. While this personal history is one that has never been “put out there”, I now feel the need to wear the title publicly and boldly so it may allow me to make as much of a difference as possible. The drug and alcohol issue has become an epidemic that is killing far too many of our nation's youth and tearing families apart. In fact, it took my best friend whom I miss every single day.
Like the “God Bless The Children” project, I will once again be uniting with my associated organization, The Melodical Hearts Foundation. We are seeking tribute photos from as many broken hearts as possible of those who have been taken from us. This will be for a Nashville song/video project which will raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol use, getting the message out in a way too often void of the cause. These photos are powerful and potentially graphic, but we must tell the truth. Also, we are seeking individuals touched by this epidemic to be involved with the project from the beginning of its production, so that we may receive input, guidance and above all, passion. The more help we can get, the faster and louder this gets out, and as you and I sadly know – it must be done with an “urgency of now!”
This project must belong to those we have lost and to those they love. We need their help and yours to make as much noise as possible. This will serve as both a memorial for—and a warning from—those who have been taken by this powerful grip.
For more information, or to participate in the "Epidemic X" song/video project, please contact Juanita Lee at juanitalee@melodicalhearts.org
Thank You,
Wayne Warner
Excerpt from “Black and White Rainbows”:
I know the pain, well it won’t ever stop
The hurt is the gift; you’re worth every tear drop
If life is a mountain, then you’re on the top
We’ll be right down here, with memories we’ve got
Wayne has agreed to allow the song “Black and White Rainbows” to be co-written by those who have been taken (he does believe they’re involved). Therefore, it is our goal to have thousands of “songwriters” listed among the credits of this song, resulting in a CD booklet filled with names of those representing the urgency of this deadly epidemic.
The Melodical Hearts Foundation is thrilled by this exceptionally unique approach that will raise funds to promote this project, to insight media attention, and memorialize those we have lost in an abrupt and tragic way like no other.
Songwriter contributions can be made by individuals, families, communities, businesses, web sites, etc. The more names we have, the LOUDER this gets.
Example of Songwriter Credits:
“BLACK AND WHITE RAINBOWS”
Writers:
Wayne Warner for R. Thompson, Pam for Kelli, Julie for Eddie Danforth, The Lowell Family for Timmy, Bianca for Travis, J. Tetreault for Amanda, Danny for Brian Dunn, Friskel Enterprises for Herbert Livingston, www.{sitenamehere}.com for Jackie M...etc...
The Melodical Hearts Foundation, at Wayne’s request, has made this our top priority. We would like the song recorded and the video made as quickly as possible, so we can let our loved ones’ message be heard in an effort to save lives. We need your help to do this.
To pay tribute to your loved one and memorialize them in a unique and powerful way, please consider a tax-deductible contribution of $100 to add their name to the list of songwriters. After all, it is their voices as individuals who have cried out the need for awareness. Now, united and immortalized in song, they can be heard louder and more compellingly as a symphony of angels. As Wayne mentioned in his letter, photos are needed for the associated video, bringing faces to those we have lost which make up the “colors of our rainbows”. While only a limited number of photos can be used in a three minute video, we urge you to submit yours with your angel’s story/information and permission for use. We promise to use as many as we possibly can.
All monetary contributions will be used for the production of the “Black and White Rainbows” video, the pressing of the CDs, printing of the accompanying artwork, as well as for promotional tools used to get your loved one’s voice heard in schools, churches, etc.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THIS LETTER NATIONWIDE!
Thank you,
Juanita Lee
Juanitalee@melodicalhearts.org
www.melodicalhearts.org
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WENDY ALWAYS
