Django Crosby; Julie SkarrattDavid Crosby, Jimmy Buffett and Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann are among the musicians who have contributed to a new version of the Dead song “Ripple” as part of a campaign supporting music-education programs for children around the world. The initiative, called the #RippleEffect, is a social media art project launched jointly by The Jerry Garcia Foundation and The Playing for Change Foundation, and timed to coincide with what would have been the late Grateful Dead frontman’s 73rd birthday on August 1.
The project urges people across the globe to create a visual “ripple effect” by sharing positive messages and stories of kindness and gratitude using videos, photos and artwork and circulating them on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To help promote the campaign, as well as celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Grateful Dead, a video featuring clips of a variety of musicians performing “Ripple” in different locations around the world was created and can be viewed now at the Playing for Change YouTube channel. In addition to featuring Crosby, Buffett and Kreutzmann, the video includes Los Lobos‘ David Hidalgo and Garcia’s daughter Keelin, who is a co-founder of The Jerry Garcia Foundation.
Select submissions to the #RippleEffect campaign will be included in a video compilation that will be released on September 19, this year’s Playing for Change Day. The special day, which was launched by the Playing for Change Foundation, features musicians performing at various events held around the world to support the organization’s goal of bringing music education to underserved children.
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