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"In the early years working with United By Music mentors like Bobby Rush and Kenny Neal really built my confidence on stage. Now I can build similar confidence in the current program artists by mentoring them and maximizing every opportunity to showcase their talent"
“What I hear from the United By Music America musicians comes from such an honest place. It was just thrilling to me to hear musicians who brought so much of themselves and put themselves into the songs in this way. It was also very exciting to see experienced blues musicians accompanying and working with them to bring the best out of everybody.”
“Music is what gave my life meaning, purpose and direction, and I recognize that feeling in the United By Music artists. I stay involved every chance I get, from rehearsing to performing on their sets to inviting the band to open for us on stage. I invite my musician friends to do the same -- give back a little bit and become a part of this and see how music really can solve so many problems.”
"It is inspirational to be included, invited, to be a mentor in this program. Thank you so much United By Music Band for recording Treme…you made it beautiful, beautiful.”
“Imagine a world where no prejudice exists regardless of race, creed, color, gender or developmental challenge. This is what we cultivate through inclusion,” says Barbara Hammerman, who, along with her daughter Amanda Gresham, founded the award-winning organization, United By Music America (UBMA) in 2012. Using the far-reaching power of performing music as a band, the mission-driven group works with individuals from many backgrounds and challenges to achieve this vision. “We are always on a talent search,” Hammerman adds. “We’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg in finding the talent that we know is ready to soar through United By Music.”
Hammerman, president of Hammerman Philanthropic Partners, and Gresham, CEO of Delta Music Experience, have been nationally recognized for their work with United By Music America. The Blues Foundation honored Hammerman with the Keeping The Blues Alive award, saying, “Barbara is an example to emulate.” Gresham received Back What You Believe, Best Northwest Event and six Anthem Awards for her purpose and mission-driven work. Barbara and Amanda inspire others to act through their leadership in the life-changing efforts of United By Music America. Others who have received the Industry Recognition Anthem Award – brought to you by the Webby Awards – include Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris and Taylor Swift.
Performing coast-to-coast and internationally, United By Music America
(a 501 (c)(3) organization), is a unified, performance-based program and band for neuro-diverse and neuro-typical people with exceptional musical talent. Together, Hammerman and Gresham select and work with a team of professional musician mentors, coaches and supporters, find the musical talent for the program and work in regular sessions to create performances for festivals and events.
Once selected, all mentor sessions and other activities are primarily paid for through founder funding, grant awards and generous donations from the public. There are no fees for the selected program artists. The United By Music Band arises from this remarkable, inclusive program.
Award-winning Music Director, Dave Fleschner, has collaborated closely with Gresham for over ten years, refining the sound of the band. Known for his work as a band-leader, educator and producer, Fleschner says he’s never been more spiritually fulfilled than when working with United By Music America.
According to Hammerman, “The strength of a mission-based project is that everyone is engaged on some level at some time in the goal of inclusivity and encouraging everyone to rise to their highest level through music.” Prominent musicians who are active mentors for United By Music America include Bobby Rush, Shemekia Copeland, Kenny Neal, Curtis Salgado, Doug MacLeod, Janiva Magness, John Nemeth, Guy Davis, Maria Muldaur, Anne Harris and scores more, as well as the artists on the newly released United By Music Band EP, We’ve Got The Music.
United By Music America Program Ambassador Artist, Sweet Marlana, is known for wowing packed stadiums with her spine-tingling rendition of the National Anthem at major sporting events. She credits the program with providing her with some critical firsts. Thanks to United By Music America, VanHoose boarded her first plane, toured destinations far and wide, and worked and recorded with a top-flight band featuring well-known musicians. Now she has a full repertoire of songs to sing for her growing audiences, and says with a smile, “Because of United By Music America, I’m no longer a one-hit wonder.”
On the majestic, life-affirming five-song EP, We’ve Got The Music, the United By Music Band is joined by professional musicians and program mentors including GRAMMY-winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, blues-rocker Tommy Castro, Southern Avenue drummer and vocalist Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson, New Orleans’ vocal and songwriting legend John Boutté and funky rhythm master Curley Taylor, leader of Zydeco Trouble. Each track features a song by the mentor musician who collaborates with the United By Music Band on a sparkling new arrangement. The dynamic, top-shelf musicianship of all involved elevates the positive messages of inclusion, cooperation and understanding, with the artists all delivering one memorable performance after another.
The songs on We’ve Got The Music are in the UBMA Band’s current repertoire. UBMA artists are excited to have had the chance to record and collaborate with their mentors. The music throughout is joyous, life-affirming and eminently danceable. (As a bonus, there is a sixth track, a longer version of the new UBMA Band arrangement of Kingfish’s Listen, to close the program.)
The release of We’ve Got The Music tells the uplifting story of UBMA’s work challenging assumptions both on and off stage. Through workshops, rehearsals, and performances, UBMA discovers new talents and creates an environment of inclusivity. Originally formed upon the invitation of Joris vanWijngaarden, a Dutch health care industry executive who started the concept in the Netherlands, UBMA continues to serve more people by transforming lives with hope and promise.
Gresham, the program’s producing artistic director and vocal arranger, and producer of We’ve Got The Music, says excitedly, “Not only do I get to guide the artists’ growth as musicians, I get to see them grow as people. They get to explore friendships, communicate, and experience connections. Through the program, the artists become more comfortable and confident in their ability to perform. This album is a direct result of the success of the program,
“United By Music America is unique, like no other. Amanda and Barbara created a program to coach these talented musicians to fulfill their dream to being part of a band and performing on stage with professional musicians.”
“My friend Amanda…what can I say…From the first time we met she has been full of love and inspiration and being a part of this project has been nothing less than fun and creative. I was overjoyed when she commissioned me to do some artwork for United By Music America. It’s an honor she chose my painting as her cover art and my tune as title track of the EP and I look forward to the success and expansion of such a wonderful group of people.”
The nationally broadcast radio program Woodsongs
Influential Americana music channel Ditty TV’s award-winning live concert series, Tastemaker Americana
Jubilee Week in The Netherlands, selling out eight black-tie Gala Shows.
Special Music and Arts Festival in South Korea
Portland, OR’s Waterfront Blues Festival residency for 10 seasons
State and National Special Olympics events
State and National Best Buddies Events
Fest4All International Make Music Day
Fest4All at Washington State Fair
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Festival International de Lousiane,
Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Festival, return invites for Blues Gospel Set
Nike Galas
Microsoft Galas
Dave Fleschner – Music Director, Hammond B-3 Organ, Nord Stage
Nick Baker - Piano and Vocals
Roy Bowen II - Percussion
Miranda Kitchpanich - Vocals
Malcolm Monaghan - Drums
Sean Reed - Bass
Ben Rice - Vocals
David Sobie – Saxophone
Willy Straub - Guitar
Dana Taylor - Vocals
Marlana VanHoose –Melodica, Piano and Vocals
Trey Wanvig, - Guitar and Vocals
Kelsey Weddle - Vocals
Marissa Weddle – Vocals
THE SONGS:
We’ve Got The Music, featuring Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson — GRAMMY-nominated band Southern Avenue – newly signed to Alligator Records – first recorded this William Bell-penned track in 2019. Here, Southern Avenue’s drummer and vocalist, Tikyra “T.K.” Jackson, adds her smokey, gospel-inflected voice to this toe-tapping, mission-statement of a song. Sharing leads and joining with their gorgeous harmonies are program artists Marlana VanHoose, and twins, Kelsey & Marissa Weddle. A multi-talented artist, Jackson’s first commissioned painting is also the beautiful cover image for the release. Says Jackson, “It is an honor to be part of this beautiful album, and a joy to perform with these artists!”
It’s Alright, featuring Curley Taylor — Curley Taylor has been leading Zydeco Trouble since 2017 and is beloved as a deeply-rooted Zydeco master. Before leading his own band, he played drums with the great CC Adcock and toured with the legendary CJ Chenier. This self-penned scorcher from the Louisiana native is a perfect fit for the United By Music Band, with its driving New Orleans’ rhythms and positive, uplifting message. Listen for melodic harmonies from program Mentor Dana Taylor (of no relation to Curley) “YesIndeed,” remarks Curley. “United By Music America is the lagniappe all bands should have on tours or include on sets, there ain’t nothing else like it.”
Listen, featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram — GRAMMY-winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram first recorded Listen on his 2019 self-titled GRAMMY-nominated Alligator Records debut. This version, a duet with Marlana VanHoose and a soulful ensemble of voices from the United By Music Band, is remarkable in its melodic and lyrical emotional honesty. Kingfish is known for his spectacular guitar work, but here he also showcases his gorgeous singing voice as it blends with VanHoose’s powerful and moving vocals. Kingfish is always happy to work and spend time with the band, saying, “The United By Music Band definitely changes lives. I jam with them, I talk to them, we high-five, and it's a lot of fun. United by Music America is showing people, hey, we can do this too.”
Treme, featuring John Boutté — Fans of the HBO television show Treme will immediately recognize this song by legendary, award-winning New Orleans’ vocalist and songwriter John Boutté. With the United By Music Band cooking hot behind him, Boutté adds his note-perfect vocals to his dancing-in-the-street, feel-good anthem as he trades leads with United By Music America Program Ambassador Artist, Nick Baker. None other than the iconic Stevie Wonder gave Boutté the encouragement to pursue his dream of singing, and he is proud as a mentor to help others achieve their goals. “This arrangement is truly amazing,” says Boutté. “I love the lyric updates, the instrumental features and those beautiful voices!”
Common Ground, featuring Tommy Castro — Award-winning, internationally beloved guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and Alligator Records recording artist Tommy Castro wrote Common Ground for his 2015 album, Method To My Madness. The song’s lyrics perfectly reflect United By Music America’s ideals, and the driving United By Music Band takes the song to unexpected heights, as program artist Trey Wanvig delivers a scorching guitar solo with ensemble vocals behind him. According to Castro, “I thought this song would be right for the program, I’m honored it was selected. I’m proud to have recorded it with the United By Music Band. They are so talented, such a good band!” Says United By Music America’s Barbara Hammerman, “Common Ground is an anthem for our times.”