Band Believes That $1.00 And A Song Can Aid 9/11 First Responders

Sept. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Brooktondale, NY September 8, 2011

The lead guitarist is an engineer. The bass player and drummer are attorneys and one of them makes vintage baseball bats. The rhythm guitarist is an educator who does improv comedy.  Oh yeah, and they’ve been writing and playing music together for over 20 years.  With established lives and careers, the members of Loose Change long eschewed the rock and roll fantasy of topping the Billboard charts, but they never stopped believing in the power of music to have positive impact in communities and lives.  So as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approached, they created the “Carry On Project” by releasing their song, “Carry On,” for a cause in which they strongly believe: addressing the ongoing health care needs of 9/11 first responders.

Said band member, John Fracchia, “The reports of the health care issues being faced by the men and women who answered the call on 9/11 are significant.  We decided that we wanted to do something about it, and we had music that we were waiting for the right time and reason to release.  This was where the two intersected.”  Released on September 8 through CDBaby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/loosechange1), all profits from downloads of the song will be donated to the Fealgood Foundation (http://www.fealgoodfoundation.com).

Since the song was “sitting in the can,” some work was needed to get the sound up to modern standards.  So Fracchia went back to the multi-track recording and created a new mix.  The final touches were added by award winning mastering engineer, Earle Holder of HDQRTZ Digital Mastering Studios (http://www.hdqtrz.com) in Atlanta, GA, which he operates with Professor Griff of the rap group Public Enemy.  Mr. Holder, a Grammy member, said, “As I was working on this project I thought about the first responders who had given their lives to save another human being. Those that lost their lives will receive the highest respect from us for all eternity. They did not die in vain.”   Said guitarist John Cusimano, “If our music can help build awareness of this important issue while raising money to address it, we’re all in.”

The members of Loose Change are not strangers to musical altruism. In 1990 they were featured artists on “Tunes For The Dunes,” a project that sent 1,000 cassettes of new American music to troops serving in the Persian Gulf. Said band member and Tunes For The Dunes project coordinator, John Fracchia, “Tunes For The Dunes was our musical care package to those serving in an extremely difficult situation. It was important for them to know that we cared. This project is very much in that spirit.”

Loose Change is comprised of John Cusimano, lead guitar and vocals, John Fracchia, rhythm guitar and vocals, Ross Herman, drums and Michael Paes, bass guitar and vocals.

Contact information: John Fracchia
2735 Slaterville Road
Brooktondale, NY 14817
607-972-1532
jfracchia@frontiernet.net