United By Music America at HōKū Events
May 29 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Doors at 6:00 P.M.
1 Ticket – Two sets, starting at 6:30 and 8:00
$15 if you buy before May 29.
$20 at the door.
Underage seating available, please indicated when purchasing tickets.
Hoku has delicious food and a full bar.
–Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Artist and Mentor
“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”
–Bruce Iglauer
President and Founder, Alligator Records
“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.”
–Tommy Castro (Tommy Castro & The Painkillers)
Mentor
“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.”
–John Boutté
Mentor
“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,
