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Narada Michael Walden is throwing the biggest party of the year. On Memorial Day, May 25, 2009, the Grammy winning drummer/producer will stage an all-star benefit concert at Davies Symphony Hall for 12-year-old Christopher Rodriguez, who became a victim of a drive by shooting while taking a piano lesson in Oakland in 2008. Rodriguez was partially paralyzed. Walden recruited a few of his famous friends to perform—notably, Sting, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Tevin Campbell, Shanice, Lisa Fischer and Michael Morgan, conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The walls in the lobby at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael, which Walden built in 1985, are lined with the gold and platinum records he produced for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin and many others. Tarpan is where hits, such as Shanice’s “I Love Your Smile,” Campell’s “Tell Me What You Want Me to Do” and Lisa Fischer’s “How Can I Ease the Pain,” were recorded. “I read the story about young Christopher and heard it on the news,” says Walden. “Here is a fellow musician who was paralyzed by a stray bullet when he was taking a piano lesson. My heart went out to him immediately, I mean, here he is doing the right thing; playing the piano and he’s paralyzed. Not long after that, I was asked to do a benefit at Yoshi’s for him. I did and I met Chris and his family. He’s a sweet little boy. He’s very smart.” Walden then invited Rodriguez to Tarpan for a drum lesson. The two bonded. Whenever Walden played some licks on the drums, Rodriguez would match them. He even gave Walden a tour of his MySpace page. Proceeds from “Let the Sunshine In” will also benefit the San Francisco Conservatory of music, a school close to Walden’s heart. All of the artists on the bill will perform free of charge. Volunteers and staff are gathering like birds to help with the event.
“Now, with Barak Obama as our new president, we all have this kind of renewed spirit,” says Walden. “It’s time to let the sunshine in. It’s a perfect cycle. For instance, the energy that was there when Hair first came out and the theme of the Age of Aquarius; it will come back again on this show. With a new feeling and a new sense of giving to Christopher and various causes—it’s just perfect. It’s time for us to rise up together as a community and do something great.” In 2007, Walden threw a star studded benefit concert at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco featuring Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and others, for his friend, singer/songwriter Angela Bofill who had suffered two strokes and resided in a convalescent home in Solano County. Walden produced three albums for Bofill: “Something About You,” “Teaser” and “Too Tough.” “I’d love her to be able to sing again, absolutely,” says Walden. “She’s not quite there yet, but she sure is making progress. She speaks easier now, and she can move a little better now, and she’s taking her rehabilitation very seriously. I’m very proud of her.”
Walden flew out to New York to see Campbell perform in the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the Broadway musical, Hairspray and asked him to perform at the benefit. Campbell says he also hopes to give Rodriguez some of his inspiration. “I went through a lot of challenges as a child, but nothing like what Christopher is going through,” says Campbell. “Challenges are a part of life. Not that I can speak for Christopher’s challenge, but I’ve learned that life is all about getting through it and trusting that you can get through it and believing in yourself.” It is no coincidence that Walden brings out the best in child performers such as Campbell. In the eighties, Walden produced the mega hit “Let Me Be Your Angel,” for 13-year-old Washington, D.C. native, Stacy Lattisaw. Walden, who hails from, Kalamazoo, Mich. was also a prodigy and remembers beating on toy drums, pie tins and boxes as early as age 5. At age 10, Walden began studying with Harold Mason, who went on to play with Stevie Wonder. This is why Walden and Wonder have maintained a close relationship over the years. At 21, Walden landed a prime gig with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. “I went from being a bus boy–from picking up nasty spaghetti dishes, to recording with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and with the Beatles’ producer, George Martin and other heavyweights,” says Walden. “I mean, that’s the power of God.” At 24, Walden, who was raised Catholic, began to study eastern philosophy and was given the name Narada by Hindu Guru Sri Chinmoy. Narada was a deity who expressed his devotion to God through music and played an instrument called the veena. “I feel that God is full of compassion for us,” says Walden. “Eastern philosophy kind of brought that feeling to me, that if we do good, if we give and live a good life, then God is very proud of us. That’s what I want; to do good and to inspire goodness in others. We can’t be unhappy if we’re giving, and that’s the basis of my life.”
“Let the Sunshine In,” featuring Narada Michael Walden, Sting, Tevin Campbell, Sakai, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Shanice, Lisa Fischer and others, 7 p.m. May 25, 2009, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, (415) 392-4400, or purchase tickets from City Box Office. Photo credits: CommentsYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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