The Association of Music Producers (AMP) hosted a West Coast Battle of the Ad Bands on Nov. 19 at the Mint in Los Angeles. While the mood was festive as ad agency folk who are members of different bands strutted their musical stuff–to reviews by a panel of AMP judges loosely reminiscent of the American Idol m.o.–there was a serious purpose to the event, continuing an AMP tradition of raising money for Mr. Holland’s Opus, a foundation that supports music education and its many benefits through the donation and repair of musical instruments, which go to under-served schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide.
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation was inspired by the critically acclaimed motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story about the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. The film’s composer, Michael Kamen, founded Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation in 1996 as part of his commitment to the future of music education. Kamen passed away in ’03, but the legacy he left behind includes not only his amazing body of work, but also the foundation.
The organization was started to address the fact that across the nation, school and community music programs have been discontinued or severely diminished due to budget cuts. The positive effects of music education on children’s emotional and intellectual growth have been proven in numerous case studies.
This mark “Opus No. 4” in AMP fundraising efforts for The Opus Foundation. It all began in April 2004 with the then AMP Mixer Awards. That evening there were a couple of prime highlights besides the awards themselves: a silent charity auction which generated money for Mr. Holland’s Opus; and a live performance by Drake Price, a talented jazz cellist who at the time was 18 years old.
Price represented the good work of the Opus Foundation. He applied to the foundation in ’98 for a cello. He was at a place in his studies where he needed a better instrument to progress in his pursuit of music, but his family could not afford a cello for him. Price received a cello from the Opus Foundation and went on to win assorted scholarships and awards.
Again in ’05, a portion of the proceeds generated by the AMP Awards was donated to Mr. Holland’s Opus. And in late ’06/early ’07, sans the AMP competition, the tradition still continued, albeit online as AMP auctioned off an ebony Les Paul guitar bearing the signatures of superstar band Gnarls Barkley and television and radio personality Adam Carolla. The instrument sold for $1,310 on eBay, with the money going to the Opus Foundation.
This was the second time the guitar was auctioned. The first time was at AMP’d UP!, the opening night music bash of Advertising Week ’06 in Manhattan last fall, but the highest bidder never showed up to claim the guitar. So AMP turned to eBay to stay true to its commitment to the Opus Foundation.
For further info, log onto http://www.mhopus.org/
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More