By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Author
LOS ANGELES — An all-star forged of actors and singers will inform the story of legendary R&B singer Donny Hathaway after they carry out his hit songs throughout “The 988 Lifeline Charity Occasion That includes: Coronary heart & Soul – A Musical Tribute to the Life & Instances of Donny Hathaway” set to happen on the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Sept. 8.
The objective of the present, offered by Get Collectively Basis in cooperation with Rock Cellar Productions, is to boost consciousness of the nationwide suicide prevention hotline 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline (previously an 800 quantity), and to boost funds to assist improve the extent of care and help for these probably prone to suicide and their households.
Kevin and Mare Wachs are the founders of Get Collectively Basis, which believes each little one deserves entry to alternatives and sources essential to thrive.
“The explanation we’re doing this occasion is as a result of nobody is aware of concerning the 988 hotline,” Kevin Wachs mentioned. “Individuals don’t know that they’ll name that quantity as a substitute of 911. While you name 988, you get a educated psychological well being skilled. While you name 911, you get law enforcement officials. With 988 you get somebody who’s educated in that space. That’s actually vital.”
Wachs, whose basis produces two occasions per yr, mentioned the objective of the occasion is to boost consciousness concerning the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline and to boost funds for the group that administers the quantity.
“The issue is they’re underfunded coupled with the truth that nobody is aware of about it,” mentioned Wachs, drummer for the band, The Tribe. “We would like folks to return out to allow them to share the data, and so we are able to elevate some cash. All the cash raised goes to Didi Hirsch. They’re those who administer the 988 companies. We don’t preserve any of the cash. We volunteer our time to placed on this occasion.”
Didi Hirsch Psychological Well being Companies, which operates 11 facilities in Southern California, is a nationwide chief in whole-person psychological well being disaster care and substance use companies. The group gives compassionate psychological well being, substance use and suicide prevention companies to people and households, particularly in communities the place discrimination and injustice restrict entry.
Based on its web site, Didi Hirsch has served 158,291 individuals by means of outpatient, residential, outreach and training, and 24/7 disaster line companies. The group works with kids, teenagers, adults and seniors.
Wachs mentioned they selected to pay tribute to Hathaway as a result of he struggled with psychological sickness.
“He took his personal life on the peak of his profession,” Wachs mentioned. “He may be probably the most well-known pop singer, in addition to Kurt Cobain, to take their very own life. Donny is an icon to so many individuals. One more reason why we selected to honor him is as a result of we’re buddies along with his daughter, Donnita Hathaway, who will likely be in attendance.”
Hathaway, who died in 1979 on the age of 33, suffered from extreme psychological sickness, which, allegedly, led to him committing suicide. A keyboardist, songwriter and soul singer, Hathaway, a Grammy Award-winner who typically sang duets with Robert Flack (‘The place is the Love,” Again Collectively Once more” and “The Nearer I Get to You”), was identified for the hits “Sometime We’ll All Be Free,” “For All We Know,” “The Ghetto,” “Little Ghetto Boy,” “ This Christmas,” “A Track For You” and extra.
The present, directed by Richard Cummings, Jr. (“Northern Publicity,” “Hollywood Shuffle,” “thirtysomething”), options R&B legend Freda Payne, Rob Morrow (“Billions,” “Quiz Present,” “Northern Publicity”), Alisan Porter (winner of “The Voice”), Andy Vargas (Santana), Terrell Edwards (East Bay Soul), Carly Smithson (“American Idol,” “We Are The Fallen”), Monica Calhoun (“The Greatest Man,” “The Gamers Membership,” “Love and Basketball”), Jaidyn Triplett (iCarly), Joshua Triplett (“The Neighborhood”), Roberta Freeman (Weapons n’ Roses, Pink Floyd), Van Hook (Phil Collins, Lyle Lovett), Ciamara Morales (Filipino singer), and Nia Padilla (Latin pop singer).
Cummings, a producer, director and former actor mentioned he bought concerned within the occasion after his good friend, Rob Morrow, with whom he co-starred within the present, “Northern Publicity,” known as and requested if he would contemplate engaged on the occasion.
“I instantly mentioned, ‘sure’,” Cummings mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘I’m in. What do you want me to do?’”
Seems they wanted a director.
“After we had been on the lookout for somebody to direct, Rob Morrow advised Richard Cummings,” Wachs sach. “It seems he’s precisely the man we wished and wanted. He’s a super-talented dude.”
“I used to be more than pleased to direct this present,” Cummings mentioned. “For me, the draw is psychological well being. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t had stuff to cope with. All people must see this present. Everybody must study 988. I didn’t know something about 988.”
He added: “Everybody must study there are instruments for individuals who really feel they’re in or going right into a darkish place. Hopefully after seeing the present, it touches you one way or the other. Hopefully it strikes you in some route, so that you keep in mind what the message is if you stroll out of the theater. Extra folks must know concerning the out there sources. Purchase a ticket — save a life.”
The all-star band consists of Leland Sklar (bass), Herman Matthews (drums), Sean Holt (percussion/saxophone/vocals), Tariqh Akoni (guitar), Steve Postell (guitar) and Kenneth Crouch (keyboard).
The Get Collectively Basis is a nonprofit based in 2001 by the Wachs. Their fundraising efforts have included quite a few all-star live performance occasions and telethons, elevating cash and consciousness for varied causes.
Basis packages present direct companies to kids and households in want, disaster reduction, and extra. The inspiration has prolonged its attain by partnering with different like-minded organizations to offer a higher continuum of look after the neighborhood.
Lately, the inspiration launched a music enrichment program for underprivileged youth, Collectively in Tune.
For info, go to www.gettogetherfoundation.org
Darlene Donloe is a contract reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She could be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
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