Charity Singles: Lauryn Hill with Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, Bono, Rihanna, and John Cougar Mellancamp

"EVERY NATION"   RED HOT R&B ALL-STARS

Princess Diana's death in August 1997 caught the world off-guard.  The beautiful Princess of Wales was young, vibrant, a role model to many young woman, and a humanitarian world leader in charity work.  Diana posthumously received a Nobel Prize for her work in campaigning to ban landmines.   Her tragic death in Paris created a variety of tributes including the biggest selling record of all-time, Elton John's rewrite of Candle In The Wind.   R. Kelly contributed a song to her tribute CD and got Lauryn Hill, Gerald Levert, and Mary J. Blige to contribute.   All of these records raised more money to continue Diana's philanthropic causes.  "Every Nation" is AMAZING!   It never got publicity so if you missed it, enjoy!

"STRANDED (Haiti Mon Amour)"  JAY-Z, BONO, RIHANNA

A friend of mine is originally from Haiti and she has family still living there.  Imagine the horror to hear in Nov 2010 of the massive earthquake that leveled a major portion of the Caribbean island.  The Haitians needed major help and it was great to see some major music artists jump up and help out in the best way they could, using their musical talents to generate lots of charity money for this dire situation.  "We're not going to leave you stranded" was the hookline, Bono and The Edge created.   By the end of the day, producer Swiss Beatz, enlisted Jay-Z and Rihanna to join the collaboration.    The song may feel a little rushed but you can feel their passion and commitment to the cause.

  
"RAIN ON THE SCARECROW"   JOHN COUGAR MELLANCAMP

The American farmer had hit hard times in the mid-1980's.  Major farming corporations were taking over and hundreds of hard working American farming families were going bankrupt, unable to compete with big business.   Foreclosures were becoming an epidemic.   John Mellancamp teamed up with Neil Young and Willie Nelson to start the Farm Aid concerts.   They are on their 26th year and have raised close to $40 Million dollars to help the U.S. small family farmers.