RAY KORONA BAND: $5 Working People's Music Tape

Ray Korona Band

$5 Working People's Music Tape

© 1998 Ray Korona

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

The Ray Korona Band joined with other outstanding union musicians to create this exciting recording of new songs with a worker's perspective--some serious in tone, others humorous & satirical.

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Ray Korona Band - $5 Working People's Music Tape (CD)

The Ray Korona Band joined with other outstanding union musicians to create the $5 Working People's Music Tape, featuring eight new songs about work. The songs address current job issues including downsizing, health care rights, workfare, sweatshops and sexual harassment. The cover art is by nationally syndicated labor cartoonist Rick Flores. This CD VERSION of the tape was made for radio, but a limited number of copies are available for purchase. Unlike other Ray Korona Band CDs, it does not come with a lyrics booklet.

Directly connecting music and organizing, the songs present a worker's perspective on job issues. Some are serious in tone and others use humor and catchy music to make their points. For example, "Send Me An Ambulance" was performed during the late Senator Paul Wellstone's speaking tour in support of his health care reform bill and was added to National Public Radio's programming on the issue. "We Will Have Dignity" has been published in several languages and used internationally in anti-child labor campaigns by the UN International Labor Office. The Office Song was performed at a US clerical workers national gathering. These songs seem to be able to entertain, inform and inspire people all at the same time.

The multi-cultural musicians play together in a contemporary folk style making the lyrics accessible to all, but keeping the music interesting. They include band members Barry Kornhauser, Ivice, Ellen Davidson, Sharon Abreu and Ray, joined by NYC Labor Chorus musical director Geoffrey Fairweather, Jerome Harris, well known for his bass playing with Sonny Rollins, world music percussionist Randy Crafton, Hope Johnson, Janice Johnson, Robin Burdulis and others.

For more about the original tape project, including a collection of all of the lyrics, visit the band's web site. Ray is proud to have been a founding member of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000, the union local for travelling musicians.

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  • A great idea well-conceived, directly connecting political music and organizing.
    author: Sounds Celebrating Resistance

    And just in, the $5 Working People's Music Tape specifically designed for organizing by individuals, groups, and unions. Eight folk-rock songs 'of current labor struggles' including sexual harassment, health care, workfare, sweatshops, and more. A great idea well-conceived, directly connecting political music and organizing, and a nice affordable ($5 from Hobo Star for the tape) overview of Ray and friends labor focused music.

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