Todd Rundgren Launches Philanthropic Venture In Support of Music Education

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Jan. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- Famed musician and record producer Todd Rundgren will formally announce a new philanthropic venture, The Spirit of Harmony Foundation, during NAMM’s Support Music Coalition webcast on Friday, January 24^th at 2 p.m. Pacific/5 p.m. Eastern.

Todd’s announcement will coincide with his appearance at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAAM) 2014 Conference where he will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award for outstanding achievement in professional audio technology and production.  He will perform during the TEC Awards ceremony, along with long time band members Jesse Gress and Prairie Prince, at 7 p.m. Pacific/10 p.m. Eastern. The live web cast will be streamed on www.NAAM.org.

“The purpose of the Spirit of Harmony Foundation is to provide support and funding to school programs and other organizations trying to bring music to people who don’t have it,” stated Rundgren, “especially in terms of learning how to play instruments, learning how to understand what music is all about, and having the opportunity to express yourself through that medium.”

Conceived by his global fan base, Rundgren was inspired to “take the lead, as a result of a little gesture we made last year in New Orleans. We think it’s important now because so many resources are being diverted away from things like music and other creative enterprises that help people learn about themselves and learn to work with other people.”

For more information about the Spirit of Harmony Foundation, contact the Jean Lachowicz at 708 603 0628 or Ed Vigdor at 310 254 4309, or visit the foundation on: The Web, YouTube, Twitter or Google Plus.

About The Spirit of Harmony Foundation

The Spirit of Harmony Foundation was formed in January 2014 after Todd Rundgren and a core group of fans successfully raised over $15,500 to support the Youth Orchestra of the Lower 9^th Ward of New Orleans.

The Foundation supports music education and performance for young people. Through fundraising, special events, mentoring, advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation is working to promote the cultural, academic, social, and personal benefits of music.

Its mission is to foster personal and cultural enrichment by supporting music education and musical expression, and energizing and inspiring young people through the study and performance of music, particularly for those who have limited access to musical resources. It will also develop youth assets by promoting academic advancement and personal expression through access to music, and expanding possibilities for youth to pursue a musical career.

http://youtu.be/RqyhiHDefXo



About Todd Rundgren

Considered by many to be the "Ultimate Rock Cult Hero," Todd Rundgren has maintained a legion of fans through four decades.

Todd was raised in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) area, and his first professional bands, “Money” and “Woody's Truck Stop”, achieved much regional success. In the late 1960s Todd's searing guitar work reached a nationwide audience as leader of the blues-psychedelic band Nazz. He wrote and arranged almost all of the work that went into the group’s three albums. Nazz broke up in the early 1970s and Todd released two solo albums under the name of “Runt”. His first big solo success was in 1971 with "We Gotta Get You a Woman" and in 1972 from the double album "Something/Anything?"  he scored big on the charts with "I Saw the Light" and "Hello, It's Me."

Rundgren eschewed the superstardom that seemed imminent by refusing to be pigeonholed into any single genre of music. He consistently released albums with soaring love ballads, laced with heavy guitar rock, occasional mini rock operas, and production/sound experimentation that garnered him recognition as a “wizard in the studio.” As a record producer, Rundgren has been responsible for many seminal albums and hits from a wide variety of artists, most notably Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" opus.

In the late 1970s and through the 1980s, Todd’s group Utopia was noteworthy because each member was an accomplished musician and vocalist in his own right. Utopia began as one of the early progressive rock bands and over time re-invented itself into a pop band.

Todd was a pioneer in the earliest days of music video, and his “Time Heals” was one of the first videos to air on MTV in 1981. Rundgren has always been interested in technology and how it can be used to expand the “color” palate of music. He is a computer enthusiast, marketing many innovations, including the first interactive album “No World Order” and a subscription-based music portal “Patronet.”

As a composer of music for film and TV, as well as a Broadway show, Rundgren continues to be prolific in the industry as a nationally and internationally popular touring performer. He has been tapped for guest professorships at several universities around the United States and has become an avid supporter of music education for youth.