Duane, my oldest friend and the benefactor of this blog, is a man who has always been full of ideas. He’s making a name for himself in the gaming industry, and while I’ve never been much of a gamer, his latest idea has me inspired to play along. It’s a game called I Am Your Champion.
From his A Terrible Idea website:
“I Am Your Champion is a game that will challenge your existing ideas regarding charitable fundraising. I sincerely believe that if you complete all five rounds of this game, you will look at working with charities, and your ability to assist your favorite charities, in a whole new light.
We will play the game in five rounds. Each round will begin at 10:00 AM, starting today and going through Friday. Each round will consist of three Tasks you must complete to proceed to the next round, as well as additional Drills that are optional, but will have an effect I will describe in a moment. And you can join the game at any time – if you’re reading this Friday morning, you can still complete all five rounds (but you might need to hustle).
Any player who completes all five rounds will receive a special pass from me. Only people who finish this version of the game will get this pass. In addition to being a unique and interesting item in and of itself, this pass will entitle the bearer to certain benefits to be disclosed after the game has been completed. Each one will be unique, and if you complete some of those Drills I mentioned earlier, your pass will reflect that.”
Now, here’s where I tie that all in to the modus operandi of NTSIB.
So many of the artists who gave us the music that inspired the music we still make today, music that feeds the soul, music that sometimes even made a difference in the world, died poor and sick, buried in unmarked graves. At times, the music itself has almost been lost to history. Some music has been lost.
The Music Maker Relief Foundation works to provide for mostly older musicians who are keeping the roots of Southern music alive by providing for their day-to-day needs, helping them develop their craft and helping them get gigs, record deals, etc. Artists on their roster, past and present, include Jack Owens, Robert Belfour, Ernie K Doe, and they’ve even helped the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Since I first heard some of those early, scratchy blues tunes, I’ve felt it important to educate people about the roots of American music, to share the love this music so richly deserves. For that reason, Music Maker Relief Foundation, I Am Your Champion.
