Dramatic Video to Debut Underscoring the Legacy of Hateful Violence in U.S.
A NEW CIVIL RIGHTS ANTHEM – “AIN’T GONNA WHISTLE DIXIE ANY MORE” – TO BE FEATURED PERFORMANCE AT “ACTIONS FOR CHANGE CONCERT” IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA SEPT. 30 WRITTEN AND RECORDED BY FOLK SINGER AND AUTHOR PAUL METSA AND AWARD-WINNING BLUES ARTIST WEE WILLIE WALKER WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS THE SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS
WHO
A dramatic new video will premier online this week underscoring the hateful legacy of gun and racial violence in America to accompany the new Civil Rights anthem “Ain’t Gonna Whistle Dixie anymore,” which will be one of the featured live performances September 30 during the annual Actions for Change Concert in Parkland, Fla., -- site of the February 2018 tragic school shooting in which 14 students and 3 staff members died.
WATCH — and SHARE — the video at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBqxRmXwMkoThe video was created by artist Doug Kallberg, with Paul Metsa’s Acoustic Quartet featuring Wee Willie Walker (winner of the Living Blues 2018 Critics Poll for Outstanding Blues Singer of 2018), Sonny Earl and singers Mari Harris and Randi Starr Hudson.
LISTEN to the iTunes link for the audio track: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1412975480
Actions for Change Concert: Artist’s Page: https://actionsforchange.com/entertainment/
WHAT
During the Parkland concert, legendary folk artist Paul Metsa and living blues icon, Wee Willie Walker, along with harmonica player Sonny Earl will perform “Ain't Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore,” a lightning-rod anti-racism anthem, inspired by the neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville last year. The recently released digital-only single also features the soul- charged gospel voices of the three-time Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness It has been compared to the great protest songs by Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. (SEE LYRICS BELOW)* The song was written by eight-time
Downloads and streams from 'Ain't Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore' benefit organizations that work towards racial advancement and the end of bigotry such as the
. Proceeds are administrated by Rock the Cause Records a nonprofit record label known for raising millions of dollars
for charitable causes through music. Rock the Cause Records is distributed by Sony/The Orchard.
WHERE/WHEN
Sunday, September 30, 2018 – 5:20 PM
Pine Trails Park, 10555 Trails End, in Parkland
WHY
The recording of Ain't Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore” features hauntingly beautiful, and soulfully charged performances by Walker, augmented by the stirring gospel backing of Sounds of Blackness.
Set to music and lyrics by Metsa – “Minnesota's other great Iron Range songwriter” -- "Ain't Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore" is a protest anthem aimed at the racially motivated hate, violence and social disparity of our times. We hope it will inspire conversation and action that disrupts the institutionalized racism that exists in America today.
CONTACT
Martin Keller, Media Savant Communications, 612-729-8585 (land) 612-220-6515 (cell), mkeller@mediasavantcom.com, @mediasavant
*More about Paul Metsa, Wee Willie Walker,
Lyrics to “Ain’t Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore” and Background about the Song
Paul Metsa is a legendary folk artist, activist and author from Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range now living in the Twin Cities. He is also the author of the memoir, Blue Guitar Highway. Living blues icon Wee Willie Walker has been nominated for numerous Blues Foundation awards, as well as being recently named Best Living Male Vocalist by Living Blues Magazine. Sonny Earl, one of Americana's most storied harmonica players, completes the trio for the Parkland performance.
Over a dozen musicians and studio engineers contributed to the recording. The song calls forth the ghosts of the Antebellum South, the Civil Rights movements, and those who sacrificed their lives fighting fascism, racism and prejudice. Those ghosts narrate a story that confronts the age- old divisions we see in our nation today. The artist behind the project share the sincere hope that 'Ain't Gonna Whistle Dixie Anymore' will be a unifying anthem that will lift every voice, and give new meaning to "we shall overcome".