Amnesty Intl ‘Toast For Freedom’ w/ Levon, Kristofferson, more

RELEASE ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY ENCOURAGES
PEOPLE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS AND OTHERS

Levon Helm

Amnesty International today released “Toast To Freedom,” a new and exclusive commemorative song dedicated to human rights activism around the world and performed by 50 high-profile artists, including the late Levon Helm, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon, Angelique Kidjo, Donald Fagen, Warren Haynes, Keb’ Mo, Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal, Florent Pagny, Marianne Faithfull, Jimmy Barnes, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Mullins, Blind Boys of Alabama, among others.

Written by veteran guitarist/producers Carl Carlton (Robert Palmer, Eric Burdon, Keb Mo) and Larry Campbell (Levon Helm Band, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello), “Toast To Freedom” is the brainchild of Carlton, and longtime music industry executive, activist, and entrepreneur Jochen Wilms in collaboration with Art for Amnesty founder Bill Shipsey.

“Toast To Freedom,” which celebrates Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary, is being released to coincide with World Press Freedom Day. It’s available for purchase via online retailers worldwide starting Tuesday, May 8 in the United States or at www.ToastToFreedom.org. Net proceeds will benefit Amnesty International.

To mark the occasion as the song is launched, Amnesty International is asking people to take action on behalf of Chinese journalist Shi Tao, Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, and others whose basic right to free expression is being violated. For more information and to take action, please click here.

The basic tracks were recorded at the legendary Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, N.Y, affectionately known as “the Barn.” Helm, a four-time Grammy winner, who died April 19, had staged intimate, multi-artist concert performances known as the “Midnight Ramble” at the studio. Producer/engineer Bob Clearmountain (The Who, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen) produced the track, which was then sent out to artists, who added vocals.