Playing for Change

[1][2] Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley (deceased in 2005)[3] singing "Stand By Me"; it was this experience that sent Playing For Change on its mission to connect the world through music.

[8] Artists participating or openly involved in the project are Mermans Mosengo, Marcus King, Lukas Nelson, Char, Orbe Ortiz, Paulo Heman, Peter Bunetta, Roberto Luti, Titi Tsira, Jason Tamba, Keiko Komaki, Vusi Mahlasela, Louis Mhlanga, Clarence Bekker, David Guido Pietroni, Tal Ben Ari (Tula), Bono, Keb' Mo', David Broza, Manu Chao, Grandpa Elliott, Keith Richards, The Pocket Queen, Toots Hibbert from Toots & the Maytals, Taj Mahal and Stephen Marley.

[6][8] The band's version of the Ben E. King classic -- which interwove the performances of 18 street musicians, including a South African choir -- in 2012 had more than 40 million views on YouTube alone.

[8] The Playing for Change Band, an international touring band that brings artists of all backgrounds together, raising money and awareness for the foundation, features individual musicians from across the globe that the multimedia project has met through the years of travelling, recording and filming, and is regularly touring the world to spread the word of the basis of the Playing For Change foundation.

[7] ● PFC has recorded more than 1,000 musicians from 50+ countries[15] ● PFC has worked with Kiran Nepali,[16] Bono[17] (from the band U2), Keith Richards[18] (from the band The Rolling Stones), Manu Chao,[19] Toots Hibbert,[20] Ziggy Marley,[21] Keb' Mo', Baaba Maal, Char,[22] Tinariwen,[23] Los Lobos, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal,[24] Jimmy Buffett,[25] Sara Bareilles,[26] Maroon 5, Robert Plant, John Densmore,[27] Stephen Marley, Bombino,[28] Bill Kreutzmann[29] (from the band Grateful Dead), David Crosby,[30] Chad Smith (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Jake Shimabukuro, Yo-Yo Ma, Citizen Cope, Bernie Williams, Trombone Shorty, Buddy Guy,[31] The Doobie Brothers[32] (Tom Johnston, John McFee and Pat Simmons), Jack Johnson,[33] Ben Harper, Tom Morello,[34] Nattali Rize[35] Billy Branch[36] James Gadson,[37] Pancho Amat, Warren Haynes,[38] Ivan and Cyril Neville,[39] Rocky Dawuni,[40] David Guido Pietroni, Jon Cleary, Donald Kinsey,[41] Lee Oskar[42] (from the band War), Robbie Robertson, Dr. John,[43] Ringo Starr,[5] Aloe Blacc, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jim James, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty,[44] and Sherieta Lewis.