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UPDATE:

 Award-winning soul blues singer/harmonica master Curtis Salgado had surgery on July 18 in Portland, Oregon, to remove a cancerous growth from his lung, according to his manager Shane Tappendorf.  Curtis has been an early and strong supporter of our United by Music program development here in the U.S, has volunteered to be a music mentor to our company and has performed for a benefit to raise critical funds to grow the project.  Now it's our turn. Medical bills and lost performing fees are a huge challenge for Curtis and we ask you to help. During the United by Music benefit August 5th in Gig Harbor, WA  a special appeal to raise much needed funds especially for the medical bills will be made.  Come out to experience a terrific afternoon of music, help us to build the United by Music program and help Curtis to get back with us to give us his best "Soul Shot"!
Barbara G. Hammerman / Director / United by Music North America

UNITED BY MUSIC NORTH AMERICA LAUNCHES

PORTLAND, OR AS THE PILOT CITY 

Over the next couple months see the brand new UBMNA.org website

as we build our online presence and develop the program here in North America 

Congratulations on the NEW CD  'That ain't it'  (There are no translations available.)

United by Music is a program originated in The Netherlands, designed for talented people with intellectual and physical disabilities to learn and play blues music live on stage with professional musicians for general audiences.
 

Joris van Wijngaarden founder and CEO of United by Music, and Barbara Hammerman, director of UBM North America are catalysts in bringing this unique and extraordinary program to the USA and Canada.
 

"We truly believe United by Music can be the Special Olympics of Music"
- Barbara Hammerman

United by Music - now in it's sixth successful year of performances and programs in The Netherlands, South Africa, Belgium, Ireland and Germany - is honored to present a Showcase Performance on the FedEx Stage at Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival July 4th from 3:45 pm - 4:30.

Performing on this stage will be Pacific Northwest favorites Karen Lovely, Lady "A", Peter Dammann, Mac Potts and more. Featured performer from United by Music, coming from The Netherlands for the festival, is Albertine van Walsem.

By encouraging song writing, teaching the history of blues music and participating in live performances the participants have the opportunity to integrate in society, learn flexibility and showmanship, improve their language skills, gain confidence and learn how to use music to transcend their own daily challenges.

A very special announcement will be made during this performance by festival co-producer, Peter Dammann. It will include an invitation to the Portland community to participate in a series of auditions for United by Music this fall.

Through this series of auditions and training, the United by Music company demonstrates that everyone has a wide range of abilities and, if given a chance & proper training, can soar in accomplishment.

Deep gratitude to our friends, musicians and organizations that support the vision and purpose of United by Music and share their beautiful voices and talent for this incredible project :

Musician Friends:
Candye Kane, Doug MacLeod, Ann Rabson, Janiva Magness, Karen Lovely, Lady “A”, Kenny & Syreeta Neal, Honeyboy Edwards and Michael Frank, Tommy Castro, Curtis Salgado, Shemekia Copeland, Lloyd Jones, Mac Potts, and the list continues to build.

Friends and Organizations:
In our first year of development in North America we've have had the good fortune of support from Rev. Dave & Ann Brown and Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Mark Cole and The Upstage, Mark Hering & Marie Campanoli and Quimper Music, Erika Olsen, El Maloney and Hwy 99, Martha Sullivan,Dyann Lyon & Wild Jones, Clint Cam, Terry Belieu, Michael Kinsman and Blues Lovers United, Dan & May Wilson and Allstar Guitar & Music Academy, Raymond Lavine and Wurlitzer Manor, Dave & Johanna Omstead,Stella Panagiotidis, The Yale, Jimmy Mak's, Traditions World Cafe, John Hahn, Arthur Steinhorn, Marie Quimper Music, Biscuits & Blues,Redwood City Blues Fest,Golden Gate Blues Society, Greg Johnson and Cascade Blues Society,WA Blues Society, Terry Currier and Music Millennium, George Schoenstein and Redwood City Blues Festival, Michelle & Tim Burge, David Raffin, Blues Lovers United of San Diego,Ted Brown Music,Michele Phelps, Terry Rose & Dylan Kuehl,Ellen & Howard Brooks, Sindoor & Sujeet Desai, Anita White,Redwood City Blues Festival, Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival and everyone who has come to our showcases and events. and the list continues to build.