The song by Bowles and the band Bennett debuted this morning. Fans can download it with a donation to the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign; get the link here. Free Baker Book House concert is tonight.
Bennett (from left, Josiah Gentry, Nicholas Warren and Nick Rolls) teamed up with veteran songwriter Ralston Bowles for “Give Till It Helps.” (Photo/Anna Sink)
Veteran Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles and emerging young folk group Bennett have joined forces to write a theme song to help launch this season’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign for the Salvation Army in Kent County.
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The song, “Give Till It Helps,” officially debuted at 10 a.m. Friday with a performance by Bowles and Bennett in the Family Fare Supermarket at 2755 Lake Michigan Drive NW. The tune is now available for download online here by making a donation to the Salvation Army.
The song mirrors the theme of this year’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign, which seeks to raise $1.75 million in donations by the end of the year to assist those in need in Kent County.
DOVETAILING ‘REALLY NICELY’ INTO THIS SEASON’S RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN
“The song is fantastic and dovetails really nicely into our campaign this year,” said Roger Snider, public relations and communications director for the Western Michigan Northern Indiana division of the Salvation Army.
“It was a germ of an idea and it’s kind of taken on a life of its own.”
Ralston Bowles
Bennett and Bowles also will perform the song and other music in a special free concert at 7 p.m. Friday at Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave. SE, with free tickets available online at tillithelps.eventbrite.com. Each artist will perform a short set, followed by the Salvation Army Brass Band and an “old-fashioned” Christmas carol sing-along. Brook from the morning show at Star 105.7 FM will emcee the concert.
Snider said two members of the Salvation Army’s community relations committee – John Sawyer of Grey Matter Group and Matt Jackson of Lambert Edward & Associates – charged staff to “do something big” to launch this year’s campaign, leading them to commission Bowles, a well-known, award-winning folk and Americana artist, to write a theme song. To help appeal to a “younger demographic,” they asked Bennett to participate as well.
Bowles said he initially penned the tune, then worked with members of Bennett to get “feedback as to how they felt about sections” and moving lyrics around. “I wanted them to experience the process of how it can be done and changes that it brings by flipping a line or a verse,” he told Local Spins.
SONG ALSO WILL BE USED IN RADIO COMMERCIALS
The song was recorded and produced by Joel Ferguson at Ferguson’s Planet Sunday Studios in Grand Rapids.
“I enjoyed working with them,” said Bowles. “I felt it was a good experience for stretching all around. The song is a little different style for all of us.” (Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature on Bennett online here.)
The song also will be used as “a music bed” for a 30-second radio commercial that will air during the campaign, which includes billboards and a social media blitz, according to Snider. Grey Matter Group and Lambert Edwards & Associates are assisting in that campaign which raises funds for a variety of Salvation Army programs, including its Adult Rehabilitation Center, emergency disaster services and emergency assistance, the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, Turning Point Programs, the Prenatal and Family Health Clinic and seasonal assistance in the form of food vouchers, winter garments and toys to families.
For more information or to make a donation, visit the Salvation Army online or the ‘Give Till It Helps’ website.
Friday night’s concert is free, but a ticket is required for entry. Get a ticket online here.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
