While the star-studded cast of “Valentine’s Day” was helping the romance flick snag the box office’s No. 1 spot with its $52.4 million debut, another star-studded crew released its highly anticipated project over the same weekend but with a different aim.
Two weeks after Christian music star Michael W. Smith gathered a who's-who list from the Christian and Country music communities to record "Come Together Now," the song was released on iTunes and Amazon for purchase along with the mission to support quake-devastated Haiti by having all proceeds from the song's sales benefit relief efforts there.
In total, over 100 artists were brought on board for the project, including Aaron Shust, Brandon Heath, Chris Sligh, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, The Katinas, Mandisa, Mark Hall, Matthew West, Melinda Doolittle, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Steven Curtis Chapman, and TobyMac.
The song – penned by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan – was written to remind people of the need to help those in Haiti following last month’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
"The crisis in Haiti has left us all trying to figure out how we can help," said Smith as he assembled the award-winning group artists.
"We wanted to create something that the community could support, for the greater good of those in Haiti,” he added.
For the project, Belmont University opened the doors of its Ocean Way Studios to the artists and the musicians donated their time with the intent to have all proceeds from the song to go to designated charity/relief work through The American Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse.
In addition to lending their voices in song, several artists also recorded PSA's for The American Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse for use in upcoming months.
“It's incredible to be part of something that is going to help so many people," commented Smith.
In the days leading to the song's release, a website (cometogethernowhaiti.com) was created, as well as a Facebook page and Twitter account.
Through these and other media, the artists behind “Come Together Now” are encouraging their fans to help spread word of the project and to also call their local radio stations to request for the song to be played.
The cost to purchase the song on iTunes and Amazon.com is $1.29. The project’s website also provides a way for supporters to make direct donations to Samaritan’s Purse and The American Red Cross.
The full title of the 4:15 song is "Come Together Now (Music City Unites for Haiti)."
