Song For You

12/14/2025

At Song For You Foundation/ A Song For You initiative, we are so thankful for our Artists & all the great work they do & we are thankful 🥹 for you too!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X3jn7927DV

songforyou.org

We are so thankful.https://www.songforyou.orgBorn in the pandemic, A Song For You Initiative/ Song for You Foundation is a unique grassroots arts not-for-pro...

12/06/2025

So unbelievably heart full after last night’s Benefit Concert & the incredible generosity of all who attended our Sold Out show at the historic The Bitter End in NYC.
It was a night of Stories & Songs & all the things for our Song For You Foundation, but It was also a celebration of our Artists & work in the community.
Thank you is an understatement to our Artists, Musicians, Grammy Award Winners, Volunteers, Executive Director, Advisory Board, Auctioneer, Photographer, Sound Man, Donors, Gospel Choir, legendary Emcee, Dennis Elsas, the staff of the Bitter End, and all the people who braved the cold to come out & celebrate with us.☺
There was so much love in that room
& We are forever thankful.

On a personal note, I want to send big love tomorrow to our Uncle Chris in Chicago on a day of celebrating his work in the community. I know our Uncle Paul will be watching over.... As he was last night..... As He always has been. ❤

📸 Omar Kasrawi

11/27/2025

With five GRAMMY®️ Awards, 14 Blues Foundation Awards, and a career spanning more than 50 years under his belt, Keb' Mo's done it all.

Born and raised in Compton, Keb’ began his remarkable journey at the age of 21, when he landed his first significant gig playing with Jefferson Airplane. For 20 years, Keb’ would work primarily behind the scenes, establishing himself as a respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger. In 1994 he would introduce the world to "Keb’ Mo’" with the release of his widely acclaimed self-titled debut. Critics were quick to take note of Keb’s modern, genre-bending take on old-school sounds. He garnered his first GRAMMY®️ Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Just Like You. In the decades to come, Keb’ would take home four more GRAMMY®️ Awards, top the Billboard Blues Chart seven times, perform everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The White House, collaborate with many, including Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, & Bonnie Raitt, have compositions recorded and sampled by artists as diverse as B.B. King, Zac Brown, and BTS, compose music for television series, and earn the Americana Music Association’s 2021 award for Lifetime Achievement in Performance.

A passionate philanthropist and outspoken activist, Keb’ has devoted countless hours and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support social, environmental, and racial justice throughout his career. As a celebrity mentor under the guidance of First Lady Michelle Obama and the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, Keb’ “adopted” The Johnson School for Excellence in Chicago, where he teamed up with teachers, students, and parents to help develop a thriving arts program.

Bringing it all back home, Keb’ looked to his own story for inspiration on his new album, "Good To Be", artfully linking the grit and groove of his Compton roots with the strum and twang of his more recently adopted hometown of Nashville, TN. Keb plays all over the world & has developed such a devoted fan base.

A few summers back, our Founder, Emily played as an Artist at the beautiful Elkhart Jazz Festival where Keb was the Headliner. He & his team were so kind & gracious then, and recently Keb has sent his original song "Life is Beautiful" to be featured in our upcoming Benefit Concert in NYC December 4th, and also for patients & families. We are ever grateful to & so blown away by this gift.

Can't imagine a better song to share at Thanksgiving than this one. Thanks to Kelly & Adrienne, & our friends in Elkhart.

So Thankful for you, Keb🤍✨

11/21/2025

Todays song comes to us from Brooklyn &
Leo Sidran -a multi-instrumentalist,producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host.

He was born and raised in Madison Wisconsin and has been living in NYC for over 20 years.

His Father, Ben Sidran, another multifaceted music man, is an American jazz and rock keyboardist, producer, label owner, and music writer.

He got his start writing songs professionally as a teenager when the Steve Miller Band recorded four of his songs for their 1993 Wide River album. His father, Ben, was working with Miller at the time, and Steve invited him to play keyboards, guitars and drums on the record.

He attended the University of Wisconsin to study History and Spanish. During a year abroad living in Spain, he fell in love with Spanish music, and after college spent quite a bit of time back and forth between Madison and Madrid. He developed relationships with several Madrid- based “Latin alternative” artists like Jorge Drexler and Ana Laan. Sidran co-produced the Academy Award Winning song, “Al Otro Lado Del Rio” from the film The Motorcycle Diaries with Jorge Drexler in 2005.

He moved to Brooklyn and not only started producing records for other artists, but also composing music for film and television commercials amassing a catalog of 100s of major TV ads for Coca-Cola, Visa, Lincoln, McDonalds, Ford, Google, PBS.

As a drummer, he’s played and recorded with jazz luminaries including Phil Woods, Howard Levy, Clark Terry and Dave Grusin.

As a Producer, he has produced records for many great artists including his Father.

To round out his penchant for curating the music he loves, he launched a podcast called The Third Story featuring interviews with musicians and other members of the creative class about their personal stories and professional journeys. According to our Founder, he is the “single best conversationalist” she has ever met, as interested in telling his story as he is in hearing other peoples.

Leo has made eight solo records.

He is an incredible friend to A Song For You Initiative/ Song For You Foundation♥️

If you wish to hear more songs like this original Leo Sidran song or donate to helping us make a record of songs like this you can donate today at

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

11/14/2025

Today's song comes to us from Brooklyn & Richard Julian.

RICHARD JULIAN is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter whose emotive storytelling and candid voice transcend genre. Brokering common ground between folk, jazz, Americana, and soul, his deeply personal songs have been praised by distinguished artists like Randy Newman and Bonnie Raitt. In addition to leading his own project, Richard is known for his collaborations with Norah Jones — and for founding and curating the popular taste making Brooklyn music venue Bar LunÁtico, which has made the NY Times Best of list quite a few times in recent years.

Julian has performed venues and festivals throughout North America, Europe and Japan - including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Late Night with David Letterman, and Monterey Jazz.

On his latest original album, Hit & Run, Julian departs from his trademark acoustic guitar sound in favor of electric keyboard and piano. His evocative narratives are newly framed by punchy vocal and brass arrangements, and the recordings feature a noteworthy array of musicians on the New York scene.

A supporter of A song for you music initiative/ Song For You Foundation since the early days, Richard generously sent this song on behalf of our patient, Hilda, back when our artists were sending covers of songs. Richard's version of "Stardust" is one of our very favorites. He has been a friend to the project ever since, and a friend of the Founder's for much longer. We are all grateful for the talent that is Richard Julian, and so lucky to have him in our community.

If you wish to be part of our fall campaign to make more songs like this accessible to patients, and want to help us create an album in 2026 of original songs for the project, you can do so at the link below.

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

11/06/2025

Song For You Foundation enriches the lives of patients and families in hospice and hospital along with the First Responders who care for them by crafting unique songs. Born in the pandemic, but having extended well beyond, our Songwriters have helped hundreds of patients, families, & first responders through the power of music and connection through song.

Our song today comes to us from Norway and the amazing Joy Dragland ❤️
As a solo artist, Joy Dragland has written and recorded a full-length album as well as several singles, and more than 20 albums feature her as a guest artist. Now living in Norway, she’s a 2024 alum of The Voice Norway, and she’s currently working on another solo album and a few more singles with her band, Radiokids.

From commercials to jingles to the international stage, Joy has done it all & her name couldn't be more fitting for what she brings to music.

Currently working on a roots music solo album for release and also a project with her Norwegian band, Radiokids.
Joy has also worked at length with another A Song For You Musician & Oscar & Grammy nominee, Leo Sidran on their project "Joy and the Boy." Throughout the early 2000s, the duo recorded three albums, one of which included a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” that made Spain’s Top 40 pop radio charts in 2004. Joy has also generously contributed her vocals to many of our Founder's songs & projects. She is a real friend to the Song For You Foundation.

To quote Dragland on her take on being flexible in music & the paths we take as artists she says " I think it’s important to shape-shift a little bit in life — to find out not only who you are but [to] discover the many “yous” that you are capable of”

This song is such a beautiful gift Joy wrote for one of our patients, Miss Mable.

Check out the full length version on our youtube channel. ….And remember if you want to support these songs & this project you can do so at the link below...🤍

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

10/30/2025

Today’s song of the week 🎵 comes to us from the South.

Song For You Foundation enriches the lives of patients and families in hospice and hospital along with the First Responders who care for them by crafting unique songs. Born in the pandemic, but having extended well beyond, our Songwriters have helped hundreds of patients, families, & first responders through the power of music and connection through song.

Today’s song is from Randall Bramblett. For decades, he's explored the deep corners of American roots music, creating a southern sound that's every bit as eclectic as its maker. That sound reaches a new milestone with his new record Paradise Breakdown, the thirteenth record from a musician hailed as "one of the South's most lyrical and literate songwriters" by Rolling Stone. The album finds Bramblett taking stock of past and present, embracing all the contradictory elements — love and loss; joy and disappointment; nostalgia and mortality — of a career dedicated to creation.
This combination of love & loss is one that draws us to him at the Song For You Foundation.

Randall played as a multi-instrumentalist for acts like Gregg Allman and Sea Level. Our beloved Advisory Board Member, Shannon Allman brought Randall’s music to us.

Along the way, Randall watched other artists record many of his songs. Bonnie Raitt opened her Grammy-winning album Slipstream with his composition "Used to Rule the World" in 2012. The Blind Boys of Alabama covered his song "Almost Home" on their own Grammy-nominated record several years later. Blues legend Bettye LaVette recorded Bramblett compositions on her Grammy-nominated record LaVette!

Paradise Breakdown proves that Bramblett has plenty of material for his own projects too. He has made an album built for roadhouse dance floors, dark corners, and the long ride from past to present.

There is a balance in composing his own albums and playing a supportive role in the careers of other musicians — including Steve Winwood, Widespread Panic, Chuck Leavell, and Marc Cohn, all of whom have cherry-picked Bramblett to be a member of their touring bands — the next. “I'm still working with my friends, making my own records and playing exciting shows," he says. "There's always this sense of newness to it all that I love.”

We are honored that Randall took the time to record this classic song, "Dreams“ at the Macon Opera House & we welcome him to the Song For You family. 🙏

To learn how you can contribute to Song For You Foundation’s mission and impact, check out the link below:

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

10/23/2025

As our Song For You Foundation continues to grow, we are celebrating the work that it does in the community. As part of this celebration, Song For You is planning to make a record in summer of 2026 to highlight original songs from this very project. Before we were a charity sending original songs we were sharing the cover songs too of artists we admire.

Today Song For You Foundation enriches the lives of patients and families in hospice and hospital along with the First Responders who care for them by crafting unique songs. Born in the pandemic, but having extended well beyond, our Songwriters have helped hundreds of patients, families, & first responders through the power of music and connection through song.

This song today comes to us from Singer/ Songwriter Carl Banks. It is his spin on a famous John Prine & Keith Sykes song "You've Got Gold," a song that has brought much comfort to our First Responders, particularly Carl's version of it shared here.

To learn more about how you can help us share more songs check out the link below & learn more about Carl too :)-

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

Carl Banks is a modern-day troubadour. He hails from the blues clubs of Saint Louis, Missouri, to carve his niche in the vibrant chaos of New York City. His music has fused folk, blues, roots, and jam into poignant narratives.

Carl’s stories and music have been featured on the Moth radio hour. As the ringleader of the traveling folk show “The Highway Hootenanny,” he transforms ordinary nights into celebrations from coast to coast. Carl is the co-founder of Bridge & A Slice Road Runners, a half marathon event that happens each year in NYC & an organization that has been a great support of Song For You Foundation. Carl also conquered a 100-mile ultra marathon. His spirit & sense of adventure are contagious and found in his music too.
You can follow along with him &his many adventures at

https://carlmbanks.com/

10/16/2025

Today’s “Song for You” Song of the week comes to us from Jesse Harris. Jesse is a Grammy Award-winning Songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, and Producer. Originally from New York City, he has released more than 20 albums under his own name and his instrumental group Cosmo, as well as many others with various projects and artists. His latest, “Paper Flower,” a collection of new songs, was recorded in Paris with his old friends Kenny Wollesen and Tony Scherr.

In 2003 Harris received the Grammy Award for Song Of The Year for writing Norah Jones hit “Don’t Know Why,” from her debut album, “Come Away With Me,” which has sold almost 30 million copies worldwide. It includes four other of his compositions: “Shoot The Moon,” “One Flight Down,” I’ve Got To See You Again,” and “The Long Day Is Over.” He plays guitar throughout the recording too.

Other artists who have recorded Harris’ songs include Smokey Robinson, George Benson, Pat Metheny, and Solomon Burke. Songwriting collaborations have included Maya Hawke, John Zorn, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Maya Hawke, Gabi Hartmann and Lana Del Rey.
In 2022 Cosmo, Harris’ instrumental project, released the album, "But When?" and then in 2023, "Spring Song."

His new solo album, "If You Believed In Me," featuring orchestral arrangements by Maycon Ananias, will be out in 2025.

We are so honored to have Jesse as an Artist for A Song For You initiative/ Song For You Foundation.

In 2022, NBC used a short clip of Harris playing his song "Everlasting Day," a song we sent to our patient Mable. Jesse is as humble as he is talented, and we thank him for his songs 🤍








https://givebutter.com/songforyou

10/09/2025

As our Song For You Foundation continues to grow, we are celebrating the work that it does in the community. As part of this celebration, Song For You is planning to make a record in summer of 2026 to highlight original songs from this very project. Today we launch our first campaign to help make that happen.

Song For You Foundation enriches the lives of patients and families in hospice and hospital along with the First Responders who care for them by crafting unique songs--just like the one we're sending you today! Born in the pandemic, but having extended well beyond, our Songwriters have helped hundreds of patients, families, & caretakers get through the most difficult times through the power of music and connection through song.

We are excited to share this work with you & our greater community.

This song today comes to us from Ireland & the Songwriter Brían Farrell, written for our patient, Susan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MNOGquF9aM

If you wish to be a part of helping make a record with songs like "Song For Susan," and help grow our mission & impact, you can do so today by clicking here:

https://givebutter.com/songforyou

In a time with HISTORIC cuts to the arts and nonprofits, every bit counts.

We are passionate about our work of healing through music, and need people like you to be a part of it.

Your donation can help keep songs free to families, help one more songwriter to connect with the story of one more patient, and help to bring gratitude(not grief) to that person and family.

Song For You is ever grateful for your generosity.

https://www.songforyou.org/

A Song For Susan" on Behalf of "Song For You"Artist-- Brían FarrellIreland, 2024Photo-- Omar Kasrawi- Location--Bitter End, NYC"Song For You"We bring the he...

10/02/2025

Our Founder Recording today in Harlem with the our Song For You Artist, Scott Sharrard (Little Feat, Greg Allman, Amy Helm) on a “Song For You” song coming out for Christmas ❤️

Engineered by the sweetest, Charles A Martinez (Steely Dan, Joe Jackson & Little Feat.) Featuring our beloved Nir Sadovnik & the amazing Graham Hawthorne on Drums (Paul Simon, David Byrne, Willie Nelson.)

Not only such pros, but such gentlemen.

Stay tuned December for this tune & others from many of our artists 🤍♥️