[Mickey]

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 8, 2002 – GRAMMY Award winning and multi-platinum selling artist and composer, Michael W. Smith and legendary producer Phil Ramone (Bono, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Luciano Pavarotti) are teaming up to record a song for the album Songs For Life. Executive produced by Ramone, proceeds from the album, to be released on Interscope Records in October, will go towards AIDS relief efforts in Africa.

The song, tentatively titled “Reaching Out,” was penned by Smith and Dan Hill and is being produced by Ramone. He says of Smith, “Michael’s voice rings in a whole different way.” He adds, “Michael sent me a demo of this song, and I fell in love with it.”

Songs For Life will contain songs of positive messages performed by prominent recording artists dedicating their time and talents to the cause. The album will be distributed internationally in the fall by Interscope Records on a cost reimbursement basis only. It will contain 12 to 15 songs, each with themes that invoke unity, friendship and strength. Artists who have already recorded songs for this project include Mary J. Blige, Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Judy Collins and Billy Gilman.

Smith adds, “Earlier this year, Phil and I had the honor of meeting with His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland. After hearing about the devastation, we felt the need to find a way to help the king and his people battle this tremendous disease. We decided that we’d link arms in raising both awareness and funding to assist in the fight of AIDS in his country.”

King Mswati has declared the AIDS situation in the kingdom to be a “national disaster” and made the fight against AIDS the top social welfare priority for the government. Due to the rapid spread of HIV, the overflow of hospitals with a 200 – 300 percent occupancy ratio, lack of access to affordable anti-retroviral therapies, and the growing numbers of orphans, elderly and destitute infected by this disease, the United Nations Foundation and His Majesty have requested aid, and the music community is responding.

Proceeds will be used to introduce preventive measures to deal with this plague. Different regions will be selected to objectively determine the most effective programs. As an example, in Swaziland itself, only two urban centers, Manzini City and Mbabane City, have populations of over 60,000. These urban areas have infrastructures which allow for administration of the programs and can be tested for effectiveness.

His Majesty has established the Royalty Initiative to Combat AIDS (“RICA”) as a non-profit corporation to produce the album. His Majesty is working closely with United Nations Aids, the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS/HIV, who have pledged a major part of the funding, and the South Africa Development Community (SADC), a coalition of 14 African countries seeking to reduce HIV/AIDS in its member states – Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Sambia and Zimbabwe.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the AIDS pandemic undoubtedly represents the most important health challenge facing humankind, especially for those in the developing world. In the global fight against AIDS, the United Nations has categorized the Kingdom of Swaziland as being among the five “worst affected countries” in the world, in terms of numbers infected with HIV. The statistics make truly frightening reading: up to 33 percent of the population are infected with HIV; around 40 percent of all pregnant women are HIV positive; 15 percent of all babies are HIV positive; 65 percent of all hospital beds are occupied by tuberculosis victims, of which 85 percent are HIV positive; and life expectancy is expected to drop from 59 to 38 years by 2005 and to 30 by 2010.

In rural communities however, both flatlands and mountainous programs must be developed to deal with populated areas which have no sound infrastructure or communications or medical facilities. One of the first uses of the RICA fund will be to establish a model for a much needed center to provide and disseminate information, education, medicines and programs aimed at programmatic preventions to people living in the Ezulwini area, which is a rural sector. In addition, homes and treatment methods for the growing number of orphans and destitute living with this devastating disease must be established and tested.

Smith, so moved by the immense tragedy in Africa, has been talking about this during many of his concerts; one of which was the recent Creation East Festival. Before a crowd of over 70,000 people, Smith paralleled relationships and worship with lifestyle, highlighting the importance of pouring one’s life into the lives of others. He then debuted a three-minute video taped by DATA (Debt, AIDS and Trade in Africa) founder and U2’s front man, Bono. Bono appealed to the crowd to get involved and take ownership in helping the world’s poorest and most needy and noted that we are all called to embrace this as our own issue as it impacts the world. This video is scheduled to be shown at many festivals this summer as a call to action.

While maintaining a consistent festival and touring schedule, Michael heads into the fall with rock band Third Day on the “Come Together And Worship” tour. Impacting 16 markets through November, the CAA-booked worship events will bring a unique and extraordinary experience to people across the nation.

(www.cometogetherandworshiptour.com)

Michael W. Smith is one of the most influential figures in Christian music. Michael’s career sales exceed eight million and his most recent release, Worship, was the fastest-selling album in the Christian retail market in 2001, certified gold by the RIAA in only 14 weeks. Winner of an American Music Award and two GRAMMY Awards, presenting and performing on the 2002 GRAMMY Awards telecast, he has also garnered 34 Dove Awards during his 19-year career, including being named Artist of the Year in 1999 and 2002.

For more information on Michael W. Smith, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com or www.reunionrecords.com. For more detail on Phil Ramone, please visit www.philramone.com.

Nashville-based Reunion Records, a division of Provident Music Group, celebrates its 20-year anniversary this year. In addition to Michael W. Smith, the label’s roster includes Joy Williams, Kathy Troccoli, LaRue, Daily Planet and NewSong.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Pictured at Ocean Way Nashville between recording sessions are (L-R): Michael W. Smith, Phil Ramone, and Tony Brown, senior partner, Universal South Records. (Brown added to this project by pulling together musicians for long-time friend Ramone.)

For much more on Michael W. Smith, click here