[Jonular]

As folk-pop group Caedmon's Call releases Share The Well (10/12), the band garners industry support of its outreach to the Dalits in India with a donation from the Berean chain of retail stores to the Dalit Freedom Network on behalf of the band's new project. Share The Well is the first album of its kind in Christian music, recorded with local musicians in remote areas of India, Ecuador and Brazil to raise awareness of the oppressive caste discrimination against India's 250 million "Dalits," considered less worthy than even the lowest class and referred to as the 'untouchables.' It also serves as a reminder of the existing persecution and poverty in the three countries overall.

Caedmon's Call partnered with the Dalit Freedom Network in its travels last spring to India. DFN works to empower the Dalits in their quest for social freedom and human dignity by networking human, financial and informational resources.

"We at Berean are delighted to be part of Caedmon's Call's partnership with the Dalit Freedom Network," notes Les Dietzman, president of Berean Christian Stores. "Our music buyer, Greg Knake, was touched by the needs of the Dalits and urged our participation. We are proud of the work that Caedmon's Call is doing to give a cup of cold water in Jesus name."

Currently, Caedmon's Call is headlining its ninth national tour, hitting 30 cities this fall on the "Share The Well" tour featuring the international musicians the band met while recording. The tour provides the unique opportunity for audiences to experience first-hand the people and music embraced by the band, and hopefully serve as a motivator for fans to get involved with organizations like the Dalit Freedom Network and Compassion International who aid these impoverished people.

The Share The Well title tells of the daily struggle for many Dalits, as they are not permitted to drink from community wells in India unless an upper caste member draws the water for them. They sometimes wait all day and are never given a drink. For Caedmon's Call, this reality came as a metaphor to those thirsting for hope and a savior.

To see footage of the band in India, Ecuador and Brazil, view the EPK at http://www.essentialrecords.com/sharethewell/.

For more information on Caedmon's Call, the Share The Well album and tour, please visit www.caedmonscall.com or www.essentialrecords.com. To learn more about the Dalits, and the organizations partnering with Caedmon's Call, please visit www.dalitnetwork.org and www.compassion.com.

During its ten-year tenure, Caedmon's Call has made the leap from independent act to Christian music mainstay. In 1997, the group's self-titled label debut set a record, selling more units in its first week than any other new contemporary Christian music artist. The project additionally ranked No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers Album Chart. Caedmon's Call has launched six other national releases—40 Acres, Long Line of Leavers, In the Company of Angels, Back Home, Chronicles and now Share The Well. Among its accolades are an Album of the Year Dove Award, a Billboard Music Video Award nomination and seven No. 1 radio singles. Caedmon's Call is an original contributor to City on a Hill, claiming two Special Event Album Dove Awards for its work with the series.

For more information on Caedmon's Call, click here.