We’re raising awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Suicide Prevention
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we’re inviting you to join us to help make a difference.
Sunday, September 8th at 7:00pm (Doors at 6:00pm)
Get Together Foundation in cooperation with Rock Cellar Productions Presents:
at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles
The "988 Lifeline Charity Event" is a major effort to raise awareness about the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and funds to increase the level of care and support for those potentially at risk for suicide and their families.
The event will feature the debut of "Heart & Soul" – A Multi-Media Musical Tribute to the Life & Times of Donny Hathaway. Legendary soul singer Donny Hathaway suffered from severe mental illness, resulting in his untimely death in 1979 at just 33 years of age. Hathaway's legacy lives on in his music.
His interpretations of well-known songs include renditions of Leon Russell’s "A Song for You," and famed duets with Roberta Flack, "Where is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You." These gorgeous, classic songs will be performed live on stage by a stellar cast of singers along with some of LA’s finest actors telling Hathaway’s tragic story.
Hathaway won one Grammy Award and was also posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Join this stellar cast of actors and singers:
Featuring: Harold Johnson & the HOBsters Choir
Produced by: Kevin Wachs & Terrell Edwards
Directed by: Richard Cummings, Jr.
Music Directors:
Choir Vocal Arranger: Gary Stockdale
Associate Producers: Lauri Reimer, Peri O’Connor
The 988 Lifeline Charity Event will also include:
VIP packages include: priority seating, cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres, t-shirt, souvenir lanyard, meet & greet, poster signed by the cast, and swag bag.
Proceeds raised will benefit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services -- a leading provider of mental health, substance use & suicide prevention services -- as well as additional mental health partner organizations, to help increase the level of care and support for potential suicide victims and their families and help raise awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE (formerly an 800 number) is now an EASY-TO-REMEMBER NUMBER-- just 3 presses on a phone -- making it easier for individuals to access immediate, life-saving crisis counseling by trained mental health experts. Spread the word! Save a life!
GET TOGETHER FOUNDATION, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2001, is making a difference. Their unique fundraising efforts have included numerous all-star charity concert events and telethons which have raised money and awareness for various causes. gettogetherfoundation.org
KEVIN WACHS and his wife Mare the co-founders of the Get Together Foundation. They are both long time San Fernando Valley residents, business owners and passionate about making a difference in their commuity. Kevin and Mare are the owners of Earthly Body, an international hair and skin care company. In 2001, they founded the Get Together Foundation, inspired by the 1960’s ideals of peace, togetherness, and the love of helping solve contemporary problems such as homelessness and suicide. Kevin is also a drummer and founding member of the band Pacific and The Tribe. Mare is a gourmet chef. Both are extreme animal lovers. Kevin is the publisher of Rock Celler Magazine, an online music and popular culture website that has featured a multitude of A-list subjects and interviews including Ringo Starr, Jimmy Page, Graham Nash, and more.
ROCK CELLAR PRODUCTIONS is an affiliate of Rock Cellar Magazine (rockcellarmagazine.com). They have been producing all-star, in-person concerts and livestream events since 2015, including concerts at venues such as the theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, and featuring talent such as David Crosby, Al Jardine, Micky Dolenz, Peter Asher, Carnie Wilson, Jesse Colin Young, Mary Wilson, and more. Their events have supported such important causes as City of Hope, MusiCares®, Hope the Mission, Children’s Hospital/LA, The Midnight Mission, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, ABC/LA Fire Department’s Spark of Love, and more.
"Through the power of music and a feeling of family, we make a difference in our community and our world."
LAURI REIMER has quite a diverse background. She's worked on and off stage and enjoys both equally. Her vast experience as an event producer and promoter is coupled with many years assisting artists of all genres throughout Los Angeles, including booking, promotion, artist development, PR, and more under her company, Music Magique Promotions. Originally from New York and born to a music teacher, she obtained a degree in Music Therapy and soon after made her home in Los Angeles. Since 2015, Lauri has been the Director of Programming & Special Projects for the Get Together Foundation in Chatsworth, CA, heading up its programs that include a music enrichment program for underprivileged youth as well as ongoing crisis relief programs focused on helping homeless children and families. She also manages and sings with The Tribe Band, a collective of LA-based professional musicians and singers, and also sings and plays percussion in various other bands throughout Los Angeles.
Peri O'Connor is a native Angeleno and business owner in the fashion industry. She is the president of her company, PeriscopeArt since the year 2000. Before that, she worked in the sales force for companies including Design Source International. Peri is a longtime supporter of various philanthropic causes, especially those connected to the music industry. Her involvement in the entertainment industry spans everything from being a night club DJ to an entertainment coordinator. Helping people is something she holds close to her heart.
Richard Cummings Jr. is a director, producer, and actor best known for his roles in the film "Hollywood Shuffle" and Emmy award-winning shows "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure." Since those high-profile acting days, Cummings has been spreading his wings as a highly-respected film and television executive in Hollywood with a number of prestigious credits under his belt. Cummings was born and raised in New York City. After two years attending college at SUNY in Stony Brook, NY, while working in commercials, television, and film roles, he left school and moved to Los Angeles, where his career took off. Cummings has appeared in "The White Shadow," "Benson," "Hill Street Blues," "M*A*S*H," and "What's Happening Now." He landed the role of Phil on the NBC sitcom, "Throb," that featured Diana Canova, Jane Leeves, and Paul Walker.
Teaming up with his lifelong friend Robert Townsend, Cummings acted in and produced the surprise indie hit feature "Hollywood Shuffle" and landed the role of Mark Harriton on the drama "thirtysomething," and Bernard Stevens on "Northern Exposure." His company, Underdog Films, produced quality music videos showcasing urban/R&B artists together with such prolific directors as The Hughes Brothers, Hype Williams, Kevin Hooks and Marcus Raboy for platinum artists NWA, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Digital Underground, Tupac, Master P, and Snoop Dogg. The company won the MTV Music Award for Best Rap Video in 1996 and produced videos for the soundtracks to "Boyz N the Hood" and "House Party 3." Underdog produced a number of commercial spots featuring Meshach Taylor, Faith Ford, Blair Underwood, and Doc Rivers for the organization Rock-the-Vote during the Clinton presidential campaign. During his career, Cummings sold and produced projects for major networks and studios, including Fox, CBS, HBO Sony television, Dick Clark Productions, Hearst and more.
When Cummings began working with Robert Townsend at the non-profit One Economy/V-Studio -- an online network PIC.TV (Public Internet Channel) -- he and his team produced the digital shows "Diary of A Single Mom," starring Monica Calhoun ("The Best Man"), Billy Dee Williams ("Star Wars"), Leon ("The Five Heartbeats") and Diahann Carroll, plus the Latino drama, "Los Americans" which stars Esai Morales ("La Bamba," "Gun Hill Road"), Raymond Cruz ("The Closer"), and Anna Villafane ("On Your Feet!"). V-Studio also produced the feature film, "In The Hive" which stars Loretta Devine ("The Carmichael Show"), Vivica A. Fox ("Kill Bill," "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), and Michael Clark Duncan ("The Green Mile") in one of his last acting roles. Currently, Cummings is a Supervising Producer on BET’s "American Soul," based on the iconic show "Soul Train" and the life of its creator and host, Don Cornelius.
Steve Postell is a producer, singer/songwriter, composer, and guitarist. He was the composer for the documentary "Dying to Know" about Timothy Leary and Ram Dass, narrated by Robert Redford. Steve contributed guitar to David Crosby’s album, "Sky Trails," and co-wrote a song for his last released record, "For Free." Steve's latest CD, "Walking Through These Blues," was released on Vivid Sound and features a host of guests, including David Crosby, Iain Matthews, Tony Furtado, Bekka Bramlett, Jeff Pevar, Greg Leisz, and many others. Steve has also worked with John Oates, Jennifer Warnes, Kenny Loggins, Eric Andersen, Iain Matthews, Pure Prairie League, Dan Navarro, and many others. He recently contributed engineering and mixing duties to the James Taylor/Carole King live concert film, "The Troubadour Reunion Tour".
Steve performed on and co-produced a CD for renowned producer/guitarist and songwriter Danny (Kootch) Kortchmar. The CD features a star studded cast including guest appearances by James Taylor, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, and Michael McDonald. This CD led to the formation of the band, The Immediate Family, which in addition to Steve includes legendary session men Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, and Russ Kunkel. The band has released numerous videos, a live record, 3 EPs and a full length LP of new material on Quarto Valley Records. Their first single, "Cruel Twist," reached top 10 on the blues charts. The Immediate Family is featured in an award winning documentary by "Wrecking Crew" director Denny Tedesco. The film, distributed by Magnolia Films, accompanies a new full length CD of original material. In the past year Steve has performed on stage in benefits for The Lobero Theater, ONE805 Foundation, and Light Up The Blues Charity with many artists including Shawn Colvin, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Joe Walsh, John Fogerty, Alan Parsons, and Maroon 5. Steve was in rehearsal to go on tour with David Crosby before David's unexpected passing. Along with David's son, James Raymond, Steve has put together a stellar group of CSNY friends and family called OUR HOUSE to continue the legacy.
Tariqh Akoni has managed to pack an impressive array of experiences in his nearly 30 years in the music industry. A perpetual student of the art, Tariqh has been a composer, songwriter, studio musician, educator, musical director, multi- instrumentalist and clinician. A native of Santa Barbara, CA Tariqh studied contemporary classical composition at the University of California at San Diego before deciding to pursue Music Performance at the Berklee College of Music. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1997, Tariqh has amassed an extensive and eclectic resume. He has worked with such distinguished artists as: country singers LeAnn Rimes and Lee Ann Womack; jazz icons George Duke, Tom Scott, and Bobby Watson; pop artists Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and the Backstreet Boys; and classical artist Josh Groban. He has also appeared with a host of greats including Babyface, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle, Natalie Cole, Huey Lewis & the News, Nick Lachey, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, and many others.
Most recently, Tariqh has worked as Musical Director for Rock Superstars Weezer and Josh Groban and completed highly successful tours with Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder (including a performance at the Silver Jubilee concert for the Queen of England) and super producer David Foster (appearing in his DVD “Hit Man Returns”). As an educator and clinician, Tariqh served as Chairman of the Guitar Department at the LA College of Music for 5 years where he wrote 10 books including their pedagogical series ‘String Theory.’ In addition, he has conducted master classes and clinics internationally at the Guildhall Academy in London, Fermatta in Mexico, Sibelius Academy in Finland, USC and the Berklee College of Music. Tariqh remains a sought after Musical Director, studio musician, and accompanist as well as a talented producer, composer, A&R executive, and songwriter.
Dr. Harold P. Johnson (a.k.a. DOC J), is a composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger. Harold has been a church choir director for fifty years. He composed the cantata "His Only Begotten Son" as well as his high school Alma Mater (as a senior in high school at age seventeen). Harold is the co-founder and director of Sowers Christian Ministries Worldwide together with his wife of 44 years, Dr. Diana "Dee." They have three sons: Harold, Tommy, and Hale, and eight grandchildren. Harold currently directs The HOBsters Choir.
GARY STOCKDALE is a 2-time Emmy-nominated TV and film composer, an award-winning musical theater songwriter and librettist, and has sung on scores of movies and television shows. He composed music for Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; Penn & Teller: BULLSHIT, Spongebob Squarepants, as well as The Artistocrats – the documentary film about the world's dirtiest joke by Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette. He has sung for such varied artists as Adele, Justin Timberlake, Camila Cabello, Johnny Mathis, Danny Elfman, and Henry Mancini. You will hear Gary's voice on films like Star Trek: Beyond, and Star Wars: Rogue One, and he had a featured role on the cult-classic NBC series Cop/Rock. He and his wife Danelle do a weekly streaming music show called Safe @Home on Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube Tuesdays at 5:30pm(PT).
For more information, sponsorship opportunities, and more, contact:
Kevin Wachs, Executive Producer, kevin@GetTogetherFoundation.com
Lauri Reimer, Associate Producer, lauri@GetTogetherFoundation.com
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Orpheum Theatre
842 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Get Together Foundation
Address: 21900 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Website: https://gettogetherfoundation.org
Email: lauri@gettogetherfoundation.com OR kevin@gettogetherfoundation.com