Parkinsong Volume One: 38 Songs Of Hope CD

Sales of PARKINSONG VOLUME ONE benefit the ParkinSong Foundation, Inc., a New Jersey non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for research into the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinsong, Vol. 1: 38 Songs of Hope is a story of inspiration. Recorded in honor of Selma Litowitz, a retired high-school English teacher from Lawrence, NJ, this double-disc set showcases artists from subgenres of country and folk coming together to benefit the ParkinSong Foundation. Litowitz's son, Rob Litowitz, started this nonprofit organization in order to spread awareness about the disease. Mr. Litowitz's mother, who has bravely dealt with Parkinson's since 1991, was given a concert in her honor at her former school ten years after being stricken with the disease. Parkinsong, Vol. 1: 38 Songs of Hope was born from that tribute and several shows later. Artists such as Caitlin Cary, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Sara Hickman, Kim Richey, and Bonnie Raitt lend their songs to this touching tribute. Americana sweetheart Neko Case croons her way through "I Wish I Was the Moon," and the acoustic guitar lullaby of "Reason to Believe" from Kelly Willis is equally charming. Dave Alvin's high lonesome waltz "The Man in the Bed" is just one of the few tracks exclusively recorded for this collection. Raspy-voiced Steve Forbert, who had folk hits in the late '70s with "Romeo's Tune" and "Going Down to Laurel," shares his specially taped "It's a Shame, You Know," as do Little Pink with their contemporary folk lament "Miles From Nowhere." Utah Carol, a husband-wife duo from Chicago and a newcomer to the national music scene, make their proper debut with "Like You Used To." There's a little bit of everything on Parkinsong, Vol. 1: 38 Songs of Hope. It's not only a solid collection of crossover tracks that support a great cause, but a well-tailored selection suited for generations young and old. ~ MacKenzie Wilson