Believe it or not, Hurricane Katrina victims are still in desperate need of our help. That is why REM’s lead singer, Michael Stipe, has released a six-song EP, called “In the Sun,” to benefit Mercy Corps’ recovery efforts for hurricane survivors in the Gulf Coast region. The EP features six versions of Joseph Arthur’s song, “In the Sun.” Stipe collaborated with artists such as, Justin Timberlake, the Black Eyed Peas, Cold Play lead singer, Chris Martin, and James Iha, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist. The song was featured on ABC’s post-Super Bowl episode of Grey’s Anatomy and is now available for download on the iTunes Web site. Stipe, who hails from Georgia and has family located along the Gulf Coast, says that he is doing this because he believes that the headlines have faded way too quickly on this ever-present, and devastating matter. “The news cycle has moved on, and I don’t want the public to forget about those who were affected by [Hurricane] Katrina or to believe that everything is fine now. Things are not fine,” he comments. All proceeds from the EP will go directly to Mercy Corps, in order to help the survivors rebuild their lives.
Mercy Corps is a nonprofit organization that was started to lessen worldwide suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping to build stable and productive communities. Since 1979, the organization has provided over $1 billion in assistance to people in over 79 countries. They continue to rebuild the homes of Hurricane Katrina victims, as well as ship food and drink to shelters across the Gulf Coast region. Their headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington D.C., Cambridge, and Edinburgh, Scotland. For more information on the relief efforts of Michael Stipe and Mercy Corps, please visit their website at http://www.mercycorps.org.