Last week, thousands of New Yorkers burst into song with Frank Sinatra’s famous hit “Theme from New York, New York” after the daily “Clap Because We Care” for healthcare workers across the state. Tonight, New Yorkers will once again join in a city-wide choir at 7:00 p.m. to sing Bill Withers’ classic “Lean on Me.”
“We were overjoyed with the turnout for last week’s launch event, and with the tremendous outpouring of appreciation we got,” said host Gary Baker to Untapped New York. “The videos people posted of their participation are also incredibly heartwarming. These are tough times, and to get through them, we must do what we can to keep our spirits up. Singing is definitely a great way to do that.”
Last week’s New York Sings Along launch reached over 160,000 people on Facebook, and over 9,000 people joined into the Facebook Live stream. The organizers of these sing-alongs are part of the all-volunteer Peace of Heart Choir, which performs annually in nursing homes, hospitals, and shelters. The Choir was formed in the response to the 9/11 attacks and now has over 50 volunteers.
“Our launch event last week was incredibly successful, bringing people together in a powerful and unique way. But the battle against this virus goes on, and we’re happy to do our part to keep people keep their spirits up, build community, and show their appreciation for those who are helping us all stay safe,” said Amanda Brzezowski, Co-Chairman of The Peace of Heart Choir. “This week we chose ‘Lean on Me’ as a tribute to Bill Withers, who left us in early April. It’s a truly inspiring song, with a message for our times – that by turning to each other for support, we’re all stronger.”
This event will be led by partner radio station WBAI (99.5 FM), which will provide a soundtrack for the sing-along. This socially distanced communal singing event was created to boost the moral of not just New Yorkers but viewers from all around the country tuning in from their living rooms, terraces, or the front lines at hospitals.
The link to join in tonight for “Lean On Me” is here!