Gabba-Gabba Hey! (Gabba Hey!): Local School of Rock Raises Money for Cancer Charity

The School of Rock presents numerous performances of its young, home-grown talent at area venues ranging from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Beachland Ballroom and the House of Blues to the Phantasy Theater and Brothers Lounge.

THERE IS A SUN STUDIO QUALITY to the School of Rock on Detroit Road – a brick building on a busy thoroughfare inside which each day a certain magic happens through music. Instrumentalists discover the right chords, performers find voice and sounds soar with spirits, be they the spirits of youthful exuberance or the echoes of Rock and Roll past, reinventing, reinvigorating, reestablishing its currency with each neophyte who takes the mike.

And on some days, when the hearts of gold combine to create a musical project designed specifically for the benefit of others, the glow grows even more.

Students at the Rocky River School of Rock spent many hours in November crafting their own version of Mike Peters and The Alarm’s classic “Love Hope Strength”. It was all part of a three-day recording workshop which provided an interactive educational music experience with an emphasis on vocal, instrumental and arrangement pre-production. “The students learned how detailed and competent one must be to cut tracks in a recording studio. And on the last day of the workshop, we did just that at Elevation Studios in downtown Cleveland.“, said Music Director, Tommy Rich.

Their version of the song is currently available for worldwide download, all proceeds from which will benefit the Love Hope Strength Foundation, an international music-centric cancer charity co-founded in 2007 by leukemia survivors Mike Peters and President of CSI Entertainment James Chippendale. Peters also fronts the Scottish New Wave rock band Big Country.

“Early detection of cancer can lead to an 80% survival rate and what better way to spread the word about cancer awareness to a younger generation than through the talented students of the School of Rock,’ said Love Hope Strength executive director Shannon Foley. “Love Hope Strength is proud to be teaming up with School of Rock and honored to have a song that has meant so much to Mike Peters, and millions of survivors around the world, be the centerpiece of this workshop.” You can download the song at www.lovehopestrength.org. Tracks are 99 cents and all proceeds will go directly to the LHS foundation. Be sure to download School of Rock, Rocky River’s version because the school that raises the most money will receive a very special visit reward from Mike Peters.

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Volume 1, Issue 1, Posted 2:21 PM, 12.14.2011