Gibson Announces Partnership with Playing For Change

Gibson, the iconic, American-made guitar brand, is proud announce a new partnership with Playing For Change the movement created to inspire and connect the world through music and the Playing For Change Foundation which is dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world.

In celebration of the annual Human Rights Day, Gibson will air the Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice concert event in its entirety streaming on demand via Gibson TV through December 31, Here.

The Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice virtual event, produced by Playing For Change and Blackbird Presents, features more than 200 musicians including Aloe Blacc, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jack Johnson, Jim James, Keb’ Mo’, Keith Richards, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty, Yo-Yo Ma and many more. Special appearances include Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding, Danny Glover, Jamal Murray, Killer Mike, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Norman Lear, Prince Ea and Sara Bareilles. Highlights of the event include special remarks from Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and from Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice President of Costa Rica. In addition, Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, will offer a message to empower the world to seek freedom and justice, end all forms of discrimination and protect everyone’s rights.

Show highlights include a soul stirring performance by Gary Clark Jr. of his GRAMMY Award-winning song “This Land,” Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana joined by Uruguayan percussionist Rubén Rada and Tito Puente Jr. for “Oye Como Va,” a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’” by Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. A powerful remake of Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” unites him with Beninise vocalist and activist Angélique Kidjo, Silkroad’s Yo-Yo Ma and musicians from South Africa, India, and the USA. The heartfelt performance will be introduced by Nkosinathi Biko, son of the deceased anti-apartheid activist and subject of the song Steven Biko.

“For over 100 years we have been inspiring, supporting and engaging with musicians across all generations, genres and nations, but it feels like the world needs music now more than ever to bring us together,” says James “JC” Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson. The opportunity for us to partner with Playing For Change will create a compelling music movement around the world.”

To kick off the partnership with Playing For Change, Gibson’s Epiphone brand has launched the first-ever “Get an Epiphone, Gibson Gives an Epiphone” campaign which provides brand-new Epiphone guitars to Playing For Change Foundation music students. From now through December 31, Gibson will match every Epiphone guitar purchased and place a brand-new Epiphone Starling acoustic guitar–due for official release in Spring 2021–with a student in need (up to 200). Go to Epiphone.com to purchase a guitar through the “Get an Epiphone, Gibson Gives an Epiphone” program to help support the Playing For Change Foundation and create positive change in underserved communities across the globe through music and arts education.