One of the major bonding points early on in Matt and myself’s friendship was a fanatical love for Morphine, the oft-overlooked but brilliant trio from Cambridge, MA that defined melancholic swagger throughout the 90s. Sadly, lead singer/two-string bassist Mark Sandman passed away from a heart attack onstage in Italy in 1999. His legacy lives on, however, in the form of The Mark Sandman Project, a Somerville-based non-profit aimed at bringing children and music together. Consisting of former Morphine bandmates Dana Colley and Billy Conway among several others, here’s the crux of the project, straight from their press release:

Overview Of the Mark Sandman Music Project

The Mark Sandman Music Project (formerly the Mark Sandman Music Education Fund) is a not-for-profit community-based organization dedicated to bringing children and music together to foster recreational, educational, and artistic goals. The Project’s after-school, evening and weekend programs will offer ensemble music instruction, teach song and lyric writing skills, provide classes in music recording and production, and stage regular performing events showcasing the achievements of the children.

The Project was founded in the memory of Mark Sandman, a Cambridge resident and internationally acclaimed performer and songwriter, best known for his work in Morphine. The Project has a unique opportunity to expand its reach and functionality by securing a studio and offices in the newly renovated Somerville Armory Arts Center. Through the generosity and civic-mindedness of Joseph and Nabil Sater, the owners of the Middle East Restaurant and nightclub in Cambridge, the Armory is being renovated as an arts center, and the Project’s new facility will provide practice rooms, a recording studio, and access to a spacious performance facility.

The future of music education in the public school systems in Massachusetts is imperiled by budget cuts and competition for children’s time from other activities. The Project stands for the belief that a child’s participation in music, whether by playing an instrument, singing, or by being an educated listener and fan, is a positive and socializing activity with life-long benefits. In a social climate where budgets for school arts programs have been reduced or eliminated, the Project seeks to offer children a fun and rewarding experience creating music.

The Project is 100% dedicated to its musical mission. Besides the staff and Board of the Project, many well-known and dedicated local musicians will be participating in forwarding our goals. The HI-N-DRY musical community, comprised of some of the finest bands and artists in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, is the driving force behind the Project. The principals of HI-N-DRY have donated over $100,000 of recording and musical equipment to completely outfit the studio. HI-N-DRY Recordings, the record label that was founded in the memory of Mark Sandman, will be operating on-site, and will be donating a portion of all proceeds to the project. HI-N-DRY members will manage and run the studio for the project’s benefit.

Okay, back to me now. The Sandman Music Project is trying to raise an additional $100,000 to get the program up and running in its new location in the Somerville Armory. If you’d like to give - or install your own embeddable widget - head HERE and make a donation. All donors will receive free downloads of rare tracks and new material from all of the HI-N-DRY Artists. Great cause, great music, do it!

Listen:
Morphine - “All Your Way”

Visit The Mark Sandman Music Project on MySpace.

above photo found HERE