Road Crew Magazine
Music Magazine with News, Reviews, Photos and Video

We live in a non stop high tech world that seems to be only speeding up.  We have our music on iPods so that we can fit all our favorite songs in one place rather than have to shuffle through CD's to find the song we're looking for.  We sift through videos on YouTube.com instead of waiting for them to come on VH1. And of course if we do watch them on TV, we can't do so on MTV which ironically stands for Music Television, when most of their programming is reality TV and has very little to do with music anymore.  We're moving so fast, that most of the time we can't hear the music for the CD's. (A little twist on can't see the forest for the trees if you will).  We hear, but do we listen?  Really listen.  The opening phrase from the movie August Rush was the first thing that came to my mind when I even contemplated doing this article, which says:

Listen. Can you hear it? The music. I can hear it everywhere. In the wind... in the air... in the light. It's all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do... is listen.

So, you may be wondering where I am going with this.  It started when I saw a myspace bulletin a friend had reposted and I listened.  I listened, and heard the music radiating from a little boy.  Music that is in his smile, music that comes from his heart, and from his dad as well.  And so, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to a little boy named James.  Now, before you get all tense thinking, "This is a Rock and Roll mag, why is she talking about a little boy?", let me put your mind at ease when I tell you that it is about music, you'll just have to take the journey and listen.

James is a little boy who lives in the UK and will turn 6 this year.  Like most boys, he's a huge Star Wars fan, but unlike the majority of 6 year old boys, he suffers from Childhood Leukemia.  In his brave fight against this terrible disease, he has set an incredible goal, that started upon building his myspace page.  A goal that started out to add 100 friends.  When that goal was achieved, the number went 1000, and then 10,000.  When they reached 10,000 James wanted to shoot for 1 MILLION friends.  As of right now, the count is 320,278 and I am honored to be counted in that number.  So, what does he get out of this goal?  Well, nothing financially or monetary, just the friendship gained from the people he adds and with each friend added that assurance that he can reach his goal.

James captured my heart and as I stopped to hear the music, I thought of how amazing it would be to step aside from focusing on pounding out articles about what happened this day in rock, or highlighting new bands or cd reviews as fast as we can get them published and focus on taking a short break from my busy life to help James and his dad.  My goal for this article is 3 fold.  That 1.  this article will help gain awareness for Childhood Leukemia.  2.  That you, the reader will go add James as a friend on myspace and help him achieve his goal of 1 Million friends.  and 3.  That you will stop and hear the music in your daily life.  I asked James' dad if I could do an interview with him about his musical interests and was thrilled when he agreed.  His answers are not deep or philosophical, they are direct, to the point, you asked and here's my answer type responses. And most important, they made me smile when I read them.


Lis: Who is your favorite band/musician?

James:  The Hoosiers

Lis:  What is your favorite song?

James:  Head High and Smile by Daniel de Bourg (which can be found on James myspace page)

Lis:  If you could meet any musician, who would it be?

James:  Kanye West

Lis:  What is your favorite Weird Al song?

James:  Yoda

Lis:  When you're feeling down, what songs help cheer you up?

James:  Happy Ending by Mika

Lis:  Sports Teams have a fight song to get them pumped up. What song would you pick to be YOUR fight song?

James:  When the Saints Go Marching In

Lis:  Which Star Wars movie to you think has the best soundtrack? (my personal fav is Episode IV: A New Hope)

James:  Return of the Jedi

Lis:  If you could pick 1 celebrity to help get the word out about childhood leukemia, who would it be and what would you want them to say?

James:  Kanye West. Make the children better.

Make the children better.  An impacting statement from a little boy, but one that drives the point home.  There are far too many children suffering from diseases like Childhood Leukemia and it's easy to not stop and listen when it doesn't affect your personal life.  So here's your chance to listen and to help this brave little boy, who has a smile that outshines the sun reach his goal of 1 Million friends on myspace by going to:  www. myspace. com/bizwiz68

Listen. Can you hear it? The music. I can hear it everywhere. In the wind... in the air... in the light. It's all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do... is listen.