You have probably seen this video (but if not, I recommend that you indulge your heart by doing so). This cover of Stand by Me, originally penned by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was recorded by Mark Johnson with unknown artists using a laptop computer and microphones to form a traveling studio. Starting in Santa Monica, California with street musician Roger Ridley, Mark Johnson laid down the base track, guitar and vocals. Then he travelled to New Orleans where Grandpa Elliott, a blind street musician from the French Quarter, added his unique blend of vocals and harmonica, while listening to the basetrack on headphones. Next Mark Johnson added New Orleans musician Wahsboard Chaz’s percussion and the experiment in oneness escalated as the producers took the basetrack to Europe, Africa and South America, adding multiple instrumental and vocal tracks.

The message: separateness thinking is unproductive, dishonoring and defies reality. An appreciation of oneness and its power to heal and inspire is they key to high performance and harmony. Mark Johnson believes that music can help us to see this. Humanity’s Team is collecting 50,000 names to petition the United nations to create a “ONEness Day”. Starbucks invited the Playing for Change musicians to the Starbucks Leadership Conference, and you can now buy the “Playing for Change” CD at Starbucks and Amazon.com

In a time of global stress we are being called on to use our imagination and creativity in seeking solutions that honor the sacredness of others – in the office, at home or in international politics – oneness. Bono, one of the founders of the ONE Campaign, adds his gravitas to one of the latest “Playing for Change” movies – Enjoy!