Photo: Robert Milazzo/ABC
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 12:00 AM ET | By Scotty Gore
(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Four years after the “One Life to Live” cast came together to record a CD to benefit those affected by Hurricane Katrina, the gift of music can still be heard along the storm ravaged communities of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The One Life, Many Voices Foundation, whose mission statement is “to recover through the arts,” has announced plans to donate three upright pianos to students in southern Mississippi, along with a grand piano to a theater company in New Orleans.
This week, the Yamaha pianos will be delivered to the following schools in the state of Mississippi: West Marion Primary School in Foxworth, Bay High School in Bay St. Louis, and the Boys and Girls Club in Pass Christian. In addition, a special grand piano, purchased in memory of long-time “One Life to Live” cast member Phil Carey (Asa Buchanan), will be given to the Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans.
Since first releasing the their hurricane relief CD in January of 2006, the non-profit group has awarded 50 scholarships for middle and high school students in the field of music to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA), given 1,000 baroque wooden recorders to elementary schools, and donated two additional upright pianos.
Even though the CD is no longer able for purchase through traditional commercial outlets, copies can still be obtained from the One Life, Many Voices Foundation. According to the group’s producer and project coordinator, and “OLTL” vet, Robin Strasser (Dorian Cramer Lord), they still maintain “a commitment to help and support in any way we can. With an official letter establishing the not-for-profit status of a religious group, school, service organization or other 501 (c)(3) organization, ‘One Life, Many Voices’ will be proud to supply CDs, free of charge, to use as fundraisers for local efforts.”
Those featured on the “One Life, Many Voices” CD include Melissa Archer (Natalie), Renee Elise Goldsberry (ex-Evangeline), Kathy Brier (ex-Marcie), Matt Metzger (ex-Duke), Erika Slezak (Viki), Tika Sumpter (Layla), Catherine Hickland (ex-Lindsay), Dan Gauthier (Kevin), Ilene Kristen (Roxy), Patricia Elliott (Renee), Bree Williamson (Jessica), Trevor St. John (Todd), Kristen Alderson (Starr), Nathaniel Marston (ex-Michael), Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Timothy D. Stickney (R.J.), Kamar de los Reyes (ex-Antonio), Melissa Fumero (Adriana), Eddie Alderson (Matthew), Paul Satterfield (ex-Spencer), Robert S. Woods (Bo), Robin Strasser (Dorian), and the late Phil Carey (Asa), along with Twise and Johnny Archer.
For more information and to request CDs, visit the One Life, Many Voice MySpace and Facebook pages or write to:
Robin Strasser OLTL/ABC 320 West 66th Street New York, NY 10023
“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com. Check local listings.