Patrick Delhougne accepts a check on behalf of the St. Louis Area Foodbank from Sammy Hagar / Photo by Ryan Farmer
Remember When Bob Dylan Made a Christmas Album?
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down memory lane. . .
Ah, yes. With the holidays comes all those great songs we have loved since childhood.
Winter Wonderland, Here Comes Santa Claus, Jingle Bells, Must Be Santa and so on.
A long list of musical artists have covered or created holiday music in the last century. On that list is the great Bob Dylan.
In 2009, Dylan released an album called Christmas at Heart, with proceeds benefitting hunger relief charities all over the world.
That got me thinking about the ways that musicians have supported important causes. I wondered what other musical artists have supported hunger relief.
So, I casually started a list. It’s certainly not comprehensive nor is the list subject to one particular musical style.
Artists have encouraged fans to bring non-perishable items to concerts, donated a portion of proceeds from album sales, or served on entertainment councils. Check out the diverse group of artists who have supported hunger relief:
• Bob Dylan
• Bruce Springsteen
• Tom Waits
• Chickenfoot
• Rough Shop
• Widespread Panic
• Bryan Greenberg
• Bon Jovi
• Tim McGraw
• Metallica
• Kenny Rodgers
• Willie Nelson
• Brad Paisley
• Miranda Lambert
• Lady Antebellum
• Zac Brown Band
• Toby Keith
• Jason Aldean
• The Urge
• Kenny Chesney
• Def Leppard
• Sugarland
• Sara Bareilles
• Toby Keith
• Rascal Flats
• Reba McEntire
• Martina McBride
• The Band Perry
• Eli Young Band
• Justin Moore
• Brantley Gilbert
• Sunny Sweeney
• Eden’s Edge
• Ella Mae Bowen
• Thomas Rhett
• 50 Cent
• Sheryl Crow
• Spencer Day
• Josh Groban
• Ben Harper
• Kimberly Locke
• Ludacris
• Jay Sean
• Katharine McPhee
• Onerepublic
• Benji & Joel Madden
• Phil Vassar
• Kellie Pickler
Even local musicians and bands jump at the chance to give back to the community.
Just this weekend, for instance, three locals bands – Million Hits, Lunar Levitation and Four Feet Skyscraper – will be performing at Cicero’s in St. Louis. The bands are asking everyone attending their Saturday concert to bring canned goods for the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Someone once said that music could heal the world. Judging by the generosity of musicians in and around St. Louis, it seems that just might be true.
Patrick Delhougne is a development associate at the St. Louis Area Foodbank
