Danny's Wish to Meet Playing for Change

Eighteen-year-old Danny was very involved in music in school, playing saxophone in the jazz band for four years. He also has a passion for film, editing and movies and was in the Media Academy on his campus. Although he had several vague ideas for his wish, it wasn’t until his grandmother sent him the first Playing for Change video Stand by Me that his wish started to come together. According to Danny, "Stand by Me was one of the coolest and most inspiring things that I had ever seen because of the way it brought so many people from around the world together to promote peace through music. I couldn’t stop watching it. The videos immediately made me want to go out and do something like that for my senior research project or just for fun.” For his wish, Danny went to Los Angeles to visit the Playing for Change studio and met some of the staff, including Mark Johnson, one of the original founders. Mark gave Danny a bracelet that had been blessed by Tibetan Monks they had met on a recent trip. Mark Johnson said the bracelet was worn by everyone in the band and was a symbol that they were a family. He welcomed Danny to their family as he put the bracelet on his wrist.  Danny was not only able to attend a Playing for Change concert, but got to go back stage with the cameramen, watch the shooting screens and be on the intercom system with everyone during the concert while it was being filmed. “I even got a chance to do some of the filming myself during the sound check,” exclaimed Danny. “When it came time for the encore song I was called out onto the stage and got to sing “Stand By Me” with the band and I was right there next to Clarence! And just when I thought it couldn’t be any more of a dream I got to stand on stage with Grandpa Elliot alone while he sang the most beautiful and amazing version of “Amazing Grace.” Danny still hears from members of the band, his new family.