The year in Q: quincy’s causes
Quincy continued to support numerous philanthropic causes in 2008, including joining forces with the Red Cross to plea for earthquake relief in China as well as supporting new efforts in Down syndrome research.
Q’s most famous philanthropic effort is serving as arranger/producer of “We Are the World,” USA for Africa’s all-star 1985 landmark single for Ethiopian famine relief. However, Quincy revealed in a profile that ran in conjunction with his receipt of an AARP Inspire Award that his interest in philanthropy dates back decades before “We Are the World.”
In the piece, Quincy recalled being approached by a five-year-old girl after a performance in a Tunisian nightclub 56 years ago. The young girl, wearing a flower dress, held out one hand in supplication, while the other appeared to be behind her back. “I’m from the ghetto,” says Quincy, recalling his early years on South Side of Chicago. “But I’d never seen that before. We gave her everything we had.” The following day Quincy was shocked to learn that the young girl’s uncle had cut off her left hand so she would garner more sympathy when begging. “The got me for life,” Quincy says.
This year, Quincy’s philanthropic work included recording a public service announcement in May asking people to contribute aid to earthquake victims in China. You can view the spot below.
In June, he issued a statement through the Red Cross once again asking people to help victims of the earthquake in China as well as the cyclone in in Myanmar. “This is a critical time for the survivors of the earthquake in China and cyclone in Myanmar, which devastated lives, homes and dreams,” Quincy said. “By contributing to the American Red Cross, people can help their neighbors around the world get back on their feet and give them greater hope for the future.” You can read the whole statement here.
Quincy also made headlines as a spokesman and supporter of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation’s campaign to change the nation’s approach to Down syndrome. “This is a real civil rights issue,” Quincy said. “People with Down syndrome have every right to believe the medical and research communities are working just as hard to figure out Down syndrome as they are Alzheimer’s and other diseases and disorders. People with Down syndrome deserve a right to excellent medical care and a public education. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen the way it should in our country and we must advocate on their behalf. That is why the Linda Crnic Institute is so important – it will move research, education and advocacy for these beautiful children.”
Summing up his philanthropic efforts, Q told the Denver Post. “I’ve been doing this all my life. This is part of my DNA.”
Ah, if only John Lennon had added. ‘if you can’t make love, make music’. Bill Bailey gan rock us round the clock from Detroit City. Time, my friend, do battle with music. get every up doing the CanCan . . instill, such a happy whole some sense of self within the songs and oh, please please please, songs which share the 40 to 50 basic words . . have a contest. . . or what ever, with Obama’s family languages. . it could well become the rage of every
come on Quinc’ time to put the fun back into life and yes I hope you read me last blog. life is a given, for us to pass on, we can either be stuck in past through all the formalityes we . .crash through with music . . it the only which doctor us with its harmonious vibes, add plants, and their scented airs will have the music . . ah cosmic orgasm in store for humanity . as the ecstatic static we live in finally lets us grasp, how it all works. . .through the music we make and prepare the world for our children to live so all I ask
whose president is Obama, Old School, or fashioning a world . . my daughter used to share ‘why can’t they teach us all we need to know with a song? I can remember all of them. When they start talking. . it just goes in one ear and out the other . . it no register in other words.
Take it home with your music, have people know the more food they can grow in their own yards, the more trees we can plant, and recycle all the lawnmowers into the musical instrumends of peace and play, to your heart’s content healThy world, walk in peace, dance when you can and when you do the cancan long a broadway as we once did and cause a 3 car pile up. . we’ve only just begun