Rockers, Suits, the Kids Jam

amplifies universal language of music, creativity

By Danille Turissini,
Music Aid Northwest
May 22, 2008

REDMOND, Washington — "Rockers, Suits, the Kids Jam", an event to benefit The Old Fire House Teen Center, was held May 22, at the Old Firehouse Teen Center, in Redmond, Washington. Special guest Mike Huckabee joined Alan White and jammed on Sweet Home Alabama and Jumpin' Jack Flash. In addition to benefiting the teen center, proceeds from the event will support the Music Aid Northwest MUSIC PLATES project.

"The smiles on the kid’s faces said it all," according to "Yes" drummer Alan White, also a board member of Music Aid Northwest. "It was an amazing evening of music and an experience I hope everyone will remember for a long time."

White expressed sincere thanks to Ken Wong, director, The Old Firehouse Teen Center, and his staff, as well as all the volunteers, musicians, and everyone who came out to support Music Aid Northwest’s specialty license plate initiative.

He continued, "I am particularly grateful for Governor Huckabee’s endorsement of Music Aid Northwest’s effort to fund music education in Washington State, and for his generous gift of time in participating in the Music Matters fundraising event. I feel extremely honored to have been a part of this event. Professional musicians sharing the stage with young talent, a true testimony to the value of early music education."

As Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee championed legislation mandating that every child receive an education in the arts and music, which he firmly maintains helps students score 10 points better on the SAT, including math and foreign languages.

He said, "If you stimulate the cognitive side of the brain you're going to see there's a dramatic improvement. If you really want to increase math and science scores, don't cut music; increase it. When you cut music and arts programs out of the school what you've done is ruined the school."

Huckabee believes the decline in arts and music has greatly contributed to the high drop-out rate among teens, "not because they're dumb, because they're bored to death."

He explained, "We are created to have the left side of our brain to function as well as the right side. Every child has an innate sense of artistic capacity. Take a child when he's five years old, you don't have to beg him to sing, you have to tell him to quit. You don't have to ask him to draw a picture you have to tell him it's time to eat dinner. "What happens when that same kid turns 15? You can't get him to draw; you can't get him to sing. Why? Because the crazy educational system in this country has beat the ever-loving creativity out of him and that's wrong and it's the reason our education system is in the toilet today," according to Huckabee.

Music Aid Northwest President Bob Tomberg agrees. He deemed the event as "extremely successful", noting that it started the ball rolling toward some permanent funding for music in our schools. "What a great event!" said Tomberg, "We raised some money for the Redmond Teen Center and provided visibility for our organization and our cause [Music Plates]. Furthermore, we affirmed some members of our young music community and gave them the opportunity to play with a certified rocker.

"There are people in this world that pay $10,000 to play music with Alan White. Can you imagine how that must feel? These youth not only shared the stage with an international rock star, but also with Mike Huckabee, an international public figure in his own right, accompanying them on bass and sharing their passion for music."

"Indeed," White points out, "Mike Huckabee also proved he could hang with the pros playing bass! It was a blast! Hope we can do it again soon!"

Likewise, Reek Havok, producer of the teen center event, wishes he could host similar events every night. He said, "Playing live with everyone from famous rock stars, politicians and a dozen or more kids once again shows the universal language music speaks.

"The enthusiasm from the younger musicians was outstanding. The performances with the mix and match performers on stage were magic. My hope is that through our [Music Plates] campaign, we will continue to foster these young musicians, igniting the creative spark in their minds and keeping their imaginations active." In addition to serving on the board of Music Aid Northwest, Havok is the lead coordinator of the Music Plates project. For more information, please visit www.musicplates.org.