KC native helps heal New Orleans

Josh Charles grew up to be a musician, not a cardiologist like his father, Dr. Bernard Levi. Even so, the Jewish Kansas City native is embarked upon a healing mission of massive proportions. He hopes to raise $1 million for New Orleans recovery efforts by Aug. 29 — the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina — with his new song, “Healing Time.”

Charles is giving all the money the song brings in at 99 cents a pop on iTunes and amazon.com to the Preservation Resource Center to help rebuild the city.

Charles — a singer, songwriter and keyboard player — debuted “Healing Time” back in January in a performance at the Library of Congress backed the Harlem Boys and Girls Choir, as part of the festivities surrounding the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The performance was shown on “Good Morning America,” and Charles said “Healing Time” and the fundraiser are now picking up steam.

There was an article about Charles and “Healing Time” in USA Today June 15, and he was featured in a story on CNN over the Fourth of July weekend.

While categorized as soul, Charles said, “Healing Time” is different from anything he’s done before. He classifies his music as a mix of soul, blues and jazz.

“I was mentored by Dr. John. (Editor’s note: real name Malcolm John Rebennack) I have a very close tie to that city musically. … The influence of New Orleans music was really in me from a very early age,” he said. “Kansas City’s a blues town, so the influence of Kansas City blues and jazz is just as prominent as the New Orleans stuff. But my particular piano style is more New Orleans.”

Charles said he does not yet have a count of money raised from Internet sales of “Healing Time.”

To give back

Charles, 35, had moved to New Orleans one week before Katrina ravished the historic city in 2005. He caught one of the last buses leaving for Houston, and then made his way back to New York. When he returned to New Orleans in December 2005 to do some recording, he was struck by the devastation around him.

“I remember getting out of the car some place in the Ninth Ward and I thought, ‘This is going to take a lot of healing time,’ ” Charles said.

Thus the song title.

Charles said he recorded “Healing Time” a while ago, but hasn’t released it on an album. Recently, while talking to his manager, he decided he wanted to do something with the song to honor New Orleans, “because that’s a place that means the world to me.”

Charles said he was “repulsed” by the neglect the rest of America evinced toward “one of the most important places in the country, the birthplace of all music in our American genre … so I wanted to find a way to give back.”

All proceeds from the sale of “Healing Time” go to the Preservation Resource Center, which is helping to rebuild New Orleans. Neither Amazon nor iTunes takes a cut of the sales. There is also a Facebook group (Healingtimecause) where one can give to the PRC.

Charles’ goal is to raise $1 million within a month after the Aug. 29 anniversary of Katrina.

“One of the cool things about iTunes is that you can gift (the song). Buy 100 copies and give it to people,” he said. “This is a grassroots campaign. There is no record label behind it, no media machine behind it. It’s something we started on our own. I have so many people helping me … my management and some fans. There’s no budget, no finances; we’re trying to do everything we can to raise awareness of the song.”

Charles said he chose PRC to receive the proceeds because it’s been around for 35 years and it has “done more work in New Orleans than any other non-profit as far as rebuilding, and also in the greenest possible way.”

In the CNN story, Charles talked about the rebuilding being done and that which still needs to be done. A 93-year-old Ninth-Ward resident whose home was rebuilt by PRC was also interviewed.

“It tied together the parallels of the story, showing the emotional connection as well as the performance side,” Charles said.
Charles has donated all proceeds from his song in perpetuity to the PRC.

Raising awareness

“As I keep doing more press, the story will get bigger and bigger,” Charles said. “I’ve been invited to go on the Tavis Smiley’s show; I’m working on ‘The View,’ ‘Good Morning America’ and (David) Letterman. As we continue to do these appearances, people will remember my name and remember the song.”

He said “Healing Time” is getting radio play around the country on gospel stations, Christian stations — all formats.

“It’s not a religious song, but a spiritual song … it’s a human song,” Charles said. “People have tied it to our country needing healing time or people needing healing time from relationships. My goal is to tie it to New Orleans; that’s what it’s for. I’m happy to have written it because it does make a difference,” he said.

The son of Dr. Bernard Levi and Jeanne Levi Milligan, Charles said the Kansas City “soft rock” radio station KUDL-FM 98.1 would probably be the best one to call to request his song.

Charles sometimes performs alone, but he will lead a band when he returns to his hometown Sept. 2 to play the Beaumont Club in Westport, opening for Buckwheat Zydeco.

‘Second line’

Charles said after four years, people have stopped caring about New Orleans. However, with the Katrina anniversary approaching, it will be in the news again, and Charles wants to remind people that lots of work remains to be done.

“That’s why we’re starting this now. By August, we’ll be everywhere. But it takes people actually going online and doing it,” he said. “I think we’re off to a really great start. We’ve gotten two of the biggest media outlets in the world to cover the story, now we need TV and other media outlets.

“You can go to New Orleans and go to the French Quarter and the mansions, and you think it’s fine and dandy. But what makes New Orleans special is the hospitality and excitement of the people who live there, and now … (h)alf the population doesn’t have anyplace to live.”

Charles said “Healing Time” was, in part, inspired by the New Orleans jazz-funeral tradition. When carrying a body to the grave, the band plays slowly and mournfully. But on the way back, the parade becomes a celebration.

“The song starts slow and somber, intensive; the lyrics really strike you and hopefully really get to you,’ Charles said. “At the end of the song, you feel rejoicing. It makes you feel good, and you want to give that money to help rebuild. It’s like a party and funeral at the same time,” he said.

“This is a musical and personal connection for me. (New Orleans) has given so much to me. Dr. John and all the people I’ve met from there, the hospitality and generosity, it all is the reason I’m doing it. I would not be the artist I am today had it not been for those people reaching out and helping me.”

How to hear 'Healing Time'

To view Josh Charles’ CNN video and/or hear his performance of “Healing Time,” visit his Web site, www.joshcharlesmusic.com. It also contains links to related Amazon, iTunes and Facebook pages.

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