Over the course of the global pandemic, the iconic refrain to Grateful Dead hit “Touch of Grey” has become a rallying cry. When businesses shuttered back in March and April, the chorus of “We will get by, we will survive” could be seen written on the plywood that covered windows.
On Thursday, the Dead’s resilient message of perseverance took on further meaning with a new video sponsored by Little Kids Rock and the Rex Foundation, who have banded together to save school music programs across the country. The video features Billy Strings, Jeff Chimenti, Trombone Shorty, Don Was, Jay Lane, David Hidalgo, Steve Berlin, Louie Perez, Shira Elias, Lindsay Ell, Mark Rivers, and Making Movies covering the In The Dark track alongside some talented schoolchildren.
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The video opens with a chorus of musicians strumming the opening happy-go-lucky notes of the Dead’s only Top 40 hit. Canadian singer Lindsay Ell soon comes in to take the first verse, but this song is a community affair as Los Lobos‘ David Hidalgo comes in for verse two. The choir of singers and musicians grows exponentially as Trombone Shorty adds his horns and Making Movies comes in to further bolster the sound.
“Music is a powerful healing force – a lesson taught to us over and over again by the Grateful Dead, particularly in Touch Of Grey,” Executive Director of Rex Foundation and former Dead tour manager Cameron Sears said. “We are proud to once again support Little Kids Rock, who continues to lead the charge in helping build inclusive music programs in schools across the country.”
The “Touch of Grey” cover serves as a fundraiser for music programs across the country that are in grave danger of being eliminated. Funds raised from online donations will be split between Little Kids Rock and Rex Foundation to support music teachers by providing resources to help them adjust their curricula to an online format while many schools remain closed.
Watch the cover of “Touch of Grey” by the Little Kids Rock students and many others below, and click here to learn more about the cause and donate.
Little Kids Rock Students & Musical Luminaries – “Touch of Grey” (Grateful Dead)
[Video: Little Kids Rock]