8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days to be Held October 1-31, 2009

LOS ANGELES, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Daniel Pearl Foundation today announced the 8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days will be held October 1 - 31, 2009.

For the past seven years, growing numbers of professional and amateur musicians have been joining this expanding network of concerts to honor the legacy of journalist/musician Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal South Asia Bureau Chief, who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan shortly after 9/11. These concerts commemorate Pearl's life and work by using the universal language of music to spread a message of hope, unity and "Harmony for Humanity."

World Music Days, which coincides with Pearl's October 10 birthday, is an awareness-raising initiative, not a fund-raising program. There is no fee to participate. Musicians simply register their existing or specially planned October performances at http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org and make a statement from the stage or in the printed program in support of the "Harmony for Humanity" theme. The World Music Days website also allows artists to promote their music via individual Artist Profile Pages that feature biographical information, photos and videos, as well as links to artist websites and social networking pages.

"World Music Days presents musicians with the opportunity to inspire their audiences by dedicating their music to the triumph of humanity over hate and barbarity," said Ruth Pearl, mother of Daniel Pearl and Co-Founder of the Daniel Pearl Foundation. "Danny firmly believed in the power of music to unite people. Last year artists at more than 1000 concerts in 59 countries took part in this global initiative and we are looking forward to many more joining this year."

Since World Music Days' inception in 2002, more than 3,100 concerts in 85 countries have participated in this global initiative. A talented musician who joined musical groups in every community he visited, Daniel Pearl left behind a long trail of musician friends that span the entire globe. World Music Days brings people together in a united stand for peace and against the culture of violence.

"In addition to dedicating live October performances in 2009, we invite all musicians to visit eStage on the World Music Days website to post original music and lyrics in the "Harmony for Humanity" theme," said World Music Days' Program Manager Paul Karlsen. "Concerts dedicated outside of October may also be registered as special Tribute Events."

The World Music Days Honorary Committee is composed of celebrated International artists who represent a broad spectrum of musical styles including Salman Ahmad, Theodore Bikel, Yefim Bronfman, Ida Haendel, Herbie Hancock, Sir Elton John, Alison Krauss, Tania Libertad, Yo-Yo Ma, Zubin Mehta, Mark O'Connor, George Pehlivanian, Itzhak Perlman, R.E.M., A.J. Racy, Steve Reich, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Ravi Shankar, Russell Simmons, Barbra Streisand, and John Williams.

The Daniel Pearl Foundation http://www.danielpearl.org was formed in 2002 in memory of journalist/musician Daniel Pearl to promote the ideals that inspired his life and work. It works domestically and internationally to promote dialogue and understanding, to counter cultural and religious hatred, to encourage responsible and balanced journalism, and to promote peace through music.

For more information, please visit http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org or contact Paul Karlsen: paul@danielpearl.org

SOURCE Daniel Pearl Foundation

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http://www.danielpearl.org