Contemporary Christian Concert to Benefit Haiti Set for February 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Local Christian singers will join together for a concert to benefit Haitian earthquake victims on Saturday, February 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The concert will be held at Ovens Auditorium 2700 East Independence Boulevard Charlotte, NC, (704)372-3600. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  All proceeds will towards helping earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. (http://www.charlottehelpinghaiti.com).

Award-winning songwriter and Haitian-American Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis and his Church organized the concert, which will feature local artists such as Kyle Dillard and the Lake Forrest Church Band, One Way, and Pierre-Louis' daughter, recording artist Melissa Pierre-Louis.

"Other Haitian pastors and I will travel to Haiti on February 8 to offer our emotional and financial assistance, so the concert's proceeds will go to immediate on-the-ground relief efforts," says Pierre-Louis, who is a co-pastor of Christian International Faith Center.  

Music lovers can also donate through downloads. CD Baby users can download songs (http://cdbaby.com/cd/MelissaPierreLouis1) to benefit charitable and indigenous organizations helping earthquake recovery efforts.  Pierre-Louis hopes his songs, "Bless the Memories" and "Touch Someone," inspire and help Haiti financially.

"There are powerful metaphors for the crisis in there," Pierre-Louis says. "'Bless' is written as though those we've lost in the earthquake are bidding farewell. But we are also bidding farewell to the failed state in which Haiti has found itself."

"'Touch' fits the current circumstances well. We must reach out to others right now and hurry to help those who are hurting," Pierre-Louis says. "People saw the suffering and are looking for ways they can help. It's beautiful to see the response and hopefully these songs will encourage more of that."

Pierre-Louis emigrated to the U.S. in 1981 and studied mathematics and computer science at Florida Atlantic University and earned a master's degree from Southern Evangelical Seminary. A software engineer for IBM, Pierre-Louis says he's pleased the company is helping relief efforts in his birthplace.

"My father has always pushed his children and youth in our church community to recognize our responsibility to Haiti," Melissa Pierre-Louis says. "I hope that my voice can offer another installment on that debt."

"Bless the Memories" recently won the American Bible Society's Scripture Song Award at the Gospel Music Association's IMMERSE event. Pierre-Louis' music can be heard on radio stations in the US, Haiti and Canada. Last December, Pierre-Louis designed http://operationtouch.org with colleague Joel Duquene and offered "Touch" for free to reach out; now he's asking for people to touch Haiti through downloads of the same tune with appropriate words.

About Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis

Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis is an award-winning songwriter. His song "Bless the Memories" won the American Bible Society's Scripture Song Award. Pierre Louis is co-pastor of Christian International Faith Center and is a software engineer for IBM in Charlotte. He collaborates with his daughter, contemporary Christian singer Melissa Pierre-Louis.

SOURCE Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis