Tag Archives: Adopt The Arts

Adopt The Arts Adds High School For Music Program

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Los Angeles based non profit Adopt The Arts will be adopting another school for their program to preserve and creating arts programs in US public schools. Santana Alternative High School in La Puente, CA will be launching a school adoption on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 12:30 pm.

ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum and ATA board member actor Johnathon Schaech at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum and ATA board member actor Johnathon Schaech at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

Adopt The Arts will bring electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, drums, microphones and amplifiers to the adoption ceremony.

“As a public school, Santana High School’s arts program doesn’t receive enough funds and they needed instruments,” explains Adopt The Arts co-founder Matt Sorum. “I took on Santana because I care about these kids’ future. When I was their age, my life in music began as soon as I graduated and I was off on my journey to Hollywood. I want to give these kids options and inspire them to go after their dreams be it music or anything else. The social skills learned through being in a group of musicians will carry them as they navigate the road ahead.”

The new music room at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

The new music room at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA.

Adopt the Arts was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. Actors Jane Lynch and Johnathon Schaech are on the Adopt The Arts Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, Adopt the Arts honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps.

On February 5, Adopt the Arts garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from The Carter Lay Charitable Fund. The donation included the funding and salary for a new music teacher at Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA as well as the addition of a new music room stocked with keyboards, acoustic guitars, a drum kit, microphones and amplifiers.


Adopt The Arts Launching School Adoption In Venice, CA Thursday Feb 4th

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Adopt The Arts, the Los Angeles based non profit that preserves and creates arts programs in US public schools, will launch a school adoption for Westminster Elementary in Venice, CA on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 12:45 pm on the Westminster Elementary Playground (1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291).

ADOPT THE ARTS was founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman and works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. Actors Jane Lynch and Johnathon Schaech are on the ADOPT THE ARTS Board of Directors; the advisory board includes: Shepard Fairey (Artist), John Stamos (Actor and musician), Slash (Musician), Gina Gershon (Actor), Juliette Lewis (Actor), Danny Masterson (Actor), Steve Stevens (Musician), Billy Bob Thornton (Actor), Michael Wincott (Actor) and Adrian Young (Musician). To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps.

Last month, ADOPT THE ARTS gathered their industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction. The event–which honored music legends BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ Top) and BUTCH TRUCKS (Allman Brothers Band)–was a smashing success, raising over $106,000 in one night for ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS recently garnered a generous five-year donation commitment to Westminster Elementary from the Carter Lay Charitable Fund. ADOPT THE ARTS would also like to thank the following instrument sponsors for their support of Westminster Elementary: Fender Foundation, Casio Keyboards, Yamaha, Gretsch drums, Rode Microphones, Ultimate Support, JBL Audio, Zildjian Cymbals, Latin Percussion, Planet Waves and Gibraltar Hardware.

According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 50% of elementary school children in the district are not receiving arts education of any kind. As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally. The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.


Adopt The Arts Concert and Auction Raises $106,000 Funding School Music Programs

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Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

The Adopt The Arts event at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA on January 12th raised over $106,000 in one night and funds music programs in LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) elementary schools. They brought together various music industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

The event honored Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Butch Trucks of Allman Brothers Band, and artists thrilled the crowd performing a rare set including hits from ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers. The sets included:

ZZ Top set:
1. “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Damon Fox, Billy Duffy)
2. “Tush” (ZZ Top) (w/ Billy Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino, Edgar Winter on organ)
3. “Cheap Sunglasses” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Edgar Winter on sax/ lead vocals with Gibbons)
4. “Rough Boy” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, Matt Sorum)
5. “Waitin’ For The Bus” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan)
5. “Jesus Just Left Chicago” (ZZ Top) (w/Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons)
6. “La Grange” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Steve Lukather, Richie Sambora, Edgar Winter on organ)

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Allman Brothers Band set:
1. “Trouble No More” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Jimmy Vivino, Butch Trucks)
2. “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’’ (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Franky Perez)
3. “Midnight Rider” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Richie Sambora, Orianthi)
4. “Stormy Monday” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Edgar Winter on vocals/sax, Jimmy Vivino, Slash)
5. “One Way Out” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino)
6. “Statesboro Blues” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Matt Sorum)
7. “Whipping Post” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Matt Sorum, Slash, Richie Sambora and Billy Gibbons)

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.


Adopt The Arts Benefit Show Held January 12, 2015 At The Roxy In West Hollywood, CA

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Adopt The Arts will launch a live benefit concert and event for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools on Monday, January 12, 2015 at The Roxy (9009 W. Sunset Blvd) in West Hollywood, CA (red carpet 6:00-7:00PM, show starts: 7:00PM). Music luminaries will gather to perform with and honor BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ Top) and BUTCH TRUCKS (Allman Brothers Band) for their contributions to American art and culture. Artists confirmed to perform so far include Billy Gibbons, Butch Trucks, Slash, Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver), Steve Lukather (Toto), Edgar Winter, Jimmy Vivino (Conan O’Brien) vocalist Franky Perez, ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and many more special guests to be announced soon. The Disreputable Few, a group of surprise killer musicians, will serve as the backing band for the night. The proceeds will go to the ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools (see VIP ticket/donation below). Tickets are on-sale now at http://adoptthearts.org.

ADOPT THE ARTS–a Los Angeles-based charity co-founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman–works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps. Actress JANE LYNCH was the first celebrity to sign onto ADOPT THE ARTS and is on the Board of Directors; the advisory board also includes: SLASH, JOHN STAMOS, BILLY BOB THORTON, STEVE STEVENS, JULIETTE LEWIS, DANNY MASTERSON, SHEPARD FAIREY, ADRIAN YOUNG and GINA GERSHON.