Shelter Me

This particular benefit CD, Shelter Me, challenges the stereotype that most homeless people have substance abuse problems or mental illnesses. In fact, they defy stereotypes and represent a cross-section of our population. They include children; formerly employed workers suffering financial loss; people with health problems and no insurance; and victims of domestic violence.

The idea for this project was inspired by friends of ours who are homeless, and by a CD released in 2007 titled Give Us Your Poor. Produced by Appleseed Recordings, this album helped dispel myths about, and inspire action to end epidemic homelessness. We hope Shelter Me will do the same on a local level. All proceeds benefit the Friendship Shelter, with programs in Laguna Beach and San Clemente, CA, helping the homeless rebuild their lives. In 20 years, more than 5,000 people have found hope and opportunity there.

When we launched this project, we assumed only a few artists would be willing to participate, but instead, the opposite proved true. Most everyone wanted to help. They had stories to share. We soon realized that musicians with heartfelt knowledge of this subject would make this benefit CD a stunning reality. Shelter Me has truly become a compilation by and for the homeless.

What struck us most about the songs you’ll hear is the optimism these musicians have created. The thread running through these compositions isn’t desperation or hopelessness, but rather grace and mercy.

Shelter Me brought together dozens of talented people and inspired everyone involved. Songwriters such as Shayne Fair, who co-produced Bill Medley’s CD Damn Near Righteous; Dave Nachmanoff, who has been back out touring with Al Stewart (Year of the Cat); Shawn Jones, who not too long ago performed for the U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan; Alec Bridges, who has performed at several benefit concerts over the years; Richard Bredice & Poul Pedersen & Missiles of October, whose original songs have been overlooked by the major labels for way too long; Jason Feddy, an English friend with an extraordinary ability to express himself creatively; the prolific and multi-talented Kevin Danzig; Mick Overman, doubtless one of the most-traveled independent musicians around; the rock ‘n’ poet Michael Ubaldini; and Lisa Lofthouse, who has opened for such musical legends as Michael McDonald and Seal.

We’d also like to thank individuals such as Ivan Spiers and Eric McClure and Jamie Browning with MZB Recording Studio in Tustin, who offered their studio and equipment to record many of these songs; co-executive producer Bob Francis, and my longtime friends Pete & Vickie Neumann, who sponsored many of the expenses related to production; and Barry Hovis, Freda Danzig, Marcel Longwell & April Spain, Tricia Freeman & Girls Night Out, and Danny McCloskey, whose knowledge and experience contributed invaluably to this Benefit CD. And, of course, on a personal note, I’d like to acknowledge my wife Marty, without whom I wouldn’t feel as secure with a project of this nature.

If you would like to become a friend of Friendship Shelter, please contact:

Friendship Shelter, Inc.
P.O. Box 4252
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
949.494-6928