Star-Studded Rock CD To Benefit Preschool Education
08/30/04

Mary Had A Little Amp Features Children's Songs by Madonna, Dixie Chicks, R.E.M., Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt and Others

In Stores October 5 from Epic Records

On October 5, Epic Records will release Mary Had A Little Amp, a special collection of songs children love performed by sixteen renowned artists. All proceeds from Mary Had A Little Amp will benefit People For the American Way's Project Kid Smart and People For the American Way Foundation's Start Smart America, projects working to ensure preschool education for all American children.

Featuring new takes on children's classics like a rare version of Graham Nash singing "Teach Your Children," the Dixie Chicks' new rendition of "Rainbow Connection," original songs by Moby and Rosanne Cash, contributions from Jack Johnson and Maroon 5, and unique collaborations between Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson and between Dave Matthews and Blue Man Group, Mary Had A Little Amp will be the perfect addition to any parent's, child's, or music–lover's collection.

"This CD is the result of the efforts of many artists and activists. We asked the Dixie Chicks to help us make preschool education a national priority and they stepped up to the plate. The Dixie Chicks' involvement in this project was enormously important to our outreach to other artists," says Project Kid Smart Director Julie Burton, explaining the origin of this unique CD compilation.

"Maybe the most miraculous thing about being a mother is seeing the incredible capacity a young child has to learn. Imagine if all children in our country had the chance to go to a good school early on and soak up the kind of skills and knowledge that a quality preschool education provides? We were thrilled to help with this exciting project," say the Dixie Chicks.

Project Kid Smart Director Burton says, "We thank all of these amazing artists for using their voices to call attention to the need to make preschool education a national priority and to make sure all kids have the best beginnings possible."

About Preschool Education – Putting Kids First:

"I've always heard it said that if you have to make a choice between sending your child to college or sending them to preschool, to choose preschool. Love of learning, once sparked, never goes away. A preschool that instills a love of learning is our greatest hope for the future, for civilization, for peace," says Rosanne Cash about her involvement with Mary Had A Little Amp.

The proceeds from Mary Had A Little Amp will benefit People For the American Way Foundation's Start Smart America program, a program dedicated to generating research and advancing the debate about preschool education issues, and People For the American Way's Project Kid Smart, a project which works to mobilize and educate voters about preschool education concerns. Start Smart America recently conducted a poll that found 85% percent of American women strongly believe preschool education programs should be available to all families.

"One of the most effective ways to improve America's educational system is to invest in children before they get to kindergarten," said Ralph G. Neas, President of People For the American Way Foundation. "Improving America's educational system has been a priority for our organization for many years. People For the American Way Foundation is eager to help organize support for a national program on preschool education. The scientific research on brain development makes this a top priority and our responsibility to America's children. The polling data shows that Americans understand this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

Project Kid Smart – Preschool Education for All Project Kid Smart, a project of People For the American Way, was launched in 2003 to educate and mobilize women around preschool education issues. Project Kid Smart advocates support for public policies that call for a national program, like Congresswoman Hilda Solis' new legislation, "Smart from the Start Preschool Education Fund for America." The project seeks to move preschool education to the national agenda by broadcasting women's support for the issue and by turning out women voters. Project Kid Smart is currently collaborating with America Coming Together in its multi–state door–to–door voter contact and issue education efforts. Preschool education has emerged as a political issue and Project Kid Smart has been organized to get the word out to voters who think America should make investing in kids' early education a top national priority.

Preschool education is a key voting issue for millions of American women. Research conducted by the Public Education Network, a national association of local educational funds and individuals working to advance public school reform in low–income communities, found that early childhood education is the top education program voters want protected from budget cuts and is the top education issue that candidates can focus on to gain voter support.

Start Smart America – Working Together for Children's Future Education is a daily issue for women of all ages who care for young children. For this reason, People For the American Way Foundation Women's Council and the Rockefeller Family Fund collaborated to form Start Smart America – Working Together for Children's Future. Start Smart America seeks to influence and advance the debate about the need for national voluntary preschool education for all children and to publicize the public's strong support for preschool education politics and policies. Start Smart America conducts research and informs the public on the short–term and long–term benefits of quality preschool education. Start Smart America hosts public forums and hearings that bring together prominent researchers and academics to discuss landmark studies on early childhood brain development and the scientific data that demonstrates that children who go to preschool education programs are more likely to be happy and self confident, do better in math and reading, and are more likely to graduate from high school and do well in college.

People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation

People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation were founded more than 20 years ago by Norman Lear (the acclaimed writer, producer and creator of All In The Family, The Jeffersons, Maude, Sanford and Son, etc.), Barbara Jordan and other prominent Americans. With over 600,000 members and supporters, PFAW and PFAWF are two of the nation's leading civil rights and civil liberties organizations. K–12 Education has long been a priority at PFAW and PFAWF, and the organizations are proud to add preschool education, the final frontier in education, to the range of education work they engage in.

Mary Had A Little Amp Track Listing:

Blue Man Group Featuring Dave Matthews – "Sing Along"
Bonnie Raitt – "Baby Mine"
Dixie Chicks – "Rainbow Connection"
Graham Nash – A rare version of "Teach Your Children"
Indigo Girls – "Wild Wild Party In The Loquat Tree"
Jack Johnson – "3 Rs Song"
Joe Henry – "When You Wish Upon A Star"
Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson – "Gentle Breeze"
Madonna – "Little Star"
Maroon 5 – "Pure Imagination"
Moby – "Anchovie"
Nancy and Ann Wilson with Brian Wilson's Band – "Lifeline"
R.E.M. – "We Walk"
Rosanne Cash – "How To Be Strong"