Musical Community Rises from the Ashes: Altadena Musicians Initiative
The aftermath of last year’s wildfires in Los Angeles left many musicians without their cherished instruments. In response to this crisis, TV composers Brandon Jay and Gwendolyn Sanford, known for their work on “Orange Is The New Black,” have taken an extraordinary step to support their fellow artists.
The couple’s own home was among those devastated by the fires in the Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. Brandon Jay recalls, “We managed to save my wife’s acoustic guitar and one of my electric guitars.” However, they lost hundreds of other instruments, prompting them to consider the plight of other musicians in the region.
Their initiative, Altadena Musicians, began as a heartfelt Facebook post by Brandon Jay, emphasizing the sentimental value of instruments beyond their monetary worth. “The value of instruments isn’t necessarily the monetary value, but it’s, like, the sentimental and the emotional value that you have attached to them and the stories behind them that make them special,” Jay expressed.
Inspired by the overwhelming support they received at a community event in Pasadena—where friends and strangers alike offered replacement instruments—Jay and Sanford launched several projects aimed at restoring what was lost in the fires. Altadena Musicians established a registry for artists seeking to replace lost gear and share their stories.
They also developed an app to facilitate the donation process and set up a free record store to help individuals rebuild their lost music collections. “Because it’s something that you collect over, like, your whole lifetime,” Jay noted, highlighting the deep personal connection people have with their records.
Their efforts have also extended to creating a physical space for live performances, rehearsals, recordings, and instrument repairs. Jay envisions this as a long-term support system for artists still grappling with their losses. “I just want it to be, like, an ongoing situation because for so many people, they’re not ready yet,” he stated.
For more inspiring stories of community service and volunteerism, visit npr.org/heretohelp.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALTADENA, ALTADENA”)
EVAN ZEE: (Singing) Altadena, Altadena – take a step into paradise. Altadena, Altadena where the city meets the sky in the bosom of Sierra Madre…
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
