Song Summit Foundation launches “Healing Harmonies”

The Song Summit Foundationformerly More Than Music Foundation, will celebrate Independence Day early on July 2nd with “Healing Harmonies”.

“Healing Harmonies,” held from 6:30-9 p.m. at the National Ability Center, 1000 Ability Wy. at Quinn’s Junction, is a celebration of veteran storytelling, connection and live music to benefit the Song Summit Foundation, the nonprofit organization that supports wellness through music at the Park City Song Summit. a multi-day event that focuses on music and wellness, including recovery, said executive director Meredith Lavitt.

“While it is a fundraiser, it is also an awareness event,” she said. “We are new to the community and want the greater Park City community, as well as the Wasatch Front and Back communities, to get to know us and the work we do.”

The focus of the event is SongwritingWith:Soldiersa nonprofit organization that, according to Lavitt, uses collaborative songwriting as a catalyst for positive change.

The organization brings veterans and their families together with professional songwriters during three-day retreats and workshops across the United States, she said.

The songs will be recorded and shared through streaming, concerts and social media to promote understanding between the military and civilian communities, Lavitt said.

Since 2012, SongwritingWith:Soldiers has held over 70 weekend retreats and facilitated over 1,000 collaborative songwriting sessions for nearly 2,000 veterans, military members and their families, resulting in the production of more than 1,000 songs to date, she said.

At its core, SW:S is about healing, and songwriting is used by veterans as a unique way to tell their stories, rebuild trust, release pain and begin healing, Lavitt said.

“Professional songwriters encourage veterans to tell their true stories about their combat experiences and their return home in the form of songs,” she said. “Songwriters use the power of music and songwriting to help veterans tell their stories, understand their experiences and raise awareness of the challenges they face.”

“Healing Harmonies” will feature a discussion moderated by Ben Anderson, founder and director of the Park City Song Summit, and featuring panelists and songwriters Jay Clementi, Danny Myrick and Erin Enderlin, Lavitt said.

Clementi, music director of SongwritingWith:Soldiers, wrote Luke Bryan’s 2017 No. 1 song “Move” and has written other songs for artists such as Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Sunny Sweeney, The Josh Abbott Band and Radney Foster.

Myrick grew up in southern Mississippi playing, singing and writing for his family’s gospel band. At 17, he landed his first No. 1 gospel song: “Jesus Is the Light,” recorded by the Dixie Melody Boys.

Since then, Myrick has written seven No. 1 gospel hits and formed the country rock band Western Flyer.

Some of Myrick’s songs have been recorded by Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Joe Cocker, Maddie & Tae and Eddie Vedder.

Enderlin was honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s annual “American Currents” exhibit, which was featured on CMT’s “Make It Country.” In addition to opening CMT’s 2021 Next Women of Country Tour, headlined by Tanya Tucker, Enderlin also won awards for Country Artist, Songwriter, Song and Album of the Year at the 2020 Arkansas Country Music Awards.

“All of these songwriters have worked with soldiers and veterans, and the discussion will be about what impact their work has had, what they’ve learned through their work, and how their work has helped veterans process their trauma and the things they’ve experienced and move on,” Lavitt said.

In addition to the discussions and live music, Healing Harmonies will also feature food trucks and other treats, according to Lavitt.

“We hope the community will come out to kick off the Fourth of July week with this special event,” she said.