Grammy award winning artists Hootie and The Blowfish are taking their charity work to a new level by donating the rights to their best-selling song “Hold My Hand” to aid the working poor. Leading the effort for the band is songwriter and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld who teamed with the nationally-ranked Benedict College Gospel Choir to produce a new recording of the song that is now available for download on music sites including iTunes.
All artist proceeds from the sale of the song will benefit The Cooperative Ministry, a non-profit organization that serves the working poor in the band’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina.
Taking its cue from the song’s lyrics, organizers are calling the project, With A Little Love. The idea came about last year as non-profits across South Carolina and the country struggled to raise money during the recession. The Cooperative Ministry was determined to meet the growing demand for its services and needed a powerful way to inspire its community. They teamed with Hootie and The Blowfish, already well-known for its commitment to local charities. The message behind “Hold My Hand”, first recorded in 1994, was a perfect fit for the current day struggles of many working poor.
“I was blown away by the choir’s a capella interpretation of the song and decided — right then and there — to find a way to make it available for download, and give away the proceeds,” said Jim Sonefeld. “With A Little Love represents the coming together of many talented folks to help this often overlooked population and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”