Dubai: A Dubai-based singer and composer has announced plans to stage a charity concert on September 13 to aid flood victims in the Philippines.
One month after floods ravaged the Philippines affecting over a million people, jazz guitarist, pianist, and voice coach Glenn Perry said he’d do his bit for Filipinos by using his music to raise funds for them on Thursday.
“Watching the news of the floods that ravaged Philippines was very sad,” Perry, Dubai Music School founder, told Gulf News.
“But when I learned that some of my students were victimized by the floods, I knew I had to take a stand and do something about it. The floods devastated their homes, house, belongings and livelihoods. It tore my heart and made me cry. It felt like I, myself, was hit by the flood. The reasons became very personal,” he added.
During the ‘80s, Perry made waves in Dubai for his first hit single titled Welcome to The UAE.
The song became an instant hit locally.
Through the years, he has used his music to help others in need by holding one charity concert after another for various causes.
Originally from India, Perry said one does not need to have Filipino blood to help out.
His special connection with his Filipino students has actually made him more of a ‘Filipino by heart,” he said
“Over the last 30 years, I have taught many students from the Philippines. They are just like my brothers and sisters and my family members. Now I feel that a part of me belongs to the Philippines,” Perry said, adding that this concert for Filipinos is not the first.
“I have staged concerts before to assist the victims of disasters in the Philippines. Besides organizing concerts, I had gone to Albay in Bicol to assist the victims of Typhoon Durian. It was the worst disaster I had seen. Then I went again to the Philippines to lend a helping hand during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. In 2011, I went to Mindanao to assist the Typhoon Sendong victims.”
On Thursday, Perry will perform well-known songs from all the eras plus his original compositions. He hopes that through his music, those who have been scarred by the tragedies in the Philippines will somehow be healed.
“Music is an extremely powerful tranquilizer. Music is very uplifting for anyone who has ever experienced traumatic injury or been on the other side of the universe,” Perry said, adding that he hopes others would pitch in their help, too.
“We all belong to one human race and when disasters strike we all have to shoulder the responsibility to help those in distress. Let’s not avoid the problems. Let’s face the problems and learn from it.”
