Comedy Gives Back is celebrating this holiday season with a new song sung by some 60 comedians, and a new initiative to support the comedy community.
The song is “Christmas Magic,” composed by Avery Pearson (Historical Roasts, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, The 88 Show) and Jordan Baum (Universal Music Publishing Group songwriter/producer duo The 87’s) and co-produced by Universal Music Group and Comedy Gives Back.
The initiative is Gives Back: Taking Care of Our Own benefits stand-up comedians in times of need, whether it’s emergency financial relief grants, access to mental health services or substance abuse treatment.
SINGERS: Avery Pearson, Howie Mandel, Jim Jefferies, Adam Devine, Louie Anderson, Kristin Hensley, Jen Smedley, Nick Rutherford, Anjelah Johnson, Richard Lewis, Steve Rannazzisi, Jason Sklar, Randy Sklar, Nick Swardson, Lisa Ann Walter, Brian Posehn, Greg Fitzsimmons, David Koechner, Sasheer Zamata, Arden Myrin, Jordan Baum, Scott Aukerman, Kurt Braunholer, Doug Benson, Jeff Ross, Jackie Tohn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Steve Byrne, Sherri Shepherd, Adam Ray, Brad Williams, Jade Catta-Preta, Justin Martindale, Tony Hinchcliffe, Adam Conover, Josh Adam Meyers, Henry Phillips, Stephen Kramer Glickman, Rich Fulcher, Hal Sparks, Chaunte Wayans, Sandy Danto, Wayne Federman, Stevvi Alexander, Jenny Karr, Jimmy Pardo, Jeremiah Watkins, Jon Rudnitsky, Joe Sib, Michelle Ortiz, Wendy Liebman, Tom Rhodes, Ingrid Gillming, Niccole Thurman, Johnny Pemberton, Phillip Brackin, Zoe Friedman, Amber J. Lawson, Adam Carolla, Pete Lee, Jamie Kennedy, Josh Wolf, Jessimae Peluso.
You can buy the single for $1.29 via all the major platforms including iTunes, and will be played on Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM and radio stations. It’s distributed by 800 Pound Gorilla Records. All proceeds from the song will go directly to Comedy Gives Back: Taking Care of Our Own.
Founded by Zoe Friedman, Amber J. Lawson and Jodi Lieberman and modeled on the excellent work done by charitable organizations like MusiCares and The Actor’s Fund, Comedy Gives Back creates a safety net for the comedy community in times of need. “We know how challenging the life of a comedian is and we know first hand, that Comedy Gives Back: Taking Care of Our Own is long overdue,” Friedman said.
The Comedy Gives Back board includes Judi Brown-Marmel (Levity), Budd Friedman (Improv), Daniel Kellison (JASH), Joanna Scott (UTA), Dave Becky (3 Arts), Maria Lapides (Lapides Mgmt), Richard Lewis (comic), Harold Owens (Musicares), Dave Rath (Imagine Artists), Jim Serpico (Milestone TV and FIlm) Melanie Truhett (Truhett Mgmt), and Geof Wills (Live Nation).
A fund-raiser on Dec. 5 at the Hollywood Improv raised more than $85,000 for the cause, featuring David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Reggie Watts, Byron Bowers and Ms. Pat.
DONATIONS: www.comedygivesback.com