SingSoS profile picture

SingSoS

Raising awareness, spirits and funds for autism

About Me

SingSOS is a nonprofit group whose mission is to use the power of music to raise awareness, funds and spirits in the struggle against autism spectrum disorders.
Our main goal at present: record and release a CD with renowned vocalists interpreting songs by John and Jon (and others) about autism.
We seek to raise awareness because the children and families hurt by this baffling disease can only be helped if society at large understands their needs and the life-altering power of early detection and intensive treatment.
We seek to raise spirits because the parents involved face an isolating and dispiriting fight. Building a sense of hope, community and more widespread understanding is vital to sustaining and advancing their efforts.
We seek to raise funds for the groups leading the charge against autism, because their resources are not yet a match for the work to be done. The funds we raise will benefit leading autism awareness groups including Autism Speaks .
We Sing SOS, Songs of the Spectrum, not only to sound the alarm about autism's rapid spread, but to rally an effective national response.
To contact us, leave us a message through MySpace or email [email protected] or call 1-973-921-9143.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/3/2006
Band Members: Who We Are:A writer, some musicians, a producer and a group of friends and relations who bring a variety of professional skills to the SingSOS project.

John O'Neil (lyricist), an editor and writer at The New York Times, told his son James's story in a full-page article that was the capstone of a yearlong series on autism that the paper nominated for a Pulitzer prize.

Jon Fried and Deena Shoshkes (songwriters) are singer/songwriters whose band, the Cucumbers, was praised by Jon Pareles of the Times as "power pop with a light touch and endearing quirks."

Michael Visceglia (producer) is a bassist and music producer who has toured internationally with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, Valerie Carter and many other world class musicians and has put together a group of the finest musicians in NYC to interpret our songs.

Dan Griffin (project consultant) is a producer and film maker whose honors include a Grammy nomination, a Nashville Music Award and induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He has worked with artists ranging from the Rolling Stones to The Roches.
Influences: We have all either been touched directly by the autism of a child, or seen its terrible toll and the miracles that early detection and treatment can make possible.
Sounds Like: We're seeking donations to allow us to record the songs that John and Jon (and others) have written about the emotions and experiences of families living with autism. To find out more about what we're doing and why, see Our Story, in the blog section above (and to the right). To donate via PayPal or with a credit card, click on the secure link below.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

House Parties and Other News

March 15, 2008It’s really happening. We have seven songs recorded. In addition to Jackson Browne & Valerie Carter singing a duet and Marshall Crenshaw, we’ve now recorded Dar Williams ("Ho...
Posted by SingSoS on Sat, 22 Jul 2006 09:45:00 PST

Our Story

The project began two years ago as a handful of poems John O'Neil scribbled on the train. He emailed some to Jon Fried, the father of his oldest boy's best friend, after overhearing a conversation abo...
Posted by SingSoS on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 08:54:00 PST

John O'Neil's NYT piece about his son James

December 29, 2004, Wednesday Late Edition - Final Section B Page 8 Column 1 Desk: Metropolitan Desk - Education Page Length: 3184 words Slow-Motion Miracle: One Boy's Journey Out of Au...
Posted by SingSoS on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:08:00 PST

More about SingSos - and the lyrics

Why Sing SOS?The need:The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders has soared over the last decade. Before 1990, children with autism were so rare that schools did not even count th...
Posted by SingSoS on Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:47:00 PST