Sweet Music Everywhere - Twenty-Five Years, So Far ...

When the Grateful Dead launched the Rex Foundation in 1983, they had not yet hit the 20-year milestone. The band’s break onto the top of the pop charts and into the mainstream's limelight was a few years away, and the taper's section was not yet a reality.

This community has come a long way!

On December 13th, Rex celebrated 25 years of grassroots philanthropy with “Sweet Music Everywhere” at the Grand Ballroom of the Regency Center in San Francisco.

During his bluegrass set, early in the evening, headliner Peter Rowan commented that his musical world opened up the day he heard the “Whop-bop-a-lu-a-whop-bam-boo.” The evening’s performers, including Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, David Gans, Jackie Greene, the Brass Mafia, and Crucial Reggae lived up to the challenge of exploring the horizons, weaving elements of reggae, bluegrass, and rock ‘n’ roll into new arrangements of familiar tunes.

Since its inception the Rex Foundation has granted over $8M dollars to grassroots nonprofits and individual artists doing good work all around the globe. Over $1M of that amount has been raised and given out since 2001, when Rex invited the next generation of musicians and supporters to join the Rex Caravan, and participate in special events that carry on the Grateful Dead’s tradition of benefit concerts.

Thank you to everyone who attended. Even if you missed the music, you can still be a part of the celebration. Stanley Mouse's commemorative poster - created especially for the occasion - is still available.

Another Accolade for Mickey Hart's Global Drum Project

Rex congratulates Mickey Hart and the Global Drum Project on the Grammy Award nomination in the Best Contemporary World Music Album category for their self-titled, 15-year reunion album from Shout! Factory.

The 1991 collaboration album between Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo, Sikiru Adepoju, and many other musicians took home the first ever Grammy in the World Music Category. Mickey and Zakir produced the recent album at Mickey's Studio X in Sonoma County; engineers included Jonah Sharp, Graham Shrimpton, Richard Fisher, John Paul McLean and Robert Gateley. Mickey, Zakir and Tom Flye mixed it. Mastering was by John Cuniberti at The Plant in Sausalito.

The Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in L.A. February 9, 2009.

Rex Grantee Bradley Angel Wins 2008 Cultural Freedom Award

Bradley Angel, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Greenaction for Health an Environmental Justice, was just awarded the Lannan Foundation 2008 Cultural Freedom Award. This award honors individuals working on behalf of communities struggling to uphold and defend their right to cultural freedom and diversity. As defined by Lannan, Cultural Freedom is a basic human right dependent on political, economic, and environmental justice.

The Rex Foundation supported Greenaction in 2006 with a grant in recognition of their outstanding work mobilizing community power to win victories that change government and corporate policies and practices to protect health and to promote environmental justice.Using technical expertise and people power, Greenaction has been on the front lines of preventing incinerators being located in communities that are the least prepared to stand up for their rights.

Its another testament to the exceptionally relevant work of the Rex Foundation that we are identifying and supporting organizations that are important participants in the efforts to build a better world!

Personal Invitation from Carolyn Garcia

Carolyn Garcia, former wife of Jerry Garcia and present Rex Foundation Board Member, has posted a video inviting everyone to come out and celebrate our 25th Anniversary!