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I’m figuring that most of you will recognize the name Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered in Pakistan by terrorists in 2002.

I’m also figuring that you don’t know that Danny (as he was known to his friends) was also a musician.

Before Danny was a Wall Street Journal reporter, he worked for the Berkshire Eagle, the paper of record in the rural Massachusetts county where I live, and he also played the violin in local bands. This all happened before I arrived here, but the Berkshires is a small rural community where everyone knows everyone, especially in the arts; Danny has not been forgotten. People say he had perfect pitch, well-honed classical skills, great chops, and an infectious joy in sharing his art. 

Sharing his art: That’s what it’s all about, and that’s one of the reasons Todd Mack — a singer-songwriter, recording engineer, radio-announcer, author, and  a close friend of Danny’s — started FOD Fest. FOD stands for Friends of Danny, and it’s an annual event involving musicians who knew him, played with him, or connect with his story. Todd started FOD Fest four years ago as a low-key back-yard jam. I played at the second one, which was held at Todd’s old house. We sat on his deck, and singer-songwriters took turns playing their songs. Those who knew Danny said a few words about him; the rest of us played along as the back-up band. FOD Fest takes place every year around Danny’s birthday to honor his memory and his ideals: that mutual tolerance, education, and an honest quest for understanding can build bridges between people of vastly different cultures. It’s part of a larger non-profit effort, Daniel Pearl World Music Days, which is sponsored by The Daniel Pearl Foundation (http://www.danielpearl.org/about_us/danielpearl_bio.html) and takes place with concerts worldwide and the support of a long list of stellar, internationally renowned musicians.   

FOD Fest has been steadily growing: The first year I played, it was broadcast on a few radio stations nationwide; Last year, it involved concerts in several cities, and this year, it will involve a series of concerts all over the country. The inaugural 2008 FOD Fest concert is right here in my neck of the woods, at the Mahaiwe Theatre in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m., and I’m honored to be one of the musicians performing that night. Other shows will be in venues in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Tennessee. My partner, David Hodge, is also performing, and he’s got the whole national schedule up on his site: http://www.davidhodge.com/2008/09/21/fodfest-2008/

Please check the schedule and come by! The concerts are free (although donations are gratefully accepted to offset the cost of the concerts).  The format is one Danny would, I’m sure, have liked: an improvisational sharing of music from the heart.

I’ll be posting an interview with Todd Mack (recording engineer and producer, radio host, songwriter, guitarist, singer, children’s book author, and FOD Fest organizer) later in the week. Stay tuned.