Hello everyone! Making up for all the time that I haven't posted anything, here's a mouthful with a poster to match - ha!

I'm writing to inform you that I will be performing at the prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center's "The Rose Theater", for the Benefit Concert "Rock for Rights", on January 18th, 2009. The benefit will raise awareness and funds for the Human Rights Foundations, causes that I have championed as a social activist and through my music. Most of you know me as a singer, songwriter, cross cultural recording artist . Here's the personal side.

Over the years, I have been active on issues concerning human rights, participating in the first Children's Human Rights Conference in Vienna , attending the Kyoto Conference for Spiritual and Parlimentary Leaders (where Mikhail Gorbachev announced the launch of the Green Cross), working for sustainable development, birth control, and raising awareness about AIDS. It is my belief that "these issues are all interconnected when we want to see change ". I was raised in India, in a family of social activists, the importance and value of making a difference through one's actions to better the world was instilled into me at a young age. My father, U.G. Puthli, was an instrumental and motivating force in rural development bringing health care and education to the landless Adivasis and marginalized farmers, eventually creating job opportunities for them so that the villages became self-sustainable. Written about in my Facebook friend Pranay Gupte's UN sponsored book "The Challenge of Change" is one of these villages which eventually turned out to be the model of sustainable development. At the age of 16, I was sent to learn and then teach the women about birth control and to take up their fight against domestic abuse. Very astute of my parents, since there was no sex education at the time in schools and colleges, besides they were dealing with a very free spirited and independent minded daugter. [I hope to some day soon organize a fundraiser for the Yusuf Meherally Centre, I will add the information to my website, www.ashaputhli.com]. Many years later in 1982, I recorded an album "I'm gonna kill it tonight" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1pZrGmAPtc), which covered the topic of spousal abuse and victimization of women calling the style "traction rock" and performing the songs at Dancetaria in a truss, all bandaged and carried on stage in a stretcher. Another recently reconnected Facebook friend, Fred B, who was at that time with Newsweek, wrote to me saying "the show is great, dont keep it under wraps."

My passion for social causes extends into my music and lyrics. Though better known in the US as a jazz and funk artist, and hailed as a "cross-cultural pioneer" by mainstream newspapers like The New York Times, The London Times, Times of India, and Daily News, I have been fortunate enough to either collaborate or share the TV screen or stage with some of the most amazing, talented musicians - Ornette Coleman, The Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Barry White, Tom Jones, Ashford and Simpson, The Pointer Sisters, to name a few. My music has been sampled by P. Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Dilated Peoples, Governor, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Diplo, Kano, Jermaine Dupri, J Walk, SWV and Redman. "There is nothing more gratifying then to know that your music is appreciated and sampled and kept alive by a younger generation".

I am therefore specially proud to be part of The " Rock for Rights - Crossing Genres - Crossing Generations" Concert whose theme is central to my life, music and work.

For those of you who inquired about my latest recording," LOST", for the indie label Kyrone is scheduled for European release in early spring 2009, the label is currently looking for a licensing deal in the US. "LOST" includes songs that are socially conscious and songs in mash-up, cross-cultural style. Most importantly, I've just got to share this with you whether you believe in astrology, astronomy, the influence of planetary positions or not. On the first day of this year, I received an unexpected call from Julie Davis, the director of the film "Finding Bliss" starring Leelee Sobieski and other fabulous actors (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185242/). Ms. Davis had decided to use two of my songs in the movie, one as the ending title as the credits are rolling - I'm thrilled that the movie is being screened at Sundance on Jan 18th, while I will be singing in New York at the Lincoln Center. Must be a lucky day for me. I looked up the constellations and for all you Aquarians, wonderful things will start happening in our lives, specifically after February 15th. Right now Uranus, our ruling planet, is right over head and then in a straight line under it is Venus, Neptune and then the Moon.

Wishing everyone and all signs love, light, happiness, health, and prosperity to you,

Asha

Event website: http://www.jalc.org/concerts/details.asp?EventID=1871
Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44420997615&ref=ts