NEW YORK — Top studio singers and Broadway stars all came together to sing for Ukraine on Monday.
CBS2’s Leah Mishkin takes us inside the recording session at the Power Station studio in Midtown.
They gave of their time and talent without hesitation.
“The feeling of not being able to help is overwhelming at times,” said Miguel Cervantes of “Hamilton” on Broadway.
“You watch the news and it’s just heartbreaking,” added songwriter Ira Antelis.
READ MORE: War in Ukraine: how to help from here at home
The lyrics started coming out of Antelis. The music industry writer and producer decided to create a song to unite people around the world in support of Ukraine.
“We all feel helpless. And what can we do? And we can do what we know how to do,” Antelis said.
“Ira called me and sent me what he had written and I fell in love with it,” added singer Susan Collins.
Collins, who began her career with Jimmy Hendrix, called on the best studio and Broadway singers in New York to join her for this recording session on West 53rd Street.
“All of whom were more than happy to donate their services and here we are,” Collins said.
Among the band members is Cervantes, who plays Alexander Hamilton in the hit series. He spent his day lending his voice to the cause.
“We have to do something. We have to be part of it. If I can offer something, I want it,” Cervantes said.
The song, which was first recorded in Chicago, has also been recorded in Los Angeles and Ukraine. All proceeds will go to Abundance International, which helps orphans in this torn country.
“We have a few people who literally just escaped from Kyiv and they sang to the original song. I had Ukrainian kids who sang the other day in Ukrainian. It’s a people’s song,” said said Antelis.
Next stop is Nashville to record with a group of singers there, then in Houston.
CBSNewYork Team
