Band touched, coming to raise money for hurricane victims

By Anthony Galaviz

The Collegian

Inner Visions is coming to Fresno State, and for a good cause.

University Student Union Productions and the Fresno State Leadership program will present the Inner Visions Hurricane Relief concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Satellite Student Union.

Inner Visions, an independent organization, is a group that helps people in need such as the Hurricane Katrina victims.

Inner Visions was established more than 20 years ago on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The group performs authentic Caribbean reggae. Inner Visions went on its first tour in 2001. This is the last stop of their tour.

“The group was so moved by the offer to help with the relief effort that it cut its artist fee in half to cover only their expenses to come to Fresno,” Edrington said in a news release.

Burning Spear, Culture, Steel Pulse, Aswad, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jacob Miller, and Beres Hammond influenced the group.

The group has performed with Spear, George Clinton, Bunny Wailer and Yellowman, according to the group’s Web site.

“Aside from the fact that they are great traditional reggae musicians, it is another avenue to raise awareness and contributions toward the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project,” said Chris Fiorentino, director of the Civic Engagement office on campus.

“This concert provides a fun, yet productive way for students to be involved in providing relief for the millions of victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Inner Visions is composed of Phillip Pickering (Guitar/Lead Vocals); Paul Samms (Percussion/Lead Vocals); Alvin Pickering (Bass/Drum Programs/Vocals); Akiba Pickering (Keyboards); and Aswad Pickering (Drums).

So far, Fresno State has raised more than $17,000 toward hurricane relief efforts, Fiorentino said.

“Just because Katrina and Rita are not dominating the front pages of newspapers anymore and because the American Red Cross has raised millions of dollars does not mean the need is over,” he said. “It is estimated that total relief, clean up and rebuilding efforts will cost more than $200 billion and will take years, if not decades.”

“Our students, faculty, university and our entire nation needs to continue to respond in dramatic ways to this unprecedented pair of hurricanes, which devastated the Gulf Coast. This concert is just one important way out of dozens of ways that students can get involved.”

Admission is free for Fresno State students and $3 for the general public.

There will be donations collected at the door. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project fund.

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