Kickstarter has done great things for the music industry, and the latest artist to crowd-source the funds for their latest album is Lester Chambers who had success in the 60s as part of The Chambers Brothers.
Chambers has relied on Sweet Relief, a charity that helps out broke musicians, to get him a home once again, but now he wants to make a record that he can call his own after decades of being screwed by the music business.
The project was inspired by an Occupy-themed picture Chambers had posted which explained how he never saw any royalties from ten albums, saw minimal royalties from six albums and never saw a cent after his music was licensed to hundreds of commercials without his permission.
The idea of starting a kickstarter to get the new record off the ground was presented to the singer by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
“I thank God for the opportunities I have been blessed with and when Alexis Ohanian called all I could say was WOW,” Chambers said in a statement. “All the times I sat hoping and wishing I could make another record had finally come true. In this record I promise to have some of the worlds GREATEST songs from your past and some Great New songs for your new year to come!”
There are a number of different rewards for your contribution including your name in the credits, a digital download, an autographed CD and even the chance to jump up on stage with him at his birthday gig in California next year.
If this sounds like something you want to get behind, then head on over to his Kickstarter page and get behind it.
Follow the author Tim Cashmere on Twitter.
If you haven’t heard The Chambers Brothers, you are really missing out. Check out their tune I Can’t Turn You Loose below:
