Drum Magazine Issue 5 | Page 13

DA505 main 28/7/05 1:13 pm Page 11 Drum: EVENTS 11 Are You My Type? Some of the UK’s top African and African Caribbean talents are spearheading a major campaign to persuade more of us to donate blood. At present only 3% of blood donors are from the Asian, African and African Caribbean communities. The campaign aims to highlight the shortage of African and African Caribbean blood donors and emphasise the importance of giving blood. The campaign has attracted formidable support, including June Sarpong, host of TV’s Playing it Straight, MTV’s The Lick presenter Trevor Nelson and former Eastenders doctor Nick Bailey. The three TV celebrities are amongst the faces of an “Are you my type?” press, poster, postcard and outreach campaign by the National Blood Service. Caroline Chikezie, also part of Are You My Type?, reminds us that everyone can benefit: “It was important for me to get involved because in helping to raise awareness and donating blood myself hopefully lives will be saved, it doesn’t get much more important than that!” And you don’t have to be a celebrity to take part. If you’re between the ages of 17 and 60, fit and healthy, then you too can do your bit and give blood. To find your nearest centre visit the NBS website www.blood.co.uk or call the donor help line 0845 7 711 711. Go on. Save a life. Tracy Chapman Releases New Album:Where You Live September 12th will see the release of Tracy Chapman’s seventh studio album, Where You Live, on Elektra Records. The set was coproduced by Chapman and Tchad Blake, who has lent his innovative production/ mixing talent to recordings by an eclectic array of artists, including Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Los Lobos, Randy Newman, Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega, and others. Chapman describes the songs on the album as being reflections about home, place, love, and memory. If it’s anything like her past musical outings, this album is sure to be another landmark for Chapman who begins a worldwide tour in the fall of this year.