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For its 80-year anniversary year, the Carver Foundation of Norwalk is recording a theme song written and sung by world-renowned artists and Carver’s own vocalist! This effort will help make the Carver story known worldwide and advance its mission of Building Lifetime Achievers!

Almost everything is already donated by the artists and producers. Please give generously to help Carver complete this important project. Your gift will support:

• Recording Carver’s alumnae Gabbie Pierre-Louis on We R 1
• Finishing the musical instrument recording for the song
• The final mix and master of We R 1
• Filming a short video of Gabbie and Carver students in the studio for a behind the scenes look
• Releasing We R 1 as a worldwide single on iTunes, Spotify, and all major retail/streaming sites

Goal: $1,500

The Song

Carver alumnae Gabrielle Pierre-Louis will join renowned music artists Michael McDonald, Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams and other international star vocalists to produce the song “We R 1” for worldwide distribution. “We R 1” was written by Morris Pleasure and his wife, Lori, in 2002, and recently gifted to Carver. Over the years, Morris Pleasure captured recordings of the artists named above for the future release of the song. The song is sung in the style of the charity single “We Are the World” written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The advent of Gabrielle’s powerful voice brings the professional recording of “We R 1” now to completion.

The Recording

Factory Underground Records is a Norwalk-based independent recording studio. Universal Music Group/Caroline distributes Factory Underground’s label worldwide. “We R 1” will be available soon on Spotify, iTunes, and on many other platforms available in 115 countries. Carver after-school students will observe the recording process at Factory Underground as part of Carver’s STEAM programming.

Gabrielle Pierre-Louise

Carver alumnae and Norwalk resident Gabrielle Pierre-Louise (Gabbie, 21 years old) is currently studying to be a dentist at the University of Bridgeport, inspired by years of helping her mother and father and other family members deliver humanitarian relief and dental care in particular to Haiti and other places in need. Gabbie is a gifted vocalist who is using her prodigious talent to support Carver.

Morris Pleasure

Mr. Pleasure received Carver’s Child of America award at a performance at Carnegie Hall in 2014, the only time Carver ever conferred this honor apart from Carver’s annual gala. The award recognized Pleasure’s volunteer support of Carver’s “Youth Voice” initiative, WeR1Voice (named after his song). Born and educated in Connecticut, Pleasure is an American composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician. He has recorded and performed with artists such as Ray Charles, Najee, George Duke, Earth, Wind & Fire (a band member for 10 years), Roberta Flack, Christina Aguilera, Peter Cetera, Mary J. Blige, David Foster, Bette Midler, and many others. Pleasure appeared in the documentary, This Is It, and Janet Jackson’s film, Janet: Live in Hawaii.

We R 1 Lyrics

WE ARE ONE…

WE KNOW OUR WORLD HAS GONE ASTRAY

EVIL AND VIOLENCE EVERYDAY

IT CAN’T GO ON THIS WAY FOREVER

FATHER HEAR OUR PRAYER FOR THE FUTURE

OUR CHILDREN GROW UP IN A WORLD OF PAIN

IN A LIFE WITHOUT DREAMS WHAT HOPE REMAINS

WE’VE GOT TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER

LOVE IS THE ONLY WAY

WE ARE ONE….

JUST LIKE THE SUN WILL CROSS THE SKY

EACH DAY A JOURNEY AS TIME GOES BY

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER

WE MUST BELIEVE

WE ARE ONE…

WHEN LIFE GETS HARD TO UNDERSTAND

WE HAVE TO HAVE FAITH IN THE MASTER’S PLAN

LET’S MAKE A NEW WAY FOR THE CHILDREN

HELP THEM BELIEVE

WE ARE ONE…

ENOUGH OF THIS POVERTY AND DESPAIR

CORRUPTION, INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE

IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON, LET’S WORK TOGETHER

THROUGH UNITY, WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER

LET’S BE A BEACON IN THE NIGHT

SPREAD PEACE LIKE WE’RE ANGELS TAKING FLIGHT

A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING

HEAL OUR WORLD TODAY

DON’T GIVE UP HOPE FOR YOUR BROTHER

HELP HIM BELIEVE

WE ARE ONE.

LOVE ALL AROUND AND YOU’LL KNOW

THEY’RE PEOPLE WHO’RE BELIEVERS WHEREVER YOU GO

A SMILING FACE WILL SHOW

WE NEED UNITY

IT’S UP TO YOU AND ME.

Cost to professionally record and distribute Carver’s theme song, We R 1: $1,500