glee

Oh joy, oh glee.  The cast of the hit television show Glee has recorded its own version of Band Aid’s 1984 hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with 100 percent of the net monies from its sale going to The Band Aid Trust (www.bandaid.org.uk). 

The song, which was co-written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in aid of famine relief in Ethiopia and Sudan, appears on Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2, as well as a separate single, available digitally.

The song is part of the Glee Christmas episode which airs tomorrow (December 13) at p.m. (ET).

The Band Aid Trust, a registered British charity since 1985, has raised in excess of $190 million through various international fundraisers, including the original British “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” — which included vocal contributions from more than 40 top artists at the time, such as Duran Duran, George Michael, Sting, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club — and a pair of Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985 in London, England and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Trust has support countless projects designed to make a lasting difference in Ethiopia, Somalia and surrounding countries in East Africa:  building schools, hospitals and wells;  food security, sanitation, livelihood diversification and income generating activities, training for teachers, doctors and nurses, assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS, and more.

Glee’s leading man Matthew Morrison is now officially juggling two time-consuming careers, one playing high school teacher Will Schuester on the hit musical-comedy television series about a glee club; the other as a recording artist with an album due May 10; the single, "Summer Rain," has just been released. But when things settle down or he figures out how to find time, the triple-threat actor, singer and dancer wants to start his own arts school.

“My thing is arts education, which is always great for me. It always has been, but it coincides with my role on Glee,” Morrison tells Samaritanmag. “I’m a proud product of a public performing arts high school and my mission — and what I want my legacy to be — is to create a chain of accredited performing arts high schools.

“I’d love to do it all around the world because I was so lucky and fortunate to find my passion when I was really young, in theatre and singing and in the arts,” he explains. “A lot of people don’t get to experience that. So I’d love to have a place where people can actually go and see if that’s what they’d like to do and have a really great performing arts school.”