Music Drives Us

Music Drives Us Recognized 501(c)(3) charity organization that funds music education programs, supplies instruments

https://www.musicdrivesus.org

08/21/2026

That’s a wrap on the Boston 25 Zip Trips season!

We closed out an incredible summer this morning in Framingham, where Music Drives Us was proud to make a donation in support of the City of Framingham’s music programs and the students who bring them to life.

From South Boston to Rutland, Pembroke, Centerville, Haverhill, and finally Framingham, every stop gave us another opportunity to meet the students, educators, and communities keeping music education strong across Massachusetts.

A huge thank you to our friends at Boston 25, everyone who welcomed us along the way, and all of the music programs that made each Friday so special.
Until next summer!

What a day in New Britain!Yesterday, Music Drives Us was proud to visit New Britain High School and present $75,000 in n...
08/20/2026

What a day in New Britain!

Yesterday, Music Drives Us was proud to visit New Britain High School and present $75,000 in new instruments to the Golden Hurricanes Marching Band, supporting a program with more than 90 years of history in the New Britain community.

First taking the field in 1935, the Golden Hurricanes have built an incredible tradition that has taken generations of New Britain students from Friday night football games and local parades to performances in Washington, D.C. and beyond.

Now, we’re excited to help the next generation of Golden Hurricanes carry that tradition forward with the instruments they need to learn, perform, and represent their community with pride.

Thank you to the students, educators, and everyone at New Britain High School for welcoming us, and for reminding us exactly why we’ve spent the last 20 years working to keep music in our schools.

08/19/2026

Burton Cummings has spent more than six decades in music, and one lesson he continues to stress for young artists is simple: write your own songs.

As the writer or co-writer behind classics like “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “No Time,” “Laughing” and “Share the Land,” Burton knows firsthand how important songwriting can be to building a career that lasts. For him, creating your own material isn’t just about finding your sound. It’s one of the few ways an artist can maintain some control over a career in an industry where so much is ultimately out of their hands.

He also looks back at artists who found early success surrounded by teams capable of producing hit after hit, but struggled to sustain it over the long haul, and explains why developing your own voice as a songwriter can make all the difference.

Hear more stories and perspective from one of Canadian rock’s most celebrated singer-songwriters in our NEW episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast featuring Burton Cummings, out now at the link in bio.

Connecticut, we’re excited to be back!Earlier this year, Music Drives Us made two incredible stops in the Nutmeg State, ...
08/18/2026

Connecticut, we’re excited to be back!

Earlier this year, Music Drives Us made two incredible stops in the Nutmeg State, visiting Children’s Community School in Waterbury and New London High School to support their music programs and help put new instruments into the hands of students.

Tomorrow, we’re heading back to Connecticut, this time to New Britain High School to support the Golden Hurricanes Marching Band!

As we celebrate 20 years of keeping music in our schools, we’re grateful for every opportunity to meet the students and educators behind these programs and continue expanding access to music education throughout New England.

Next stop: New Britain!

08/17/2026

One more look back at a great morning in Haverhill!

Last Friday, Music Drives Us joined the Boston 25 Zip Trip at Winnekenni Castle, where we were proud to support the Haverhill High School Choir and continue our summer of helping local music programs across Massachusetts.

With stops across the state throughout the summer, each Friday has given us another opportunity to meet the students, educators, and communities keeping music alive in their schools.

Just one more Zip Trip to go! We’ll see everyone this Friday in Framingham for the final stop of the season.

08/14/2026

Another Friday, another great morning on the Boston 25 Zip Trips tour!

Today, Music Drives Us headed to Winnekenni Castle in Haverhill, where we were proud to make a donation to support the Haverhill High School Choir and the students keeping music alive in their school and community.

It’s been an incredible summer traveling across Massachusetts, meeting students and educators, and supporting local music programs along the way.

Thanks to everyone in Haverhill for having us this morning, and to our friends at Boston 25 for another great stop.

Next Friday, we’re heading to Framingham for the final Zip Trip of the season!

08/13/2026

Melissa Etheridge almost left one of the biggest songs of her career off the record.

When she wrote “Come to My Window,” Melissa wasn’t convinced listeners would connect with it. She thought the song might be too simple, and it took some encouragement from people she trusted before it ultimately found a home on 1993’s “Yes I Am.”

Even then, its success didn’t happen overnight. “Come to My Window” slowly found its audience as radio stations picked it up over time, eventually spending an incredible 44 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Melissa the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

More than 30 years later, Melissa looks back on the mystery of never really knowing which songs will connect, why “Come to My Window” almost slipped through the cracks, and the unlikely path that turned it into one of her signature songs.

Watch our full conversation with Melissa Etheridge on the Music Drives Us Podcast at the link in bio.

08/12/2026

One of The Guess Who’s biggest songs almost disappeared as quickly as it was created.

“American Woman” began as an impromptu jam onstage, with Burton Cummings improvising lyrics as the band played. Luckily, someone in the audience was making a bootleg recording. The Guess Who tracked down the tape, used it to piece together what they’d created, and eventually watched “American Woman” climb all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

More than five decades later, Burton looks back on the unlikely story behind the song, the pushback that followed its release, and how one of the defining rock songs of the era came together almost entirely by accident.

Our full episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast featuring Burton Cummings premieres Wednesday, August 19.

In the meantime, catch up on past episodes at the link in bio.

08/11/2026

Melissa Etheridge has spent a lifetime turning her experiences into songs, and with her new album, “Rise,” that process took on new meaning.

Jaybeau Jones and Melissa talk about how our relationship with grief can evolve over time, and how the emotions we carry can eventually make room for healing, gratitude, and joy.

That perspective runs throughout “Rise.” Her first collection of all-new material since 2019 gave Melissa an opportunity to put years of life and emotion into new songs, using writing and performing as a way to process those experiences while continuing to move forward.

Hear more from Melissa Etheridge in the latest episode of the Music Drives Us Podcast. Watch now at the link in bio.

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111 Morse Street
Norwood, MA
02062

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+17812556306

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