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February 2000 Issue, Volume 4

Portrait of Michael Solomon and MOC

By Jennifer Schulman

Sometimes a passion inspires great works; artists call it The Muse, champions refer to The Zone, well-suited mogels salute their Goal. Once in a while, a hero is born from tragedy; adversity often bringing out in men and women the capacity to fight, the desire to change, the excuse to get up and get going. Michael Solomon got a two-fisted dose of both and used them to construct his own crawlspace into an unclaimed arena of social action.

Born and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City, Solomon always harbored a love of music. From classics Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix to U2 and REM, he carried with him that fascination into college at the University of Connecticut, then to Baruch College in New York. Graduating with a degree in Marketing Management, he entered the real world and let his love for music lead him all the way to Stockholm, Milan, Paris, London, and beyond, with the European leg of Bruce Springsteen's Human Touch Tour. From there, it was to Sony Music International, Epic Records, and finally, Brick Wall Management, an artist management company he started with friend, Rishon Blumberg.

But professional businesses and for-profit endeavors weren't his only milieu. With parents and step-parents in helping and healing professions, Solomon was no stranger to working for the benefit of others. "I have always had a very strong commitment to charity work," he says, "which without a doubt, comes out of my Jewish upbringing and education. There is an overwhelming emphasis from the Jewish Community on doing good." During his childhood, he spent three summers working at The Hebrew Home for the Aged, in addition to volunteering with homebound elderly through an organization called Dorot. He has also lent his efforts to the causes of hunger, homelessness, AIDS, and racial and religious tolerance programs.

It seems the logical progression for him to wind up involved in the non-profit world. But Michael Solomon wasn't motivated by habit nor the simple desire to fulfill his role as "nice Jewish boy" - his actions sprang from both a love of music and a tragedy.

In 1993, Solomon lost his longtime girlfriend, Kristen Ann Carr, to Sarcoma, a class of uncommon cancers linked to the body's connective tissues. At her request and on her behalf, her parents and sister founded the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, a non-profit organization for Sarcoma research and psychosocial programs for teens and young adults with cancer. Together with Solomon, they have since grown the project to include both administrators and a volunteer core of about 60 people who organize and orchestrate fundraising events.

From this project grew another idea, an organization where he could combine his love for music with his desire to help those who face a daunting struggle with disease. Along with good friend Vivek Tiwary, Solomon founded Musicians on Call (MOC), another non-profit using "music and entertainment to promote and complement the healing process for [hospital] patients." It was initially intended to be a division of the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, but it soon became an entity unto itself. With the addition of Elisabeth Wolfe, fundraising began.

"Our first project has involved bringing musicians into healthcare facilities to play for patients in both group and one-on-one settings. Some of our future projects involve establishing entertainment libraries at [healthcare] facilities and teaching patients in long term care settings how to play instruments and write songs. We also plan to release CDs and books with music and writings inspired by patient, family, and musician involvement with MOC. The scope for the organization is really tremendous."

The bulk of MOC's fundraising so far has been generated by an on-line auction of front-row Springsteen tickets. It has also received tremendous support from VH1, Sonicnet, and Fairmarket, who set up the auction. However, the need for more fundraising continues, and future quarters bring with them promised events.

Since its conception, MOC has involved Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, Natalie Merchant, Marcy Playground, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam and, of course, Bruce Springsteen, in its efforts to bring music to the ears of those who need it most. His involvement in the professional music scene will also be of fantastic help to him in his non-profit work.

"Needless to say, there is a serious synergy between managing artists and existing in the music industry and building MOC. I have had my clients play for the program and am pleased to be able to refer musicians, agents, managers, etc. to the program. It is a pretty synergistic fit. I just need to make the rest of the music industry aware of the program and then we will be all set."

Now 30, Michael Solomon's labor is bearing its proverbial fruit and he is loving both his work and his life. His company, Brick Wall Management ( http://www.brickwallmgmt.com), is thriving, the Kristen Ann Car Fund and Musicians on Call ( http://musiciansoncall.org) forge ahead, and he is newly engaged to girlfriend, Jenny Kravat. Judaism is also playing a more important role in his life.

"I am feeling that as I settle into my 30's my Jewish roots are beginning to grow again. I don't know where they will take me in terms of observance but I do feel a strong connection to the community and its values."

He carries with this happiness a memory of what was, and a hope for what will be. With dedication, his new life, and his love for music, he will continue to work to improve the quality of life of those battling illness. It's not your average story of Nice Jewish Boy Makes Good. This one is better titled, "Nice Jewish Boy Does Good."

Jennifer Schulman is a writer and the editor of a VERY cool Jewish webzine......