Wednesday, May 02, 2007

R. Kelly Releases VA Tech Tribute

By: Associated Press

The R&B man has recorded "Rise Up," a charity single about healing in the wake of last month's Virginia Tech shooting, with 100 percent of the net proceeds going to families of the massacre's victims.

According to Jive Records, Kelly's label, the Grammy winner penned the tribute ballad after watching the nonstop news coverage chronicling the Apr. 16 tragedy at the Blacksburg campus in which a lone student gunman killed 32 people before turning the gun on himself.

A sample of the inspirational tune is available on Kelly's official Website and includes the following lyrics: "We'll fight this together, we'll be strong together, stand together, pray together. Rise up, when you feel you can't go on, rise up, and all of your hope is gone, rise up, when you're weak and you can't be strong, rise up."

The single will be made available for digital download on May 15, with proceeds earmarked for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

The fund was established shortly after the shooting to provide financial assistance to victims and their families, as well as grief counseling to students, funds for memorials and other related expenses.

It's unclear whether the song will also make it on to Kelly's forthcoming album, Double Up, due out May 29.

Join Our Weekly
Or Daily Newsletters!