 Nearly four dozen Latin performing artists sing to encourage Latinos to consider bone marrow donation. (Photo by David Chirinos) |
An all-star array of Latin performing artists from Plácido Domingo to Enrique Iglesias recently combined their voices to support City of Hope and its efforts to increase bone marrow donation and diabetes awareness among Latinos.
Domingo and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villarraigosa were among the notables who attended the “La Gota de la Vida” (The Drop of Life) premiere on Sept. 7 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Written by pianist, composer and Universal Music Latino recording artist Arthur Hanlon, the song was officially launched during a live performance at the event, which also featured the first public screening of its accompanying music video.
 Singer Ana Isabelle performs (Photo by Kevin Barrios) |
“La Gota de la Vida” was recorded by 46 Latin performing artists — including Gloria Estefan and Luis Fonsi — to back City of Hope and its drive to encourage Latinos to join Be The Match, the nation’s marrow donor registry. The effort also addresses diabetes, a significant health challenge in the Latino community.
Directed by Grammy-winning music video director and film director Simon Brand, the video features each of the participating artists, including Jenni Rivera, David Bisbal, Espinoza Paz, Marco Antonio Solis, Luis Enrique, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marcos Witt, Diego Verdaguer, Ana Isabelle and Tito El Bambino.
The La Gota de la Vida song will be distributed by Universal Music Group and available for download with a percentage of sales going to City of Hope for cancer research, treatment and education.
 Recording artist Arthur Hanlon with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Photo by David Chirinos) |
Joseph Alvarnas, M.D., director of quality systems for cellular therapeutics in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and Rodrigo Nuñez, R.N., bone marrow transplant recipient and a City of Hope nurse, represented City of Hope at the premiere.
Scott Loyola, associate vice president of development, credited Sal Trevino of Santa Fe Communications, Luis Medina of Uno Productions, Delia Orjuela, vice president of writer/publisher relations for Latin music at BMI and Hanlon for creating and developing the effort.
This premiere marked the 10th anniversary of the La Gota de la Vida program, which was started by Trevino in partnership with City of Hope’s food industry group. The program has raised more than $1.6 million for City of Hope and has generated thousands of new potential donors to the National Marrow Donor Program. For more information, visit www.uneteconlagotadelavida.com.
