Musicians On Call Brings Music and Joy to Hospital Bedsides

In 1999, singer and guitarist Kenli Mattus played a show at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The event was sponsored by the Kristen Ann Carr Fund and organized by entertainment executives Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary. Once Mattus started performing, patients began to smile and move their heads and feet to the beat. When a nurse mentioned that it was such a shame that some patients couldn't attend because they were in treatment or too sick to leave their rooms, Mattus visited those who had missed the concert and played at their bedsides. Solomon and Tiwary, who witnessed the magic that ensued, knew they had to form an organization that would bring music to those who need it most; thus, they founded Musicians On Call. Since its inception 13 years ago, Musicians On Call has performed for more than 300,000 patients and their families, delivering joy and the healing power of music to healthcare facilities in six US states. The charity plans to expand nationally and internationally.