Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program in Seattle Announced

By Sam Sodomsky.

On what would have been Chris Cornell’s 53rd birthday, Seattle nonprofit Childhaven has announced the Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program. Vicky Cornell, his widow, commented, “Chris and I always shared a strong belief in the healing and inspiring power of music, and through Childhaven’s establishment of this program, we are able to keep the promise for Chris by continuing to protect the world’s most vulnerable children.” The program was founded with a $100,000 donation from the couple’s Chris & Vicky Cornell Foundation. It will be open for kids from birth to age 5. In a press statement, Childhaven CEO Jon Bottem said, “Music has the power to engage, to delight, and to heal. Thanks to the Chris & Vicky Cornell Foundation, more of our most vulnerable children will be able to use music to build the resilience they need to reach their full potential.”

Also in honor of Cornell’s birthday, Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard—who collaborated with Cornell in Temple of the Dog—has shared a note on the band’s official site paying tribute to the late Soundgarden frontman. “Your talent was jaw dropping... your songs, lyrics, your voice... how could you have all 3,“ he writes. “All of us are heartsick and we will never get over losing you.” Find the tribute here.

Read Pitchfork’s Afterword feature on Chris Cornell.

This story originally appeared on Pitchfork.

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