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New CD to Help Manatees! Manatee Songs Deliver Meaningful Message

Beethoven said, "Music can change the world," and that's exactly what Capt'n Harry Fink had in mind when he created what may be a new concept in music and literature - a conservation CD titled, Saving Paddy Doyle - It's Up To You! Capt'n Harry is the co-founder and past president of the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads in Paradise Club, Inc. (TBPH), which is one of the largest Parrot Head Clubs in the nation. Parrot Heads are fans of the music of renowned singer/songwriter, Jimmy Buffett, and they have a long history of community service for various worthy causes.

Musicians from across the country, from such diverse places as Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Tennessee, were brought together for a sole purpose: to raise awareness about the endangered manatee through their music for the national nonprofit group, Save the Manatee Club (SMC). SMC has been the voice for manatees since its inception in 1981. The Club was co-founded by Jimmy Buffett to protect manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations.

Over the years, TBPH has raised over $150,000 for SMC conservation programs. But Capt'n Harry wanted to do more for manatees. As a young boy growing up in Florida, he often went boating and water-skied with little regard for the manatee's safety due to the minimal awareness programs about the manatees back then. Now, he's hoping to make up for his youthful indifference through his latest project.

To get the CD underway, The Capt'n asked eleven singer/songwriters to compose original songs about the manatee. Each song on the CD has a TropRock beat and a laid-back quality, in keeping with the manatee's own attributes. Between songs, Capt'n Harry wrote and narrates the story of the manatee: why the marine mammal is endangered; and how the public can help. "The manatee's history told between songs is one of the reasons the CD is so unique. I don't think a project of this kind has been done before. A new art form was created by asking the artists to write a song about a specific subject, and a story was written and placed between the original songs on the CD. Through the narration and the very heartfelt music and lyrics of the talented artists, many more people will come to understand the plight of the manatee," said Capt'n Harry.

Paddy Doyle, who the CD is named after, is a real manatee who regularly winters at Florida's Blue Spring State Park, where he was first identified in 1971. According to researchers, he is a social and playful guy who enjoys the company of other manatees at the spring. Through SMC, the public can adopt Paddy Doyle and follow his antics from year to year.

Currently, there are about 3,300 manatees in existence concentrated year round in Florida. They are listed as endangered at the international, national, and state levels. Collisions with boats are the largest known cause of manatee deaths. For boaters who plan to boat in Florida's waters, visit SMC's website to get manatee protection tips at http://www.savethemanatee.org/boatertips.htm.

"The CD is a unique way to get our conservation message out and we are very grateful to Capt'n Harry and to all of the singer/songwriters and production crew for so generously giving of their time and talent to this project," said Patrick Rose, Save the Manatee Club's Executive Director.

To order the conservation CD, which sells for $20, go to www.savethemanatee.org/manateegifts.htm or call 1-800-432-JOIN (5646). For more information on manatees, SMC's Adopt-A-Manatee program, and to sign up for their free E-newsletter visit www.savethemanatee.org.