The Community Library and Sun Valley Records team up on CD
By Hayden Seder
“Keeping It Home,” a CD compilation of 22 local artists, is being sold to help fund the total renovation of The Community Library in Ketchum.
The library’s director of philanthropy, Carter Hedberg, said he was approached by Don Zimmer, co-founder of a new online nonprofit music streaming service called Sun Valley Records, with the idea for the CD.
“Don is a record producer and a lover of local music,” said Hedberg. “He did a similar fundraising project with the Mill Valley Library in the Bay Area. Now that he and his family have made the Valley their full-time home, he wanted to help The Community Library.”
The CD is going to give 100 percent to the library.
“This will have a lasting impact as funds will be used to renovate the library to serve the needs and aspirations of our community for years to come,” Hedberg said.
The library has been undergoing renovations since spring of this year, and that is expected to continue through October 2019.
The two-disc CD is an eclectic mix of music ranging from country music to ballads to Latin numbers. For its first issue, 500 double CDs at $20 were released, which translates into $10,000 for the library. If the CD is successful, a possible second printing will happen in the future.
Featured on the CD are hometown and Idaho favorites like Sequestrado, Trevor Green, Spike Coggins, the Robbie Walden Band, Bread and Circus, Andrew Sheppard, Old Death Whisper and The Braun Brothers.
Robbie Walden, of The Robbie Walden Band, has been working on the HVAC part of the library’s renovation and was asked by Zimmer personally in the library.
“I love it here, and I love the community, so I was happy to help,” said Walden. “I’m a professional musician and tour all over the country, but I work for Thornton Heating in Ketchum, too.”
The song Walden donated to the CD is off his new record releasing nationally on Feb. 15.
Zimmer’s vision and compassion for his community has meant a great deal to the library and all of its 125,000-per-year visitors.
“I’m grateful for Don Zimmer’s vision that made this happen, and the support of all of the talented musicians that participated,” said Hedberg.
“We created a CD designed to recognize local artists while making a meaningful impact for The Community Library’s renovation and vision,” Zimmer said. “The Sun Valley area is an especially rich environment for music appreciation and talent, with an abundance of opportunities to amplify local talent. The final CD integrates our music production expertise with artists donating their music as a tool for common good to create positive outcomes. It’s a powerful collaboration made possible by the generous talents of local artists.”
“Keeping It Home” is currently available for purchase at The Community Library, both Gold Mine thrift stores, Atkinsons’ markets, Chapter One Bookstore, The Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum Kitchens, and Iconoclast Books in Hailey.