St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to become an official Apple Music curator

Country music artist Chris Young visits St. Jude to kick off launch of new playlists

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The world of music streaming now has a new voice: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. As an official Apple Music curator, St. Jude will release a series of playlists created by St. Jude patients and celebrity supporters, including multi-platinum country music entertainer Chris Young.

Young visited St. Jude on Monday, Oct. 14, to kick off the partnership and hosted a meet-and-greet with St. Jude patients. As the first celebrity guest to participate, Chris Young's curated St. Jude "Raised On Country" playlist features music that he hopes will provide inspiration to patients and families.

"I first visited St. Jude almost fifteen years ago and was immediately impressed by the lifesaving miracles they perform every day," shared Young. "It's an honor to be chosen by St. Jude as the first celebrity curator and share my passion for music to support patient families battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

St. Jude patients Londyn, who is 7 years old, and Paishence, who is 16 years old, curated the first playlists by St. Jude patients. Londyn is undergoing treatment for neuroblastoma, and her playlist is called "Londyn's Dance Party." Paishence, who was treated at St. Jude for osteosarcoma, created a playlist called "Paishence's Positive Vibes." She also handled DJ duties at the Apple Music partnership event, featuring music from the playlists she, Londyn and Chris Young created.

"Music is powerful because it brings together people of all backgrounds," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "I'm thrilled to see people's reactions when they hear the curated playlists we've put together with patients and supporters like Pashience, Londyn and Chris Young. We're humbled to be working with Apple as an official curator, and thankful that the music industry has such a big heart for St. Jude kids."

Supporters can discover St. Jude curated playlists on stjude.org/applemusic.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, sharing stories and videos from St. Jude Inspire, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

About Chris Young:

By his 34th birthday, multi-platinum RCA Records Nashville entertainer Chris Young has accumulated an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the iconic Grand Ole Opry, 2 Billion on-demand streams, 12 Million singles sold, 11 career No. 1 singles, 17 R.I.A.A. Gold/Platinum/Multi-Platinum certified projects, 2 Grammy nominations, 3 Country Music Association nominations and 4 Academy of Country Music nominations. As a prolific creator, Chris has given fans 7 studio albums in 12 years including Losing Sleep, his third project in less than two years. The title track is certified Platinum while "Hangin' On" is his ninth No. 1 as a songwriter. Losing Sleep (2017) and I'm Comin' Over (2015) debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart with "I'm Comin' Over" becoming Young's first 2x Platinum single. Named "one of his era's finest traditionalists" by the Associated Press, Chris has quickly become an international ambassador for country music, performing to capacity crowds around the world including the sold-out C2C Festival in the UK. With a hit-packed set that highlights his eleven chart-toppers — including back-to-back No. 1s "Losing Sleep," "Sober Saturday Night," "Think Of You," and "I'm Comin' Over" — the Grammy and ACM nominated vocalist headlined the Chris Young Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour including his first hometown headlining stop at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena playing to a capacity crowd of nearly 14,000 fans, friends and family. 2019 brings new music — "Raised On Country" and the intensely personal "Drowning" — and a new headlining tour – Raised On Country World Tour 2019 — visiting more than 45 cities through November including Charlotte, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Phoenix, San Diego and more. For a full list of tour dates and more information, visit chrisyoungcountry.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-jude-childrens-research-hospital-to-become-an-official-apple-music-curator-300938399.html

SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital