I like to use this space to highlight those in the media of any faith who use their talent and influence not to feed their their own egos but to feed a world in need of positive influences.

Toward that end, let me tell you about Zade (pronounced Zaid), a 29-year-old Jordanian composer, musician and music producer who, after 9/11, decided to devote himself to using musical talents to sow seeds of intercultural and inter-religious tolerance. He’s done so with both commercial and artistic success.

Ever since his self-titled album Zade debuted in 2003 he has built an impressive fan base in America. His most-recent CD, One Night in Jordan, debuted at #2 on the Billboard New Age Chart, #5 on the Classical Crossover Chart and #11 on the Overall Classical Chart. Its accompanying DVD opened on Billboard’s Top DVD/Music Video Chart at #18.

Additionally, Zade – One Night in Jordan: A Concert for Peace is currently airing on PBS stations around the country. The special, which also includes performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, the London Voices Choir, and several other top-flight musical artists, is just the latest facet of an eclectic and multimedia career that maintains bridge building as its central theme. 

The young Jordanian was just about 20 years old and preparing to perform an intimate home concert in Maine when Islamic terrorists struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Needless to say, that concert was postponed for a time while America and the world absorbed what had happened.

Zade, a Muslim himself, finally performed that event and stepped up his musical performance with an increased sense of purpose — performing an average of 200 nights a year between 2001 and 2005 at venues that included churches, synogogues, schools and community centers. His goal: to bring people of all faiths together.

Determined to keep the terrorists from hijacking his religion, which he says like Christianity, Judaism and all great faiths is (when properly understood) about peace and love.

In the near-decade since 9/11, he has gone on to perform before such notables as Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush.

In 2006, with support from Jordan’s Queen Noor, the Berklee College of Music and Seeds for Peace, he launched Roads to You: Celebration of One World, an international project seeking to bring people closer together through cross-cultural concerts and musical workshops around the globe. Musicians selected to participate are provided the opportunity to take part in various cultural exchanges and are encouraged to share their touring experiences in their home countries.

Zade describes the program as “a simple step towards breaking down (cultural and religious) barriers.” To date, more then 300 performances and workshops have been conducted across the United States by over 70 musicians from 30 different countries.

Zade says one of his fondest memories is performing at a Jewish synagogue in Maryland with a Christian and Jewish artist (they dubbed themselves the Abrahamic Trio). Muslims from nearby mosques attended the musical event. It was the first time the two communities had ever really come together and, he believes, the event planted seeds for growing understanding.

He credits his Jordanian upbringing with planting the seeds of his own dedication to promoting cultural and religious understanding.  He says his father (an architect) and mother instilled the values of compassion and tolerance that he carries with him every time he performs. He has two younger siblings, a brother who is a race car driver and a sister works for the U.N. 

He says he also draws inspiration from the late King Hussein who dedicated his life to the cause of Mideast peace.

As part of his continued commitment to using his music to cross cultural divides, Zade has launched the Zade Foundation for International Peace and Understanding, a non-profit organization aimed at helping young musicians find ways to use the art to promote peace.

He says “Whether working with students from war-torn regions in the Middle East, or from America and Europe, the findings are always the same. We all share the same dream of living in peace, providing a safe environment built on justice and mutual respect where our children can grow together as members of one human family.”

Amen.