Ravinia 2022, Issue 2

ANTHONY THEON “ We’re all righteous and humble / We cl imb and we stumble / The strong and the f eeb l e / No ma t ter where in the world that you go don’ t you k n ow t h a t / Pe o p l e n e e d p e o p l e – LYRICS FROM MICHAEL FRANTI’S “PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE” And while Franti has long been known for his optimistic attitude and inspiring music, he is also known for his philanthropic efforts, which include a wish granting non-profit, Do It for The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It for The Love brings those with life-threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts world- wide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. But at the end of the day, it’s Fran- ti’s high-energy live shows that always keeps fans coming back for more. “We need each other, and it’s on that lawn at Ravinia that people truly find each other,” says the proud father of three who also owns a top-rated yoga retreat hotel in Bali with his wife. “People just need to be able to look into the eyes of a stranger again and smile. And that’s our mission. We want people to come to this show to laugh and dance and cry and scream and high-five a stranger and walk out feeling taller than you than you did when you came in.” Undoubtedly, the music of Franti will aid in this much-needed phenomenon. “All of that emotion that I felt during the lockdown, whether that was a feeling of gratitude or despair, went into writing this record,” says Franti, who at the very same time was delighting audiences during the pandemic via his virtual Stay at Home Concert World Tour. “And now, it’s this music that we want to share with people. People need to know that it’s all going to be okay. All these things you’ve been feeling—they are ok.” He lets out a hearty laugh. “Let’s celebrate life now. Let’s laugh and let’s cry and let’s dance our asses off.” Tricia Despres is a Chicago-area freelance entertainment writer whose work has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times , Taste of Country , People , and a number of local, regional, and national publications. Twitter: @CHIWriter RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JULY 4 – JULY 17, 2022 10