I had the pleasure of attending the Design New England Anniversary Celebration in Boston last week to support the Over My Shoulder Foundation. I was so proud to be a member of the songwriting team as I listened to the legendary Patti Austin and her mentee Lianna Gutierrez perform the foundation’s signature song, OVER MY SHOULDER. It was quite gratifying to hear the performance punctuated with audience reaction several times as the lyrics and arrangement clearly touched the room in a way that gave me chills!

Patti Austin’s career and story — famously mentored by the iconic Quincy Jones — is a fitting metaphor for the OMS Foundation, generously passing the torch to a gifted young performer in Lianna Gutierrez.

Mentoring is a gift in equal measure to all parties involved — in many ways it’s a gift to one’s self, and it’s a most important contribution to a next generation that will carry us into the future, and will be charged with facing tomorrow’s challenges.

Kudos to Over My Shoulder co-founder Dawn Carroll for her tireless focus and dedication in kicking off this important organization and movement. I can’t wait to see what’s next!”

– Charlie Farren

Charlie Farren is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and guitarist who first appeared on the music scene in the 1980s after teaming up with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry to create the album The Joe Perry Project. In 1986 Charlie, along with Dave Hull of The Joe Perry Project and John Muzzy, formed FARRENHEIT and released a self-titled debut album on Warner Brothers. Charlie reinvented himself as an artist throughout the 90s and continues to create and release songs today, performing in New England as one of the most original and compelling musical artists to-date (http://www.charliefarren.com/).