Vocal Environmentalists
Billboard’s annual list of top green singers always catches headlines. Topping their recent charts of performers who offset their carbon footprint, donate to environmental charities, and drive around in biofueled vehicles are, not shockingly, Jack Johnson, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Cake, Feist, and Radiohead. To that list, we’d like to add a few artists you may not have heard of – yet.
Singer-songwriter Alyssa released a soulful new album, Within, in 2008, whose folksy tracks express reverence and worry for the natural world. Her CD’s jacket is recycled and plastic-free.
Feliciano dos Santos, the front man of Mozambique’s Massukos, sings lively Afro-pop in a language called Nyanja. He won the 2008 Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of his advocacy for clean water.
Jenny Morgan’s album of children’s music, Nature Needs Kids and Kids Need Nature, includes songs with lyrics extolling the joys of being outdoors; one upbeat tune is called “Leave No Child Inside.”



