Roger Daltrey’s New Version of “Let My Love Open the Door”Now Available for Download Exclusively on iTunes
RALEIGH, N.C. — First Citizens Bank and Republic Records have teamed up with nonprofit Teen Cancer America to release an exclusive recording of Roger Daltrey performing the 1980 classic “Let My Love Open The Door.”
Apple, Roger Daltrey, and Republic Records will donate their respective proceeds in the United States to the Teen Cancer America and its work to increase targeted care and specialized treatment facilities for teens and young adults with cancer. The single is available exclusively on iTunes. (Download Roger Daltrey’s “Let My Love Open The Door” here.)
In November, North Carolina-headquartered First Citizens announced a major sponsorship of Teen Cancer America. As part of this effort, the bank asked Daltrey last year to record this new version of the classic Pete Townshend song to serve as the centerpiece of its initiative.
“An important part of First Citizens’ commitment to Teen Cancer America is raising awareness of the organization and its mission; We saw an opportunity to help people understand not only that Teen Cancer America exists but also why Teen Cancer America is needed,” said Frank Holding, chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank. “That theme — open the door — became the focus of our sponsorship with Teen Cancer America and a way of explaining what the effort is about. It also serves as a rallying cry to inspire involvement by First Citizens’ associates, customers and communities. We’re thrilled that this version of the song is now available for this great cause.”
Daltrey’s version of “Let My Love Open The Door” is featured in television and radio commercials encouraging support of Teen Cancer America. The commercials, produced by First Citizens, began airing during the holidays in the bank’s North Carolina and South Carolina markets. Both the song and television ad can be found at LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.com.
“Whether by downloading this track or by other means, we hope people will open their hearts and open the door to assist Teen Cancer America,” Daltrey said. “The mission isn’t just to fight teen cancer, but to create facilities where teens and young adults can feel like they belong — to create spaces different from the spaces children and adults have. Together, with First Citizens’ help, we can bridge this gap.”
Daltrey is a spokesman for and a driving force behind Teen Cancer America, which he and Townshend helped found after more than a decade of working with the Teenage Cancer Trust in the United Kingdom. Every year, almost 11,000 young people in the United States between the ages of 13 and 25 are diagnosed with the disease. Most of them receive their care at units designed for and populated by either young children or much older people.
“Since the launch of the “Let My Love Open The Door” initiative in November, we’ve had many requests for a download of the song that is featured in the First Citizens commercial,” said Simon Davies, executive director of Teen Cancer America. “We’re pleased that it’s now available to the public and delighted that proceeds will help open the door to even better care and futures for young people with cancer. Thanks go to First Citizens for their extraordinary efforts to support and develop the concept for using this song and, of course, Roger Daltrey and his tremendous enthusiasm for this project as a champion for our cause.”
Teen Cancer America is talking with major medical centers in North Carolina and South Carolina about establishing teen-focused cancer units or programs.
To date, Teen Cancer America has partnered with more than 10 major cancer centers across the United States to build specialized, teen- and young adult-friendly inpatient and outpatient cancer care facilities and programs. Four Teen Cancer America-branded facilities are up and running in the U.S. today.
First Citizens’ financial commitment to Teen Cancer America includes contributions to the nonprofit and to hospitals in key markets that agree to establish Teen Cancer America units. This support is in addition to the advertising in North and South Carolina and social media, marketing and public relations across the bank’s 18-state franchise. First Citizens Bank is the official Southeastern U.S. corporate sponsor of Teen Cancer America. The bank’s “Let My Love Open The Door” effort with Teen Cancer America marks the company’s largest overall corporate philanthropic initiative.
First Citizens’ advertising agency, Factory, and its founder Mark Lantz created and led development of the “Let My Love Open The Door” concept for the initiative. The Detroit-based agency produced the television commercial along with radio, print and other marketing materials. Sally Webb, a founding member of Teen Cancer America’s Board of Directors and CEO of The Special Event Company (TSEC) based in Cary, N.C., helped bring together the nonprofit, Daltrey and First Citizens Bank. TSEC is the event partner of Teen Cancer America, assisting with its 2012 launch in Washington D.C., and other national events.
For more information, visit LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.com, use #LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor or stop by a local First Citizens Bank location.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beau Benton
Republic Records
Beau.Benton@umusic.com
About First Citizens Bank
Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First Citizens Bank is the largest family-controlled bank in the U.S., with offices in 18 states. Drawing from over a century of experience serving the needs of its customers, First Citizens focuses on developing long-term relationships and offers a comprehensive array of products and services to individuals, families, businesses and the medical community. First Citizens Bank is a major subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), which has over $31 billion in assets. For more information, visit firstcitizens.com.
About Teen Cancer America
Following in the footsteps of the highly developed and successful Teenage Cancer Trust – Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program out of the UK, Teen Cancer America is designed to help hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care. Teen Cancer America aims to educate and support hospitals and outpatient facilities in the development of specialized units for this age group. The units are places just for teens and young adults where the cancer experience is understood and the importance of living life through the cancer journey is nourished. Teen Cancer America’s work also supports the coming together of physicians and allied healthcare professionals in both pediatric and adult oncology so that the teen and young adult cancer patient care becomes closer to where it needs to be.
About Roger Daltrey / Pete Townshend
Teen Cancer America founder Roger Daltrey is a legendary singer, musician, songwriter, actor and humanitarian best known as the founder and front man of the English rock band, The Who. The Who has announced its 2016 North American tour beginning in late February. Daltrey received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 for outstanding artistic significance in music and The Who has seven albums on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Daltrey is also a longstanding patron of the British charity, Teenage Cancer Trust, and its successful, annual benefit concerts at Royal Albert Hall. Daltrey is deeply committed to raising awareness about teen cancer in the U.S. He aims to raise the bar on how young people with cancer are treated by establishing specialized facilities and services.
Teen Cancer America founder Pete Townshend is well known as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for The Who. He was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top 10 greatest guitarists of all time. With The Who, he has written over 100 songs for the band’s 11 studio albums, including the popular rock operas, Tommy and Quadrophenia. He is dedicated to supporting teens with cancer and, with Daltrey, co-founded the Daltrey/Townshend Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program at UCLA Medical Center.
About Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Sabbath, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Gotye, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Nickelback, Of Monsters and Men, Seth MacFarlane, among many others. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), John Varvatos Records (Zac Brown Band), Lava Records (Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), Casablanca Records (Tïesto), NBC's The Voice, XO (The Weeknd), School Boy Records (PSY, Sheppard), among others. In addition, Republic maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Label Group which is comprised of Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, The Eli Young Band) and Dot Records (Maddie + Tae).
