A friend of mine teaches refugees in Buffalo. His name is Evan Thompson. Before moving to Buffalo, Evan spent a number of years, traveling the world working in war torn countries. Upon moving to Buffalo he set out to land a teaching gig in the Buffalo Public Schools – he’s currently a teacher at Matt Urban Center and Northwest Medical Campus. Evan also happens to be a musician (among other things).
I recently sat down with Evan to talk to him about an article that he was writing for Buffalo Rising, regarding his experience traveling abroad and teaching refugees right here in Buffalo. During our conversation he showed me a music video that he and Joe Donohue (The Albrights) collaborated on called I Need Some Peace. Originally, I planned on adding the video to Evan’s article, but after taking a look (and a listen) at the powerful video, I felt that the song warranted a stand alone post.
Adding interest to this beautiful song, is the way the two marketed it. They wrote the YouTube URL on some dollar bills and those bills managed to make their way all over the country. If you read the comments below the video, you will see people signing in and sharing their dollar bill stories – where they came across the dollar, and what they were purchasing. The guerrilla marketing ploy is quite brilliant when lent to this sort of medium. The dollar bill recipients that tuned in to listen/watch the video praised the marketing technique, and the reflective reward that was awaiting them on the other end. Stay tuned for Evan’s article on refugees coming up momentarily. In the meantime, enjoy the message as it is put to song:
mirkes1000 3 weeks ago – I found this video written on a dollar bill in southern Utah. I wonder where it’s origin began.
Trevor White 19 hours ago
$1 bill in Jacksonville, Florida but listening from Toronto, Ontario! Great song!
Izobella Bailey 1 month ago
Gas money from my dad. Warren , Ohio
Tanairiz Arroyo 1 month ago
Found this Song on a dollar bill in Buffalo ny lol
sincerelysinead 1 month ago
Found it on a dollar bill too lol cool promo and nice song! Springfield, MA
Sarah Hendricks 3 months ago
Dollar bill in Fairfield, IA! Great tunes
Greg White 2 months ago
dollar bill in Brewton Alabama
Erika Brower 3 months ago
Found a dollar in woodhaven, MI!
Davis Evans 6 months ago
$1 bill from Niagara Falls! Great promotion, guys! Beautiful voice and exquisite piano playing.
Brandie Lingo 5 months ago
1 dollar in my tip money! clarksville, TENNESSEE
David Anthony 2 months ago
Dollar bill paid at wawa in stone harbor NJ
John Nicholas Oleynik 8 months ago
$1 in buffalo NY
Chris .C 7 months ago
Found on a dollar that paid for a $2500 mattress at Sears in Buffalo, NY.
Iris Iguala 6 months ago
I found this in a $1 bill. Panama City, Panama 🙂
Brittany Smith 6 months ago
… Dominican Republic lol,
Weston Hilchey 5 months ago
Found this on an American one dollar bill, listening to it in canada
Brittany Smith 6 months ago
$1 Niagara Falls.
Nathan Breece 8 months ago
$1 in Canal Winchester, Ohio fantastic voices guys and a good message too
Indeep Janda 9 months ago
$1 in Cleveland , Ohio 🙂
asiyanuur 5 months ago
Lool this is a good idea. $1 from Columbus, Ohio
J1mmy 1 year ago
These guys gave me their $1 as a tip when they stayed at the Bellagio at the pool lol…
chrissy long 9 months ago
Beautiful! $1 in Champion Hts, Ohio @ Longboyz Tavern
Mark Hartzell 11 months ago
Dollar bill in Kane, PA
FiSHiN40z 11 months ago
Found this on a 1$ bill in niagara falls NY
Natalie Anne 1 year ago
$1 bill in buffalo but passing it on to Colorado!
Meraida Cruz 1 year ago
This dollar bill had your song write on it lol
Noah Smith 1 year ago
Hey that’s how I found out about the song too…..
Vanessa Jerez 1 year ago
$1 in North Miami Florida
Valerie Burke 1 year ago
$1 bill in St. Catharines, Ontario!
Ashley Taylor 1 year ago
$1 in Lisle, New York
Lina Pezzo 11 months ago
Found out about this song on a $5 canadian bill in Mississauga, Ontario! Very cool! Your music is traveling far and wide. Keep it up!
Stephanie Gilbert 1 year ago
$1 IN OHIO
Joyce Taylor 1 year ago
awesome evan so trus and so sad well done
Class Punk 1 year ago
Probably would’ve gotten the point across better just to write, “Rich people are assholes.”
SkillToTheMax mayes 1 year ago
1$ down in hobesound florida
Connie Navarrete 1 year ago
$1 bill at our medical center
Samiha Varachhia 1 year ago
$5 bill at Tim’s in Toronto! 🙂
Kayla Fortin 1 year ago
$5 bill I got from a wedding at the bar.. Now in Sudbury 😛
sara dewitt 1 year ago
$1 In west virgina
Shogun Ritual 1 year ago
$1 bill i found counting my tips.. Cleveland Ohio
Lemur 3 years ago
beautiful, absolutely amazing.
TheCGraffiti 2 years ago
5$ bill in niagara falls ontario 🙂
Jessica Walsh 2 years ago
Just got a $1 in Boston
Saxisai 2 years ago
$1 bill in Chambersburg PA.
RON SIMMONS 2 years ago
I found a 5 bill in st.catharines Ontario and now I’m here
balichow 3 years ago
my brother got this dollar bill from the toll booth on the way from VA to Ontario and we You Tubed it…wow what an amazing song….who started the writing on the bills.
Jk Patel 2 years ago
5 dollar in niagara falls
Justin Miller 3 years ago
i recieved a dollar bill with this song written on it. lol
Jay Eldon 2 years ago
Just got a $1 bill in Arizona!
npro464 2 years ago
I got here from a fucking dollar bill that told me to search this title
jason mathias 2 years ago
5$ Canadian money in Quebec hahaha wow this is awesome
CarinaaBelle 3 years ago
I live in Fort Erie, and I saw this on a $1 bill! My mom sells jewellery at the beach, and that’s how I got it… I see i’m not the only one who had that bill! Good job guys! Beautiful beautiful! I almost started crying at the end :’) <3
Brittany Williams Mays 2 years ago
$1 bill in Nashua, NH. I enjoyed your song 🙂
TheProjectAM 3 years ago
I saw a note on a $1 dollar bill in Fort Erie that said “Youtube this: I Need Some Piece: by Evan and Joe”. Cool stuff
Hugo Leroux 2 years ago
the 5$ is now in quebec !!! ahah
Shenelle Samsingh 2 years ago
Had your five dollar Canadian bill in the store I work in! Passed it on. Awesome. Ontario, Canada
Simran Bath 2 years ago
Just got a $5 bill saying to search this up 🙂
eFFitPRODUCTIONS 3 years ago
solid…real solid
to quote the warriors. “you guys are good…real good….the best”
Stephiie Boo 2 years ago
Writing it on money is the best idea i have ever heard. I got a 5 in sterling heights, michigan. Looks like these 5s are all over the place. Good job. Your music is amazing<3 It has a lot of emotions. Music is the world to me so this actually made my day. Thank you<3
lorena Ricalde 2 years ago
I just got a $1 saying to you tube it in Belize City!! Amazing song!
Bernadette Singer 3 years ago
I absolutely Love all of Evan’s music, and regularly attend every show he puts on…. I do not know any other person that has as much talent as this guy does. Not only is he an amazing musisian, he is a kind person, and has a wonderful soul. Ev, you really hit it home with this one. It is a beautiful song. You and Joe sound amazing together as well. Can not waitttt for the next c.d
Marcus Gethers 3 years ago
Wow, Evan!!! I love this Peace!!!! Good Job and I hope that you continue on your journey with life and music .
You guys nailed it! Now, if you decide to add some rich background vocals…I got the perfect group for ya…
Matthew Tran-Adams 2 years ago
$5 bill in downtown Toronto.
Bianca Tarsitano 2 years ago
$5 Bill St. Catharines, Ontario 🙂
Emily M 2 years ago
I got the $5 from Burlington, Ontario!
Marcus Gethers 3 years ago
By the way, that was Marcus, Karl’s old roomie in Denver. I am really liking this alot!!!!!
Julia Feingold 2 years ago
this is awesome! $1 bill in ocean city, NJ
michael card 2 years ago
LOOL the 5$ is in AJAX by Toronto
tommytegra 3 years ago
I saw this on a $5 note in Hamilton that said the same! cool
Lucianwantslotion 2 years ago
$5 in Hamilton Ontario
Little Navi 2 years ago
My Facebook friend just got a $5 with this on it
Ziya Falcon 2 years ago
$5 bill from my weed dealer in Toronto, ON
Nami S 2 years ago
Lol got a $5 in Ontario, nice song. And if you guys done it.. Nice idea
Thủy Nguyễn 2 years ago
My teacher… Your voice so nice…:D
Matt Crough 2 years ago
got the 5$ bill in peterborough ontario!
joel ramos 3 years ago
WOW NICE I LIKE THE SONG
forevayousay 2 years ago
$1 bill in Mackinac Island, MI
tiffanix43 2 years ago
Just got a 1$ in Boston,Massachusetts!
Isabella William 3 years ago
you are so awesome
Hoai Phan 1 year ago
$1 in Buffalo NY
nevmin 1 year ago
My $5 bill is ruined. Asshole.
Kayla Henry 2 years ago
1 $ ellwood city Pennsylvania
CarinaaBelle 3 years ago in reply to TheProjectAM
Ha! I have that exact note with me right now! How cool 😀 <3
Scott Colby 2 years ago
$5 bill at a Shell gas station in Toronto. Nice song.
janelle r 2 years ago
5$ Bill yo , best idea vert
CarinaaBelle 3 years ago in reply to CarinaaBelle
& I live in Fort Erie, too 🙂
09Navtej 2 years ago
Just got the $5 bill in brampton Ont.!!
onlyDeehzo 2 years ago
$5 is in parrysound ont!! passing it on!
Devin Wades 3 years ago
i had the dollar bill for this, paid for lunch with it, got it back as change the next day getting lunch again. all of us that had this dollar bill, it was fate, man. we are destiny’s child.
or it is just extreme coincidence
Bailey Feeney 2 years ago
im not sure where this started but i just recieved a $5 bill in RIDGEWAY Ontario at my sweet shoppe. – thank you for sharing this. i will pay it forward.
TRAVIEZAGIRL ALICEA 3 years ago
HE IS MY ENGLISH TEACHER ( ESL)
Tommy Ward 2 years ago
I got a 5$ bill that told me to youtube this. I too thought about keeping it, I have now resolved myself to spread it 🙂 this is heart achingly beautiful
Dung Man 3 years ago
I really admire you both. Evan is not only a brilliant teacher but also a kind person, an extraordinary singer. The song makes me sad
Heather Mackey 2 years ago
I’m here cause I got a certain $5 bill as change today 😛 Niagara Falls 🙂
TheBmxbrothers 2 years ago
Hershey Pennsylvania, dammit it got me.
Noëlle Watson 2 years ago
$1 bill in Chicago. Canadian tourist. INCREDIBLE.
MrWolfyumi 1 year ago
$1 bill in Muskegon, Michigan
johnnykaz21 3 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous… No other words come to mind at present.
lonelystar884 3 years ago
evan this in an awesome video and what you have done for those people is just amazing. god bless you i wish there were more people on this earth like you. –melissa Szkutak