Born to a large Irish American family in Chicago, Emily Cavanagh is an independent artist based in NYC. A Singer/Songwriter & Performer in places like NYC, Chicago, Nashville, and Dublin, Emily has built a distinguished career as a Singer, working often at the intersection of service & songs. In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Emily launched a music initiative called “A Song for You”….now its own charity “ A Song For You Foundation” writing & recording personalized songs for patients families and first responders, and featuring the songs of local, indie, & Grammy award winning Songwriters for patients in hospice & hospital.
As a writer, Emily’s music reflects a throwback sound of the 30’s, 40’s,& 50’s while maintaining a great folk & pop sensibility. Her work can be found in commercial placements & her song “Treehouse” was featured in the trailer for Fox Searchlight & Woody Harrelson’s film “Wilson.” Her EP “New York to Chicago” was released at the end of 2025–a collection of the only songs Emily wrote in the pandemic not for “A Song For You.” As a Recording Artist, she has worked alongside Producers such as Grammy award winning Leo Sidran,Scott Sharrard (Little Feat), and this year with Golden Globe winning Producer and Composer, Daniel Heath (known for his extensive collaborations with Lana Del Rey and Film Composer, Hans Zimmer.)
As a performer, Emily has played with some of the most regarded musicians on the New York scene…. Venues of note in New York include The Bitter End, The Blue Note, City Winery, Highline Ballroom, Irish Arts Center, and Rockwood Music Hall….in Chicago, stages include Schubas and UnCommon Ground, in Nashville the Grand Ole Opry House. On the festival circuit she enjoys playing with her Trio alongside headlining acts like Bruce Hornsby, Diana Krall & Keb’Mo’. Abroad in Ireland,Emily has played as an opening act for beloved Irish (& multi-platinum selling) Artists, Mundy & Paddy Casey.
Emily remains connected to causes closest to her heart– her original song “Dark Was the Night” written on behalf of Genocide Survivors, has played at numerous events at the United Nations.
Her music can be found on all major streaming sites.
Her Charity can be found in publications & podcasts from PEOPLE Magazine to UpWorthy, NBC, ABC, Chicago Tribune, WBGO, NPR and CBS….. and her work, in hospitals/hospices across the states.
https://www.emilycavanaghmusic.com
Charity Website–
https://www.songforyou.org
Carl Banks is a modern-day troubadour. He hails from the blues clubs of Saint Louis, Missouri, to carve his niche in the vibrant chaos of New York City.
His music has fused folk, blues, roots, and jam into poignant narratives.
Carl’s stories and music have been featured on the Moth radio hour.
As the ringleader of the traveling folk show “The Highway Hootenanny,” he transforms ordinary nights into celebrations from coast to coast. Carl is the co-founder of Bridge & A Slice Road Runners, a half marathon event that happens each year in NYC & an organization that has been a great supporter of A Song For You Foundation.
Carl is also an avid long distance runner, conquering two 100-mile ultra marathons. His spirit & sense of adventure are contagious and found in his music too.
You can follow along with him at
Born in the pandemic, A Song For You Foundation is a unique grassroots arts not-for-profit that provides healing and comfort to patients (and their loved ones) in hospice & hospital.
Through personalized recorded songs, we honor the legacies patients leave behind while bringing the healing power of music to those in need whether in hospice, hospital, or home.
Songs are also written for First responders & the health care workers who look after these very patients.
In the pandemic, over a time span of 18 months, our Artists wrote, recorded, and shared over 175 songs–some covers, some originals of the Artists, but many of which were personalized recorded songs, written from scratch, based on the stories of each individual patient as told through their families. Songs were also written to honor First Responders–including a staff as small as 150 Nurses in a hospice in NYC, to a song written for a healthcare system of 15,000 Nurses in Idaho at Christmas two years back.
Following a most generous response from the community at large, A Song For You Initiative has expanded beyond the pandemic and grown into A Song For You Foundation- writing for families, patients, & First Responders across the country. In a few years time, we have attracted Grammy award-winning artists & nominees, along with local, touring, and internationally awarded artists ,both here and abroad to our simple mission of celebrating a person’s life & legacy in song to bring comfort & gratitude, not grief to communities in trying times.
This year as we go forward with our mission of keeping songs free to families, we hope to grow our Artist Network, build our Executive Board, grow our Donor base, and spread our mission further to deepen our impact. 🤍
3159 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 525-2508
