“‘Tiyo’s Songs of Life’ is a project seventeen years in the making. It began in 2005 when prison abolitionist Lois Ahrens sent fifty blank sheets of music paper to Tiyo Attallah Salah-El, a musician, composer, published writer, teacher, prison abolitionist, and good friend to people throughout the country and beyond. By then Tiyo, who had been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, had been incarcerated in Pennsylvania for close to 50 years. Within months, Tiyo sent the pages back to Lois, filled with his songs… ‘Tiyo’s Songs of Life’ is a musical celebration of Tiyo Attallah Salah-El, and a tribute to friendship and persistence. Tiyo would be proud and very happy knowing his music lives on. To quote Tiyo, ‘Long live love and good music!’”

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