Two years ago, when reports began to circulate of the devastation that followed the tsunami on the coast of Asia, opera vocalist and former resident of Newnan, Courtenay Budd, was concerned. "I talked with some people in my neighborhood, and a lot of them wanted to give a yard sale," she remembered.

One neighbor, Monica Church, had bigger plans. Church, an artist, encouraged Budd to make a CD with proceeds going to help victims of the tsunami. Church volunteered to create art for the project.

"I had just sung an American lullaby, which I really liked," Budd recalled. She decided to record a CD of lullabies from around the world and began researching - looking for just the right songs. The chosen songs come from Germany, Norway, Italy, Spain, France, Russia and the United States. One is in Latin, and another is in Yiddish.

Budd asked a number of friends and colleagues from the music world to join her in the project. All agreed and donated their time and talent. One of the collaborators overseeing the CD’s art direction is Peachtree City native, Amanda Wyler.

Amanda Wyler, known to Peachtree City friends as “Mandi,” is no stranger to benefit productions. In 2003, she created a concert series called BAND4KIDS that showcased some of Nashville’s unsigned local talent and centered around helping the boys and girls at Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes.

“It feels really good to be a part of something bigger than just me,” Wyler said about the CD project entitled “Sleep Is Behind the Door.” “What a great opportunity for us all to come together and use our talents for a greater good!”

The daughter of Bill and Karen Wyler, Mandi graduated from The Heritage School in Newnan and was known as a talented visual artist and performer in Fayette and Coweta counties. As an adult, Wyler now lives in Nashville, Tenn. where she continues to pursue her love of the arts. The sole owner and operator of Artistic Amanda Designs, Wyler is a web and graphic designer specializing in design services for small business, fellow artists, and non-profit organizations.

“Sleep Is Behind the Door” is available for $20 at Brothers Limited, Scott's Bookstore and Espresso Lane in downtown Newnan. The CD is also being sold online, along with prints of Church's painting entitled "Hush-Hush II."

Proceeds are going to United Methodist relief groups including UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. It was decided to broaden the scope of help following Hurricane Katrina's devastation. For more info, visit www.lullabiesfordisasterrelief.org and www.artisticamanda.com.

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