Jose Feliciano who lives on the Saugatuck River in Weston is one of the most highly awarded and best selling recording artists in music today. His 19 Grammy nominations have earned him those awards 9 times and he has been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. Feliciano has been immortalized with a Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. With over 45 Gold & Platinum records he is well known to Westporters for both his many successes and for many local appearances down through the years. Joining Jose on stage were Jonathan and Michael, his two sons who played drums and bass guitar. Also performing was opening act Vaneese Thomas, an R&B, jazz and soul blues singer known for Billboard R&B chart hit single, "Let's Talk It Over".

Last Tuesday Jose performed to raise funds for Traffic Jam Live, an organization co-founded by Ridgefield resident Bo Beatty to fight human trafficking which affects communities large and small, including many here in Connecticut. Since 2008, more than 1,000 children have been referred to the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut as possible victims of child trafficking. 

Over 475 attendees filled the Playhouse including State Senator Will Haskell of Westport who helped pass the new CT state law that better protects victims of human trafficking in Connecticut. Says Bo Beatty, "Our mission is to disrupt child sex trafficking here in the US, right here in our local communities.  Our key disrupter is Music. Streaming headliner concerts enable other anti-trafficking organizations to fundraise through TJL produced streams that also distribute key messaging on red-flags, what to look for in spotting signs of trafficking.”

Traffick Jam Live shines a spotlight on the shadows of human trafficking through concert and event productions that inform audiences on vital human trafficking awareness information.  For starters, if you see something, say something by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 to Traffick Jam Live.

Photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocal.com     Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery