Visionary Musician Kathy Lord Highlights the Transformative Work of Music that Heals

For Immediate Release

Dallas, Texas – April 1, 2026 – A lifetime devoted to music has taken acclaimed musician and humanitarian Kathy Lord across the world’s stages, from international concert venues to cruise ships, private events, and prestigious performances alongside legendary artists. Now, in a revealing and inspiring interview on The Paula Atherton Show on The Paula Atherton Channel, Lord shares the remarkable journey that led her from a young songwriter with a guitar to the co-founder and managing director of the nonprofit Music that Heals, an organization bringing live professional music directly into healthcare settings.

A professional musician, published songwriter, vocalist, and recording artist, Lord’s career has spanned decades and continents. Beginning as a solo performer with vocals and guitar, she later formed the Lord & Weber Band in 1984. The group performed widely across Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Bermuda, and appeared at concerts, cruise ships, clubs, private events, and corporate functions. Their musical journey included sharing the stage with legendary performers such as Glen Campbell and Tammy Wynette, performing during a visit by Dalai Lama at a major New York City hospital, and appearing at events attended by U.S. presidents.

Yet Lord’s most meaningful stage would emerge in an unexpected place, healthcare facilities.

Discovering the Power of Music

During the interview with host and chart-topping saxophonist and vocalist Paula Atherton, Lord reflected on the moment that changed her perspective forever. Early in her performing career, she began playing in hospitals through an arts agency. One performance in particular, playing for a group of young patients, left a profound impression. A blind young man approached her and placed his hand on her guitar so he could feel the vibration of the music.

“That moment felt like I had just won a Grammy,” Lord recalled. “It showed me the true power of music.”

The experience planted the seed for what would become Music that Heals, founded in 1997.

A Mission of Compassion Through Music

Music that Heals brings professional musicians into hospitals, hospice facilities, dialysis centers, schools for children with special needs, mental health programs, and other healthcare environments, providing live performances designed to uplift patients, families, and medical staff.

Lord insists on one key principle: the performances must be exceptional.

“These may be the last performances some people will ever hear,” she explained. “They deserve great music.”

The organization operates primarily throughout New York City’s five boroughs and beyond, including regular performances in Connecticut and Kentucky. Over time, its impact has grown dramatically. What began with roughly a dozen performances in its first year expanded to more than 500 performances in healthcare facilities annually before the pandemic.

During COVID-19, when in-person performances became impossible, Music that Heals quickly adapted, launching personalized video performances delivered to isolated patients across the country.

“It was heartbreaking that people couldn’t have visitors,” Lord said. “So we sent them private video performances, 20 minutes of music made just for them.”

Musicians Making a Difference

The program attracts highly accomplished musicians who share a desire to use their talent in service of others. According to Lord, many performers say the work is among the most rewarding of their careers.

One musician who had toured with Barbra Streisand even remarked that if she could make a living performing for Music that Heals, she would gladly leave Broadway behind.

“This is not about the performer,” Lord tells musicians joining the program. “It’s about the patient.”

Through music, performers connect with audiences facing illness, emotional challenges, or end-of-life care, often creating moments of joy, comfort, and human connection.

Beyond Music: A Creative Life

Lord’s creative pursuits extend far beyond the stage. A trained photographer who studied at the School of Visual Arts, she continues to produce striking imagery capturing beauty and moments of joy. She also holds two patents including one for a unique percussion instrument accessory called the “Wood Whack,” once sold internationally.

In recent years, she has even fulfilled a lifelong dream by learning to play the drums, beginning lessons in her mid-sixties and attending drum camp, proving that artistic curiosity has no age limit.

Lord has also shared her expertise with young musicians, delivering talks and guidance to students at Juilliard School about performing in healthcare environments—preparing the next generation of artists to bring music into spaces where it can truly change lives.

Music as a Force for Healing

At its heart, Music that Heals is about compassion, connection, and the universal language of music.

“Music lifts people,” Lord said during the interview. “It helps patients, families, and even the staff who care for them every day. The vibrations of the music stay with people long after the performance ends.”

For musicians interested in participating or supporters interested in learning more about the organization’s mission, information can be found at musicthatheals.org.

As audiences discover Kathy Lord through The Paula Atherton Show, one message resonates clearly: music is more than entertainment. It can be a powerful force for healing, hope, and humanity.

About Music that Heals

Music that Heals is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by musician Kathy Lord that brings live, professional music performances to healthcare facilities including hospitals, hospice centers, dialysis units, and schools for children with special needs. The program works with accomplished musicians who perform for patients, families, and medical staff, offering comfort, connection, and moments of joy through music. By delivering high-quality performances directly to people facing illness or challenging circumstances, Music that Heals demonstrates the powerful role music can play in uplifting spirits and supporting emotional well-being.

About Kathy Lord

Kathy Lord is a professional musician, vocalist, songwriter, and recording artist, as well as the co-founder and managing director of Music that Heals. Her performance career has spanned decades and taken her to venues across the United States and internationally, including performances in Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Bermuda. In 1984 she co-founded the Lord & Weber Band, performing at concert venues, private events, and major functions, and sharing stages with artists such as Glen Campbell and Tammy Wynette.

In 1997, inspired by the impact live music can have on patients in healthcare environments, Lord co-founded Music that Heals, a nonprofit organization that brings professional musicians into hospitals, hospice centers, and other healthcare settings. Through her leadership, the program has provided hundreds of performances each year, delivering music to patients, families, and caregivers. In addition to her work as a musician and nonprofit leader, Lord is also an accomplished photographer and inventor, holding two U.S. patents.

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