We’re all in this together.

That’s the message of the “Shine a Little Love 2020” music video.

Singer-songwriter Brian Collins used his 2015 song, “Shine a Little Love,” as the basis for the music video to honor first responders to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The music video includes more than 60 entertainers and hundreds of others giving a message of hope and togetherness.

In the approximately five-minute video, musicians and others sing the words and play portions of Collins’ song. Firefighters, hospital and grocery workers dance and wave, holding up signs. The refrain is “Shine a little love” and “We’re all in this together.”

The singers range from families to well-known rock, folk and country performers, including singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young, harmonica player Lee Oskar and members of the Zac Brown Band, Coral Reefer Band, Skid Row and Sister Hazel.

There are youth from a Boys and Girls Club, airplane pilots and quick bursts from trumpet and saxophone players.

Jonathan Katz, a comedian and actor known for starring in the animated series “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” says, “Please stay at home.”

The music video has approximately 4,360 views on YouTube, as of the deadline for this article.

“Shine a Little Love” was a breakthrough hit for Collins, a professional musician since high school. The song was No. 1 on Country Music Television’s “Pure 12-Pack Countdown” for seven weeks in 2015.

Collins, in a phone interview from his home in Peachtree City, Ga., says, “The video is a chance for people to come together to get a message to first-responder workers.”

Collins was unsure what reaction he would get when he asked for participation but says, “The musicians were excited and enthusiastic. It is a way for them to get a positive message out and have something to do. It was a chance to be part of something special.”

Despite the many video clips and quick cuts, the project only took about two weeks to complete. Collins did not give anyone much direction.

“I left it up to them to do what was comfortable for them,” he says.

Julie Wohlberg, who handles Collins’ public relations, asked comedian and actor Kris Fried, a Salisbury Township native, and Jennifer Brinson, assistant principal at Southern Lehigh High School, to participate. The three attended Salisbury High School.

Brinson was Wohlberg’s teacher at Salisbury High School, where Fried also attended school with Wohlberg. Wohlberg’s son, Aiden Conner, is also in the music video.

Says Fried: “It was so cool to see all the people and to be part of the whole group effort. It was exciting to do something different and get back to the keyboard and to be creative learning a song.”

Comedians have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 shutdown because most rely heavily on audience feedback in their standup acts.

“It’s not the same as a nighttime experience. You don’t get the reaction from a live crowd. Now it gives me more time to do writing,” Fried says.

On YouTube, Fried can been seen doing standup and appearing on Fox News’ “Greg Gutfeld Show.” In 2017, Fried’s CD, “We’re All Adults Here,” was No. 7 on iTunes’ “Comedy Albums” chart.

For Collins’ music video, Brinson brought together teachers from across Pennsylvania to appear via the Zoom online format. They appear briefly in split-screen. “I thought we would get cut. None of us are singers,” Brinson says.

During the coronavirus-mandated schools shutdown, Brinson and other educators have been working to engage youths online for distance learning.

Says Brinson: “We have come up with an array of creative assignments, like art projects and kids cooking for their families.

“For National College Decision Day, we asked seniors to post photos of themselves wearing their college gear.”

Still, says Brinson, “Kids would rather be in school, even those who were struggling.”

“Shine a Little Love” on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCDxMPDFU3w

Brian Collins website: www.briancollinsmusic.com