News & Events
With deep sadness, Music Has Healing Power has lost a colleague, partner, and longtime dear friend, Bob Ochsendorf.
Bob meant the world to us. We will always be filled with love and gratitude for the kindness, generosity, and heart he shared so freely. He will forever be a part of the MHHP family and will always be remembered as an incredible human being who helped make this world a better place for those in need, and for everyone who was blessed to know him.
Rest in peace, dear friend. You will never be forgotten. 💙🎶
Peace & Love,
Bruce Lowe
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Obituary
Robert “Bob” John Ochsendorf
November 20, 1951 – January 23, 2026
Robert “Bob” John Ochsendorf, lifelong musician, entrepreneur, self-described “motorhead,” artist, and loyal friend to countless people passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 23 after an illness.
Born to Eugene and Ann (née DeLucia) Ochsendorf in Steubenville, Ohio, Bob moved to Whitehall with his family in 1962 and graduated from Whitehall-Yearling High School (Class of 1970). Bob was a talented guitar player and active in the central Ohio music scene for over five decades. He started playing piano, guitar, and anything he could get his hands on as a young boy. In junior high he and friends formed a band, Lapse of Tyme, which by high school had its own fan club, touring van, and multiple Battle of the Band wins and performances on the Jerry Rasor Dance Party. Bob later performed with other local rock bands including Tumbleweed, Sixshooter, and Livestock.
He continued performing guitar professionally in the early 1970s, including touring with country songwriter Chuck Howard and spending time in Kansas City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Nashville. When he returned home in the mid 1980s, he joined The Hipnotics, a classic rock and R&B band that delighted audiences in central Ohio for decades. Known for his skill, versatility, and passion for lead guitar, Bob’s musical legacy is remembered by fellow musicians and fans alike as part of Ohio’s rich music history. Bob also did session work and recorded in LA with Bruce Lowe for Cinema Show Music and multiple artists’ records.
His father started a promotional advertising company, the E.R. Ochsendorf Company. Later, Bob took over the business which became known as Ochsendorf Promotions and grew the company considerably in the 1980s and ’90s. Bob earned a reputation for creativity and careful attention to customers in the specialty advertising industry.
Throughout his life, Bob had an uncanny ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. He had a wild sense of adventure and humor, and he delighted in catching friends and colleagues with practical jokes. Bob was a compassionate friend who actively supported local charities such as Friends of VFW Post 8794 and Knights of Columbus in Whitehall, and the nonprofit Music Has Healing Power created by his friend and fellow musician Bruce Lowe to bring music and sound to people in need suffering from chronic illness. Bob understood that music truly does have healing power. He was also a lifelong collector and tinkerer who loved rebuilding classic Cadillacs.
Bob shared a close bond with his mother Ann M. Ochsendorf, who often went to hear him perform, and his siblings, including his beloved sister Lynn Ochsendorf, who preceded him in death. Bob is survived by his older brother, Gene Ochsendorf (Elkins, WV), many nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends who will remember him through the music he played, the work he built, and the lives he forever changed with his generosity, warm spirit, and infectious love for life.
As Bob’s health deteriorated in recent years he never lost his sense of humor, telling family and friends that “This woulda killed a normal man!” In typical Bob fashion, among his last sentences to family were “I finally figured out what is going on,” and “I love you.”
The family is planning a memorial service for later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Music Has Healing Power, https://www.musichashealingpower.org and the Ohio State School for the Blind Foundation, https://www.ossbfoundation.org/ in honor of his friends.
https://www.evansfuneralhome.net/obituary/robert-ochsendorf
September, 2025
We are thrilled to announce a powerful new partnership between Music Has Healing Power and Rhythm & Relief, a growing movement dedicated to championing music as a transformative tool for healing and wellness.
Founded by music industry veteran Glen Ward, Rhythm & Relief is leading the charge to reframe music not just as entertainment – but as a vital, therapeutic intervention. Glen brings decades of leadership as the former CEO of Virgin Entertainment Group (North America) and former chairman of the Music Business Association, but it’s his deep belief in music’s emotional and physiological power that makes this collaboration so meaningful.
“Music isn’t just entertainment – it’s intervention,” Ward often says. And we couldn’t agree more.
Through this new partnership, MHHP and Rhythm & Relief will work hand-in-hand to expand access to music therapy, donate musical instruments, and raise awareness for the powerful intersection of music and medicine. Glen’s personal experiences witnessing music calm distressed patients and awaken joy in children with autism mirror the stories we at MHHP see every day in our hospital programs and music therapy rooms.
Together, our organizations will help bring comfort and connection to children and families facing medical challenges, while also building national momentum around the music-as-medicine movement.
This collaboration also marks a shared commitment to scale our collective impact – with Rhythm & Relief aiming to grow its global reach and support over 25 nonprofit organizations by the end of 2025. We are proud to be among its earliest partners, and to walk alongside Glen and his team in a shared mission to heal through harmony.
Stay tuned for joint initiatives, uplifting stories, and opportunities to support this exciting new chapter.
Music truly does have healing power—and now, that power is growing stronger than ever.
Support the mission of MHHP and be part of this growing movement!
Your donation directly funds life – changing music therapy, instruments, and healing experiences for children in need.
Click here to donate to Music Has Healing Power: https://www.musichashealingpower.org/donate/ and help us continue to bring music where it’s needed most.
September 10, 2024 – Promise2Live Global Livestream Event @ Avalon Theatre, Hollywood, CA
The Promise2Live Global Livestream Event at the Avalon Theatre in Hollywood was more than just a success—it was a night that touched hearts and left a lasting impact. The live music was electric, setting the perfect tone for an evening filled with raw emotion and powerful stories. The conversations about hope, help, and healing for suicide prevention and mental health were not only heartfelt, but deeply moving, creating a space where people could connect, share, and heal together.
The Promise2Live Event’s replay: https://www.promise2live.org
Shriners Children’s – Southern California
Stories Behind the Songs @ Shriners Children’s – Southern California – Nov. 3, 2022
This special “Stories Behind the Music” event was held for the Shriners / Music Has Healing Power HEART program in Pasadena, CA.
Stories Behind the Songs featured a live acoustic performance and showcased rare behind-the-scenes stories as musicians, songwriters, and producers recounted their work with Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Steve Winwood, Sir Elton John, George Harrison, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kenny Loggins, Jackson Browne, Danny Elfman, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Prince, and bands like Electric Light Orchestra, Badfinger, and Crosby, Stills & Nash (just to name a few)!
All proceeds benefited the Shriners Children’s Southern California/Music Has Healing Power’s HEART (Healing Environments, Arts, Resources & Therapies) Program.
MHHP’s achievements and endeavors are made possible by your kind support. We hope you would consider supporting Music Has Healing Power, a 501(c)(3) organization.
We are excited to announce that we officially have two new dedicated MHHP music rooms at Shriners Children – Southern California! We have provided instruments for both rooms and are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Shriners on this amazing accomplishment.
One room has been completed and is ready to be used, while the second and main music room/studio starts construction right away and will be completed in 2022. In these moments of progress, it is always the most rewarding to think of the children that will reap the benefits, experiencing joy and the wonderful healing power of music.
Our achievements and endeavors are made possible by your kind support. We hope you will consider supporting Music Has Healing Power, a 501(c)(3) organization.
June 10th, 2022
During 2021 and 2022, Music Has Healing Power has provided music instruments including guitars, percussion instruments and more to 15 additional Shriners Hospitals for Children music rooms. 13 Shriners in the US and 2 Shriners in Mexico.
Our achievements and endeavors are made possible by your kind support. We hope you will consider supporting Music Has Healing Power, a 501(c)(3) organization. https://www.musichashealingpower.org/donate
Pics:
1 – Chicago Shriners 2 – Mexico City Shriners 3 – Mexico City Shriners 4 – So. California Shriners 5 – Bruce Lowe, Founder of MHHP
Instruments donated by Music Has Healing Power
MHHP continues partnering with Shriners Hospitals for Children and we continue building dedicated music rooms/studios at Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. MHHP has provided musical instruments and facilitated deliveries to 17 of our 23 Shriners Hospitals Partners.
This has been made possible through our partnerships with: Gibson Gives – Dendy Jarrett, KRK Kares, Epiphone Guitars, Kramer guitars, Maestro effects, REMO percussion – Robert Shen, Dr. Ami Belli, Zildjian cymbals – Cady Zildjian and more.
All instruments donated by Music Has Healing Power
After surgery, Shriners Hospital for Children’s patient visit’s the MHHP / Shriner music room with the MHHP / Shriners music therapist Sarah. This patient has frequented the music room. Bruce Lowe, MHHP CEO/Director states, “Patients are often scared, nervous, worried being at the hospital for Dr. appointments, surgeries, follow ups appointments, and more. They are offered time in the MHHP music studios at the hospitals for the purpose of calming, healing, relief from their worries, stress, pain or much more. Witnessing the patients and their families who are going through medical struggles and come into our music rooms brings me to my knees when the music starts. Like clockwork, the patients smile, calm down and start singing or playing the instruments. The difference this makes in their lives is so heartwarming and priceless. Music truly does have healing powers.”
A powerful story told by the head RN in the surgical department at Shriners:
“A patient was all prepped for a surgical procedure and became hysterical as she was so worried about the surgery she was about to receive. The Doctors and Nurses did all they could to calm this young patient down, but nothing worked. They decided to call to see if the MHHP/Shriners music therapist was in the hospital. Our music therapist was there and went to the surgery department to work with the patient to try to calm her down. Once again, the music, love and compassion worked like clockwork. The patient did calm down and was taken to a successful surgery.”
Music, compassion and love certainly do bring wondrous success stories.
The folks at Music Has Healing Power are full of gratitude for our fantastic partners who help make this mission possible. Gibson Brands, Remo percussion, Kramer guitars, Epiphone guitars, KRK studio monitors and headphones, Maestro effect pedals, Zildjian cymbals and the gracious donations from all of our supportive individuals.