A Tree With Roots Music

A Tree With Roots Music (ATWR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by executive director/musician Andrew Murphy and filmmaker David Bettencourt. Based in the United States, ATWR is dedicated to documenting and preserving cultural heritage through multimedia storytelling.

A Tree With Roots Music is committed to ethical storytelling practices and collaborative partnerships with the communities we document, ensuring their voices and perspectives remain central to our work

MISSION – ATWR exists to contribute to this essential knowledge by creating authentic, respectful documentation of cultural traditions and musical heritage worldwide. Our organization’s name draws inspiration from Marcus Garvey’s profound observation: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

David Bettencourt, Co-Founder & Director
MFA Film Studies, Boston University

David brings over a decade of documentary filmmaking expertise to ATWR, having directed four feature-length documentaries and created a widely-viewed web series. His work earned him a Boston/New England Emmy nomination for Best Short Form Film (2009) and recognition as Providence Phoenix’s Filmmaker of the Year (2010). Currently serving as an adjunct teaching documentary production and narrative film courses at the Community College of Rhode Island, as well as the curator and house manager with the Museum at Belcourt of Newport, a Gilded Age mansion in Rhode Island. David provides all cinematography and post-production services for ATWR projects.

Andrew Murphy, Co-Founder & Executive Director
BM Songwriting, Berklee College of Music

A versatile multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and songwriter, Andrew has collaborated with accomplished blues and bluegrass performers throughout the United States for over fifteen years. He currently performs as upright bassist for award-winning singer-songwriter Michelle Moonshine in Salt Lake City, Utah. Andrew has hosted world music programming since 2013, initially as a live radio show on UtahFM and later as a podcast. He serves as producer and creative director for all ATWR initiatives.