Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, has raised $13 million for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico with a charity single titled 'Almost Like Praying'. The song features a star-studded lineup including Gloria Estefan, Rita Moreno, Jennifer Lopez, and Luis Fonsi, known for his hit 'Despacito'.
Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico with high winds and heavy rain, leaving much of the island without power. Miranda, whose parents are from the US territory, said the inspiration for the song came from his efforts to contact loved ones after the storm and the slow pace of relief efforts.
'I thought I could work all 78 towns in Puerto Rico into the lyrics of this song and if we did our job right, these towns will never be forgotten again,' Miranda told Billboard magazine. The song mixes Spanish and English lyrics and takes its tune from elements of the song 'Maria' from the musical West Side Story.
Miranda has been a strong critic of the US government's relief efforts, describing them as 'slow and insufficient'. All proceeds from the song go to the Hispanic Federation's Unidos Disaster Relief Fund for Puerto Rico.
