A variety of pop and musical-theater artists have joined with Our Time Theatre Company, a non-profit group devoted to helping young people who stutter, on Listen, an album due out on June 23 that hopes to raise money and support for kids suffering from this problem.

Recorded at Jon Bon Jovi's studio, the album features 15 songs written by teens and pre-teens who stutter, and their lyrics give insight into how difficult the condition can be, especially at an age when one tends to be socially vulnerable and the pressures to fit in are enormous.

Performers include Carly Simon, Duncan Sheik and Daryl Hall and John Oates, alongside Mandy Patinkin and other Broadway stars such as Kelli O'Hara, Adam Pascal, Michael Cerveris and Sherie Rene Scott.

Simon admitted to having "a debilitating stammer for most of my life," and said she was inspired to contribute to the Listen project by group founder Taro Alexander. He "has contributed his gifts (so that) having a stammer or a stutter has grace and originality, and does not have to be hidden in the dark chambers of shame," Simon said.

Exercises