I have Parkinson’s Disease. I take medicine 6 times a day, visit my doctor when necessary and I ride the wave of ups and downs that come with Parkinson’s. After that, I try to ignore it. I’m alive, have a wonderful family and friends and I can still make music. I am profoundly lucky. I am profoundly grateful.
I will look back at 2010 as the year Lex and I, surrounded by the most amazing group of musicians and friends imaginable, hosted a series of concerts to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
The result of our efforts in dollars can be seen here!
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
Our audiences were a dream…the kind that most musicians long to perform for. The marriage of singer/songwriters, music lovers, a festive Saturday night and an important goal brought out the best in us all. Donors were too numerous to mention (more than 200), but we have endless appreciation for everyone who contributed.
The intangible results of our efforts can’t be seen as easily. They lie somewhere between “indescribable” and a full on major triad chord sung by a 1000 voice choir. We had 3 concerts at our home and 1 at the home of my brother and sister-in-law, Ralph Gilbert and Mary Odem. In addition, good friends Bob Bakert, Jeanne Bernstein, Louis Robinson and Pat Walsh hosted concerts in support of our fund raising goal. Also, many thanks to Jackie Whitaker who gave us Ragamuffin Music Hall for Bob & Jeanne’s incredible party and to Tony and Liana Langford whose studio housed Pat’s affair.
Those who performed were simply wonderful. Each event was unique in some way and each performer brought a unique sort of magic to the stage. They were:
Allison Adams
Ashley Harris
Bob Bakert
Carol Statella
Curtis Jones
Cyndi Craven
Dave Condra
Fred Watts
Greg Gronholm
JC Goolsby
Jeff Silver
Louis Robinson
Mark Pertain
Nathan Benowitz
Pat Walsh
Paul Pendery
Pete Orenstein
Rick Diamond
Ron Hipp
Steve Cullen
Terry Frye
Tim Porterfield
Tony Bolin
William Bess
Photography: Linda Foltz
Audio Engineering: Tony Bolin
Video Engineering, PA system donor & a whole bunch of support: Cyndi Craven
Cashiers: Isabelle Gilbert, Lex Gilbert and Lisa Porterfield
