Los Angeles, CA, September 25, 2009
– Legendary drummer and founding member of Little Feat, Richie Hayward
has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Two L.A. musicians, along with an
outpouring of help from the music community, have organized a benefit
concert to raise money for Richie’s burgeoning medical expenses. The
concert will take place on Sunday October 4th at the Canyon Club in
Agoura Hills, California.
Richie’s illness has forced him to
take an indefinite leave of absence from the band to fight this
debilitating disease. (It has been estimated that liver cancer and
intrahepatic bile duct cancer will claim the lives of more than 18,000
Americans this year alone.*)
While Richie is off the road he
will be receiving no income, and he is just one of the more than 40
million Americans without health insurance.
In December of 2001,
Richie’s son Severin was severely injured in a car accident and
suffered major brain damage which he is still recovering from. This,
and other crises in his life have cost Richie a great deal emotionally
and financially, and now he is facing his own medical crisis.
Some of the artists who are scheduled to perform are:
Jimmy Vivino—guitarist from Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show Band,
Coco Montoya—local blues legend and festival favorite.
Luis Conte—renowned percussionist for James Taylor, Madonna, Phil Collins, Cher, Eric Clapton and more.
Shaun Murphy—long-time former singer with Little Feat and long-time back-up singer for Bob Seger.
Albert Lee—Legendary
guitarist, Grammy award winner and blues legend and his all star band
including Colin Cameron, Greg Bissonette, and Vern Monnett.
Lightnin’ Willie & The Poor Boys—just returning from a two-month tour of the UK
The Restless Blues BandThe Jeremiah Roiko BandTeresa James and the Rhythm TrampsDallas Hodge and his BandThe Laurie Morvan BandBig FishCalifornia Transit Authority featuring Danny Seraphine and Marc Bonilla
Celebrity All Star Jam with Steve Luthaker includes:
Freebo,
Walfredo Reyes, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Richie Zito, Mick Fleetwood,
Johnnie Rivers, Rick Latham, Leland Sklar, Tony Braunagal, Miles
Joseph, Scotty Page and more.
Hosts: Geno Michelini, Mickey Jones and Bill Portman.
Wednesday
Night 10:30pm KLOS 95.5FM Paul Barrerre will be featured “live” in an
interview with Jim Ladd, featuring Little Feat music and the purpose
for the benefit.
Large corporations such as Drum Workshop,
Sabian cymbals, Zildjian cymbals, Pearl drums and more, plus local
businesses have also donated goods and services for the organizers to
be auctioned or raffled off on the night, including a special “Richie
Hayward” drum kit from DW Drums.
Also helping to facilitate this
event and ongoing fund raising for Richie is Sweet Relief Musicians
Fund. Sweet Relief is a national non-profit charity dedicated to
providing financial support for career musicians facing illness,
disability or age related problems.
Tickets for the benefit
concert will be $20 general admission; $50 for the VIP seating area.
They can be purchased by calling the Canyon Club at 818-879-5016;
directly from one of the organizers or from Ticketmaster. The doors
open at 5:00pm. Music starts at 5:30pm and will continue through the
night. The venue is open to all ages.
A website –
www.richiehaywardbenefit.com has been set up by the organizers should you require further information.