Detroit Entertainers Aid Musicians Displaced by
Katrina
(click
HERE for a printable .pdf version)
Some of Detroit’s most popular and original
entertainers joined forces on Sunday, October 2, to raise funds
for musicians displaced by hurricane Katrina. Sheila Hale, Detroit
jazz vocalist and organizer of the event, noted that “while many
benefit concerts have been held of late to aid victims of the
disaster, it’s important to do something for the people who live
and die by the region’s entertainment trade – and whose
livelihood, though legendary to the region, is currently
non-existent!”
Hale organized the event by joining forces
with the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and the Higher Ground
Hurricane Relief Fund in an effort to directly aid musicians
financially displaced by hurricane Katrina. Enlisting the support
of many of Detroit's finest entertainers, Ms. Hale created "Music
is My Life, and My Life has been Interrupted" held at the New
Dodge Club of Hamtramck, Michigan.
Filling the MC duties for the event was
keyboard master Philip (Phil) J. Hale. Meanwhile, Hamtramck Mayor
Thomas Jankowski stopped in to say a few words of encouragement
and the musical performers included blues giant Johnnie Bassett,
Thornetta Davis, The Brakemen, Straightahead, Jazzhead, Philip J.
Hale’s Philharmonic Urban Progressive Jazz, and Ras Kente & the
Take No Prisoners Posse.
Among the evening’s highlights was a duet
featuring Johnny Bassett and Rick Pinkerton (the Brakemen)
performing “Blame it on the Weather” (a 2003 Milan & Pinkerton
song, penned in Bassett’s honor). The Brakemen concluded their set
with "New Orleans, Grey Days.
According to Ms. Hale, the event was able to
raise more than $1,000 in monetary donations that will go directly
to the displaced musicians of New Orleans.
Music News
From Silver Swan Records Special Edition Oct 2005
