Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems
Sweet Relief was founded by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams in 1993. Victoria, while on a career-making tour with Neil Young was forced to drop off mid-schedule after experiencing unexplained debilitating symptoms. A long and painful diagnostic process revealed she had multiple sclerosis.
After her diagnosis, a group of f
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ds assembled an all-star album of Victoria’s songs, Sweet Relief, which alleviated much of her medical debt. Vic, knowing that there are many musicians like her - -unable to afford medical expenses and compromised in their ability to work- - donated some of her proceeds from the album to found Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The name of the fund derives from a song of Victoria’s, Opelousas (Sweet Relief) and the fact that we do provide sweet relief in the form of financial assistance to many musicians who would otherwise be in untenable predicaments.
In 1994 Sweet Relief was incorporated as a nonprofit charity and by September of that year was distributing grants to needy artists.
Many prominent musicians, professionals and music fans have rallied enthusiastically behind the Fund, staging benefits in venues from Miami to Seattle, with performances donated by hundreds of both established and emerging artists. Nightclubs, concert halls, radio stations, internet sites, restaurants, clothing and shoe companies, music retailers, athletes, actors and many others have all chosen Sweet Relief as their charity of choice.
Key events included a second top selling album and concert, an MTV 120 Minutes special on the fund, annual fundraising events as well as a continual press and media coverage. Our list of supporters is one of the most extensive in the nonprofit world and continues to expand.
Sweet Relief, in addition to our long tenured relationships, is focused on growing our charitable voice within the youth market. Social networking, forums, portals and internet partnerships are currently being developed to make Sweet Relief a charity of choice for young and old alike.
Millions of dollars have been raised and scores of artists have found the help they need through Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Now, as much as ever, we are the charity that musicians reach out to help them find healing, shelter and sustenance.
Who do we help?
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. Grant recipients include recording artists, club and session musicians, composers & songwriters from across the country. From Classical to punk, jazz to country, reggae to blues and everything in between, Sweet Relief is there to help the musician in need.
How do we help?
Since inception Sweet Relief has served the music community by helping musicians with medical and living expenses including insurance premiums, prescriptions, housing costs, food costs and alternative therapies and treatments that are not covered by insurance.
Sweet Relief works to help determine a musicians most pressing needs. We are also a member of the Entertainment Assistance Coalition and can help in finding additional sources of funding to provide the most complete assistance possible.
Even if a grant recipient has private or publicly funded healthcare they often require assistance, and Sweet Relief is there to help. We have aided people suffering from a wide range of conditions including: AIDS/HIV, spinal cord injury, STD’s, hearing impairments, strokes and head injuries, diabetes, kidney failure, alcoholism and chemical dependency, repetitive stress injuries, mental illness and psychological disorders, cystitis, heart defects, Hepatitis.
To qualify for assistance, applicants must clearly show that they have spent at least three years actively pursuing a musical career, are in financial need, and have a diagnosis of a serious medical condition.
We also help elderly musicians, regardless of medical condition, who are having trouble making ends meet
Why do we help?
Music has made all of our lives, and the events in our lives special and memorable. While fame and fortune are found by few, most musicians remain in the field for love and passion of music. What they give up is financial security and a safety net when health and age take a negative toll. Sweet Relief acts as a conduit for society to help the artist who has brightened our lives and souls by helping them in their greatest time of need.
Bill Bennett – President
Today 
Yesterday
Bill Bennett has possessed a penchant for music and a passion for people throughout his life and career. A personal collection of recordings numbering in the thousands and active involvement in charitable causes since his earliest teenage years are a testament to those statements. Bill’s first foray into the world of music began as a manager for the New York City based band, Crazy Fingers, when Bill was just 20 years old. Working out of the renowned Wetlands Preserve, Bill began his earliest interaction with up and coming artists such as, Phish, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, Spin Doctors and others who defined the earliest genesis of the Jam Band Scene.
Bill would be drawn to the Southern California music business establishment in the early 1990’s, where he would join a national music retailer and become the youngest GM in the company’s history. Bill would become a significant resource for marketing and advertising initiatives and was often sought out as the knowledgeable source for music trends and customer base directions. Bill would move on to nurture his musical fervor with his migration to Boulder, CO, taking over the position of GM at The Fox Theatre. During his tenure, The Fox would be recognized by Pollstar as one of the 5 top grossing music clubs in the US… The club would come to be known as a favorite for hundreds of national acts and Bill was highly regarding for his focus on Artist’s personal and musical requirements.
Bill would further enrich his business acumen when he next spent close to a decade as a Director and V.P. for SRG, a national hospitality firm. Bill would be instrumental in franchise development, systems operations, and growth of revenue streams.
With the music industry always pulling at his heart strings, Bill would re-enter the field and establish Diamond Hill Management, an artist management firm, in late 2007.
Throughout his life Bill has been involved with organizations that assist others in need and it was a true calling when he was approached to take the position of Managing Director at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Bill brings a diverse background and intimate knowledge of our constituency which has in turn begun to show tremendous reward for the cause.
Rob Max – Executive Director 
Today 
Yesterday
Rob memorized every lyric on Johnny Cash’s Greatest Hits as a 4 year old in the family rocking chair and would perform them in character and voice for anyone who would listen. Thus began his journey that has led him to The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
Rob Max and Bill Bennett have a 21 year history that began with Rob’s lead vocals and Bill’s management of NYC based band, Crazy Fingers. Heading out west, he would join Bill as a GM at the same music retailer and would eventually culminate with Rob’s staging of unauthorized in-store performances resulting in the men in blue pulling the power plug. Rob went on to manage the Southern California entertainment fixture, The White House in Laguna Beach, taking on GM, Music Director and sound engineer roles.
Rob spent the last decade working in the NYC financial sector as a V.P, directing an internet risk management portal, ezumbrella.com for PCI –PC LLC. A start up division that began with 20 beta test members, and would end up with 4000 clients nationwide, generating $50,000,000 in annual volume. Rob would then open a company division headquartered in Irvine, CA in summer of 2007. When approached with the opportunity to join Sweet Relief and return to the world of music – the calling was undeniable.
Victoria Williams
An American singer/songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a vivid feeling of small-town, rural Southern upbringing and life. Her best-known songs include "Crazy Mary", and "Century Plant". Finding inspiration in nature, ("Weeds", "Century Plant," "Why Look at the Moon"), everyday objects ("Shoes," "Frying Pan") and the unseen, as in "Holy Spirit".
In 1993, Williams' life took a dramatic turn when she learned that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis. In 1993, an array of artists from different genres, including Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, Maria McKee, Soul Asylum, Lucinda Williams and others, joined together to record some of Williams' songs for a tribute/benefit project called Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams. This led to the creation of the Sweet Relief Fund, a charity that aids professional musicians (of any stature) in need of health care. That year, Williams also released a new album herself, entitled Loose. Pearl Jam had covered her song "Crazy Mary" for Sweet Relief, however, Williams performed her own version of the song, and made a video that brought her closer to public notice and gained her more of a following after it ran on MTV and Vh1 in 1994, and is still played on both cable channels.
In 2006 Victoria was ranked #89 on Paste Magazine's list of the Top 100 Living Songwriters. The description stated: "Louisiana-born Victoria Williams’ music paints impressionistic, personal portraits of nature (“Century Plant”), of the spiritual (“Holy Spirit”) and of common folk (“Crazy Mary”). Her songs—as distinctive as her high vibrato—dip heavily into the musical palettes of country, folk, rock, gospel and jazz.
J. Mark Matthews MD
Now a practicing anesthesiologist in Kansas City, Dr. Matthews was born and raised in coastal North Carolina. Taking up guitar in his teens and desiring a career in music, he hit the road with his band while still a teen. He soon found it difficult to meet routine living expenses, much less afford health-insurance. This prompted his return to university and his eventual career path as a physician.
Currently, Dr. Matthews serves as the Chairman of Anesthesiology at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City’s largest tertiary care hospital. While being aware of Sweet Relief for some time, a chance encounter with founder Victoria Williams in 1998 and subsequent discussions, led to his direct involvement with the charity. He was named to the Board of Directors of Sweet Relief in August 2008.
His experience as a gigging musician and subsequent career in medicine give him a unique perspective on the plight of musicians facing hardship due to medical expenses in today’s challenging health-care environment
Ariel Hyatt
Ariel Hyatt is the founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR a New York based digital firm that connects artists to blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations and social media sites. Over the past 13 years her firm has represented over 1,400 musicians of all genres
Ariel has written dozens of articles on how to navigate the “new” music business and her book: Music Success in Nine Weeks is available at Amazon. She is a contributing blogger to New Music Ideas, and Music Think Tank, and she has spoken at countless music conferences over the years including SXSW 2009, FMC, ECMAs & OCFF (Canada), A2A (Amsterdam),CMJ, BMI Music Panel Series, ASCAP Music Expo 2009, and NARAS.
Ariel Publicity was founded in Colorado. Beautiful Boulder was the perfect place for a new company to launch due to the amazing talent that live in the area and the incredible Fox Theatre (where Ariel proudly served as the PR director for 5 1/2 years.) Boulder and the Fox were the best place to get a masters degree in touring bands. Ariel worked for several Colorado bands that helped to put Boulder on the map including Leftover Salmon, Sally Taylor, Zuba, and Acoustic Junction. For a few years she had a booking agency and handled a ton of Ska bands including The Toasters, Skinnerbox (both childhood favorites), Skavoovie and the Epitones, The Stubborn All Stars, The Slackers and The Skoidats.
David Bournasian
Complex Litigation; Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Environmental Law; Corporate Law
Education University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 1996, Rutgers University, B.A., 1991 Admitted 1996, California
Born Westfield, New Jersey, 1969
Paul Fox
Owner, Heads Up Management
Paul Fox is recognized as one of the most successful and creative producers in music industry history. His vast production credits include working with XTC, Phish, Sugarcubes (Bjork),Yes, 10,000 Maniacs, Wallflowers, Robyn Hitchcock, Semisonic, Sixpence None the Richer, Faker, Ziggy Marley, They Might Be Giants, Rod Stewart, Grant Lee Buffalo, Victoria Williams, members of REM, and many more.
Bill Bennett - Managing Director
Martin Kamenski
Martin Kamenski is the President and Founder of Rockstar CPA, Chicago’s premier creative and entertainment industry accounting firm. He oversees all professional staff and handles a large book of clients personally. With a background in small businesses and nearly a decade of experience running his own practice, Martin has helped many struggling artists find their financial bearing and build successful careers. His expertise in entertainment industry issues includes services such as tax planning and compliance, audits, business management, tour accounting, production accounting, and advisory services.
In addition to helping artists get their careers started, Martin has stood by many successful clients who have specialized challenges resulting from high net worths, mutli-state or international income, or multiple business ventures. For these clients he provides a signature full-service financial management product.
He serves as Managing Director of Collaboraction Theater Company and sits on the Boards of Directors of Matter Dance Company and the Global Alliance of Artists. He is a member of the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Illinois Certified Public Accountant Society.
Martin is an amatuer musician, and remains active in the theater and film industires in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Marquette University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, and a Master of Science in Accounting.
Matthew Kaplan
Jared Levy Co Founder and Senior Partner Subset M
Interested in applying his creative talents and marketing sense to the world of entertainment, Jared has focused his efforts on the world of music for the last few years. In this short time he has developed a track record of success developing cutting edge campaigns for major labels and platinum artists ranging from EMI to Nickelback to CBS Records.
With his company SUBSET M he has helped develop hundreds of artists and is now working on larger digital initiatives and viral marketing campaigns for clients such as: Barak Obama, Kraft/SC Johnson web programming, and Gatorade to name a few. Recognized as a leader in online marketing, he has been hired to speak at large corporate gatherings, the DIY convention, Universities and more. Jared is also currently an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado where he lectures and leads a class on new media marketing for the Journalism school where he graduated from
Mike Rouse Band Manager, Tour Manager, Band Member, Club Manager, Promoter, Action Sports Industry Veteran. Motorcycle Industry Veteran, Author, Next?
As you can see, Mike is uniquely a product of Southern California. Yes - he seems to know everyone as he has successfully engaged in so many related industries. An entrepreneur by nature, Mike sites his ability to identify an opportunity as his main strength. Relationships and a win/win approach to business rank a close second. Mike has been involved with the landmark punk band X since he negotiated the deal that saw the return of the band to its original form in 1997. Under Mike’s management, 2009 saw the original line up’s first return to Europe since 1983, their eighth US National Tour since 1998, the 2nd Annual X-MAS events and a pair of XMAS songs released. Mike has been a strong supporter of Sweet Relief over the years and we look forward to what’s next!
Don Strasburg VP and Senior Talent Buyer, AEG Live Rocky Mountains
Eric Pirritt Manager for the band STS9 and VP, Live Nation Rocky Mountains
www.livenation.com www.sts9.com
Benjamin Myers Art Director, Genesis Creative
As the Art Director of Genesis Creative, Benjamin Myers specializes in brand identity and web design. After graduating summa cum laude from Laguna College of Art and Design, Benjamin accepted a graphic arts position with the marketing firm, George P. Johnson. As the Senior Designer, he created the look and feel for Honda’s 2008 exhibit, presented at all major U.S. auto shows. In collaboration with the art department, Benjamin contributed to the 2008 Acura project and played a vital role in earning his team the Communication Arts Interactive Award for their work on Honda’s interactive display.
Following his success with George P. Johnson, Benjamin served as the Art Director for a start up television network, ZCity TV. His accomplishments included the branding of two reality television shows, development of ZCity’s Executive Summary, and the creation of an Affiliate Sales Kit distributed to cable providers. His responsibilities involved video production, oversight of ZCity’s website design, and development of key note presentations. Benjamin also developed motion graphics, created web design, and collaborated with 3 Ring Circus to brand ZCity TV. Throughout his employment term, he worked as a freelance designer branding companies including Santis Creative, Baldemar Fierro Photography, Andrew Myers Art, GreenTree Music Academy, and Sweet Relief. His passions for art, music, travel and surfing are reflected in the creativity of his work – modern, clean, fresh, and above all, inspiring.
In addition to being in high demand for production, arranging, and songwriting, Paul has also played keyboards on some of music’s most classic recordings. His "Paul Fox Presents" is one of the best of the new forward thinking discovery and developing new artists companies around, giving up and coming artists access to him and his team, helping to find, develop, and promote new artists and bands, in clubs, on the radio, and on the internet, using many social networking sites and his many contacts in the industry to quickly spread the word about the new artists that he is currently working with...
Regius Gunawan Owner, Dev Panda
Experienced LAMP developer Regius has worked with and for various clients in building many different kinds of applications. He specializes in PHP, HTML & CSS, Javascript, Java, C++, Perl, SQL (MySQL & Oracle), and UNIX & Linux. He has constructed very complex web-based systems, directed multiple web development facets and technical aspects for companies with large amounts of traffic, maintained web publishing systems, and lead many teams to accomplish victories over serious web development and technical issues. While his job is to handle complicated problems on web development, his work ethic is simple: he delivers your project.
Keith Mitchell Screenwriter
Keith Mitchell previously teamed with writing partner Eric Champnella on "Eddie," the basketball comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg and the baseball movie, Mr. 3000 starring Bernie Mac. The duo have penned several other studio scripts, and partnered on the Disney telefilm "Mail to the Chief,” which Mitchell Executive Produced.
On his own Mitchell wrote the NASCAR movie, “Off Track” for Warner Brothers and the MOW “Nerve.” His other television credits include the half-hour pilots "Front Office", "Hollywood Hills Adjacent” and “Meet the Smiths.”
His most recent works include “Cheaper By The Dozen 3” (Fox) "The Club " ( Paramount) "Like Mike II" (Twentieth Century Fox) and “The Sandlot 3” (Twentieth Century Fox) and Dr. Doolittle 3. Current TV projects are “On Tour” (Paramount Network TV) with Michael Deluca producing and Brewster’s Billion’s (ABC).
This fall, “Spy V. Stu” (starring Pierce Brosnan) goes into production with Mitchell writing and producing.
Born and raised in Southgate, Michigan. He accepted a scholarship from the University of Michigan, playing for legendary coach Bo Schembechler on two Rose Bowl squads. He credits his experience on the gridiron for all of his success as a writer.
Mitchell currently resides in Orange County, California with wife Kimberlee and two children, Chloe and Kellen and his dog Gracie.
Eric Mayers Tour Manager (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists) /Production Manager
Eric Mayers is a tour and production manager based in Portland, Oregon. He is married and an expectant father. Focusing his talents on single truck , full production theatre tours, he enjoys the challenge of bringing productions into a variety of facilities and making it work. Mayers also produces a number of boutique music festivals, and larger one off events throughout the country. Mayers has worked for independent promoters throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Double Tee Concerts, and most recently served five years as the Vice President of Touring and Production for LMG Concerts, a boutique firm producing the majority of the C.C.M. tours in the market, as well as Columbia Meadows Amphitheatre, outside of Portland, OR. Currently Mayers is working independently, his touring clients include My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists , Nickel Creek among others. He really likes ponies.
To our friends and supporters,
2010 is an extremely hopeful and exciting year for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. With the guidance and assistance of our staff, board and advisory team, Sweet relief is positioned to grow many new and different tangents this year. With a new and vibrant logo, a friendly and functional web site, and social and industry marketing initiatives I am optimistic that we will be reaching awareness levels similar to the charity's profound presence some 15 years ago. I wish to thank each an every artist that has been so generous to the cause and greatly look forward to your continued support. Performers from all type of musical genre and individuals for all walks of life are coming together to assist us in our mission. The future is so bright…. We welcome your input, charity and energy. Call, email or visit us – we would love to hear what you have to offer.
Peace, Health and Music,
Bill
Q Do you help musicians even if they have insurance?
A: Yes. Many of our grant recipients have private health insurance or publicly funded health care (such as Medicaid or Medicare). We can help with living expenses, insurance premiums, deductibles, or alternative therapies, treatment and prescriptions not covered by existing insurance.
Q: Who gets support from Sweet Relief?
A: Musicians must clearly show that they have spent at least three years actively pursuing a musical career. Applicants must be in financial need and have a diagnosis of a serious medical condition. We also help elderly musicians, regardless of medical condition, who are having trouble making ends meet. Sweet Relief's grant committee is composed solely of musicians, who understand the health and financial sacrifices artists have to make in order to survive as artists. The committee carefully reviews each request and makes decisions based on the applicant's contribution to music, the factors that have contributed to financial need, the seriousness of the musician's medical condition, and other resources the musician might have. For more information about applying for a grant, click here.
Q: Is Sweet Relief looking to permanently solve the problem of insufficient healthcare for artists? If the recording industry provided health insurance for artists, would we need you?
A: Musicians are a diffuse group of people with varied interests - - local club performers; artists who work in genres not frequently recorded or who have a limited following; people whose work is critically well regarded but who don't sell many records; musicians who have had a moment of fame, and continue to work, but are not rewarded financially and, of course, big ticket stars. Most of the people we help fall outside the purview of the recording industry, and would not be aided by an "industry-wide health plan" nor do they qualify for union or guild insurance. We believe the only effective solution, that helps everyone, is the passage of a universal healthcare law. Since Sweet Relief is not a political lobbying organization. It is our immediate goal to motivate music lovers and the music industry to help our own. Even if there were universal healthcare, however, Sweet Relief would still be needed to help musicians pay for living expenses, alternative health options, or other needs outside of insurance, and we hope to continue this service for decades to come.
Q: How can I help?
A: There are many ways you can help Sweet Relief. You can feel confident that your tax-deductible donation of any size will make a huge difference to a worthy artist. See DONATE NOW on the left side of this page mid way down. Sweet Relief also receives funds from benefit concerts independently produced and staged in cities across the country. Please contact us beforehand. In addition, we've received contributions from sales of merchandise and support from musicians who place our logo and contact information on their albums. If you have a web site, a myspace page, a zine or publication, or a radio program, mention Sweet Relief. Put a jar on your bar. If you are interested in coordinating a benefit for Sweet Relief, making a donation, spreading the word, or have an entirely new scheme in mind, please send an email or call us at 888-955-7880.