LEGENDARY ‘LITTLE FEAT’ DRUMMER DIAGNOSED WITH LIVER CANCER

Big-Name Musicians Gather to Raise Funds

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 4^th at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA.

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,

Steve Lukather – Toto, Joe Cocker and many more.

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.

Lightnin’ Willie & The Poor Boys – just returning from a two-month tour of the UK

The Restless Blues Band

The Jeremiah Roiko Band

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

Dallas Hodge and his Band

The Laurie Morvan Band

Big Fish

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.  Band member Paul Barrere has made himself available for interview for this event.  To schedule an interview, please call Les Butts at 818.599.2922 (cell).

 ***Just added***

Los Angeles, CA, October 1, 2009 - We are very pleased to announce that Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Jackson Browne, has been added to the bill as a guest performer for the Richie Hayward benefit show on Sunday October 4, 2009 at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA.

* Source:  National Cancer Institute

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