Pat Dailey’s “River of Stars” is not a Christmas song, yet it lends its title to this year’s collection of local holiday music benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The “star” connection is obvious. Make-A-Wish uses a bright blue star as its logo. Toledo Free Press uses a star in its masthead (a tribute to the owner’s connections to Texas). With two CDs containing 44 tracks, the river of local music stars is well represented. And the star is a shining symbol for the wish kids and families that benefit from the organization’s great work.

The song’s connection to Christmas is not as obvious.

This is the second year for the “Holiday Wishes” project and the second year Dailey and his manager Tom Brady have generously contributed a track. Last year’s Dailey song, “Here Comes The Cold,” was a natural fit. Another of his few winter-themed tracks, “Here In The North,” is one I hope to include next year. When I heard “River of Stars,” from Dailey’s “Squeaky Clean” collection, it immediately struck me as a perfect choice to set the tone for this year’s collection.

It begins with a light, sparkling twinkle of sounds that segue into gentle guitar. The first words Dailey sings may not have been written to evoke Christmas, but they certainly serve as a grand place to begin this year’s musical journey through the holidays: “I remember a night, so long ago/under a river of stars,” Dailey sings, with all the confidence of a master storyteller. And while Dailey may have envisioned Put-in-Bay harbor when he wrote the lyrics, they could just as easily describe a special night in the Bethlehem sky.

The song seems to be about an earthly relationship, but it culminates in imagery that clearly paints a picture of faith: “And so I row, row, row my boat once more/Until I find you waiting on a distant shore/With outstretched arms and upturned hands/You lead me into the harbor and back to the sand.”

It is a spiritual image of hope and comfort that captures the feeling of Christmas without needing a single direct word.

Musical treasures

There are many surprises and musical treasures on this year’s CDs. Jon Hendricks contributes an original song, “The Gift,” that sounds as if it could be found on a Frank Sinatra holiday CD. Listening to the track for the first time with Dave Mariasy at Audio Matrix Recording Studio was transporting. Music is mostly listened to through tiny earbuds, computer speakers or car stereos. To listen to Hendricks and a single piano through Mariasy’s high-tech studio speakers was akin to hearing music for the first time. It was a revelation. Hendricks’ voice simultaneously weaves tensile strength with an aching fragility.

A new tradition

For Christmas 2011, Toledo Free Press produced “Holiday Wishes,” a CD of holiday songs performed by Northwest Ohio musicians. The CD was a 25-track compilation and raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish. It was underwritten by Toledo Transmission and UAW Local 14, so every dollar raised, through sales at Panera Bread locations, went directly to Make-A-Wish.

Although Toledo Free Press had produced two previous CDs, one collecting historical recordings and one from a Toledo songwriting contest, neither approached the scale or complexity of “Holiday Wishes.”

The 2011 CD included contributions from such Northwest Ohio stalwarts as Dailey, Jamie Farr, Mannheim Steamroller, Sheri LaFontaine, Candice Coleman, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Bowersox and Alyson Stoner. It also featured new recordings from Kerry Patrick Clark, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Ramona Collins, TAPESTRY, Chrys Peterson and Hepcat Revival, Voodoo Libido, Mighty Wyte and Jameil Aossey, among several others.

With tremendous media support from FOX Toledo, WPOS, 101.5 The River and many of our media friends, the CD sold out and even before 2012 started, we were thinking about a second volume.

Rather than start in late July, as we did in 2011, the 2012 compilation process started in January. Lexi Staples gave us a copy of a track her father, the late radio personality Dennis Staples, recorded of Dr. Seuss’ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” That required tracking down permission from Random House Publishing, Warner Bros. Studios and the estate of Dr. Seuss. With all those rights now granted, it is a great honor to include that track on this year’s CD.

Another late performer is remembered as the Johnny Knorr Orchestra, led by Johnny’s son, Jerry, plays “Auld Lang Syne” for the 2012 CD. Johnny died in August 2011.

LaFontaine has allowed us to include “Toledo, My Hometown” on this year’s collection. It is a contribution that raises the bar for all the participating artists. “Toledo My Hometown” is a seasonal staple on The River, and it is an honor to have it on this year’s CD. The tune has added poignancy as we wish LaFontaine well in her new city of Nashville, Tenn.

There are several artists returning from last year. Stewart and White perform a revelatory version of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” The great Chip Davis allowed us to use Mannheim Steamroller’s “Fum Fum Fum.” Coleman did double duty, singing “Santa Baby” with Chris Brown’s band and “Merry Christmas Baby” with Buck69. Peterson and our friends in Hepcat Revival cover Harry Connick Jr.’s “Pray On Christmas.” Voodoo Libido, Skoobie Snaks and The Wanna Bees all contribute rocking tracks. The Polka Floyd Show took “Run Like Hell” from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and created a mashup that has already attracted regional attention.

VH1 favorite Tatiana Owens wrote and recorded a stunning new song, “Winter Holidays,” that could be played alongside any modern classic.

Local media veterans Jerry Anderson, Fred LeFebvre, Mary Beth Zolik and Rick Woodell recorded dynamic readings on par with Farr’s interpretation of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” from last year. We wish Zolik a speedy recovery as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

This year’s CD will include a number of exciting new artists, from young country singers such as Connor Rose to emerging rockers like The Sanderlings.

Not that every wish comes true; a few notable Toledo entertainers did not bother to respond to requests, even with a “no.” The Danny Thomas estate declined permission for a track, and Sony Legacy would not provide gratis rights to a Teresa Brewer track we were hoping to include.

But even with those very few disappointments, we still had so many quality submissions we had to start saving them for 2013. Great tracks by Arctic Clam, Krystal Monique, Mitch Kahl, Tim Ellis, Andrew Z’s Morning Crew and a few others are waiting in the wings.

The MVPs

The best news for the project was the return of three people who are behind the scenes, but integral to the process; indeed, without them it would not have happened last year and would not happen this year. Christopher Stoll, engineer at Audioflare Productions at Zeta Recording Studios, donated studio time and his finely attuned ears to the project. He earned MVP status this year, recording tracks ranging from Irish folk to German choirs. Matt Feher engineered the CDs, ensuring the discs are produced to the highest standards. Larry Meyer navigates the legal and publishing issues to make sure every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted.

Special thank-yous this year go to GM Powertrain Toledo, UAW Local 14, WNWO, 101.5 The River, A&D Glass & Mirror, Levis Commons and Panera Bread. All proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana to benefit children in the 21-county Northwest Ohio region.

Make-A-Wish development officer Ellie McManus is a dream to work with and is a constant inspiration and reminder of Make-A-Wish’s mission. Toledo Free Press Sales Manager BJ Rahn has also been an invaluable help.

I am personally grateful to have strengthened some friendships and made new ones. I may never have met McManus, Clark or E.J. Wells without this project, and my life would be a bit dimmer without their creativity.

Summertime project

The project has also inspired an offshoot. For summer 2013, Toledo Free Press will produce a CD of upbeat summer party songs for the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio to use as a vehicle for summer safety information. If you are a local musician interested in getting your Beach Boys vibe on disc, contact me before we get too far into January.

Thank you again to every musician and person who donated their time and talent to this project. If you would like to see the recipients of your labor, join us at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at The Blarney Event Center for our second annual “Holiday Wishes” benefit concert. There will be food, friends and a lot of smiling faces at the public event.

In the meantime, I am going to start working on convincing Ramona Collins to record “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” for the 2013 collection …

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@

toledofreepress.com.

Tags: 101.5 The River, A&D Glass & Mirror, Alyson Stoner, Audio Matrix Recording Studio, Audioflare Productions, Candice Coleman, Chip Davis, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson, Crystal Bowersox, Danny Thomas, Dave Mariasy, Dennis Staples, Dr. Seuss, E.J. Wells, Ellie McManus, FOX Toledo, Fred LeFebvre, Hepcat Revival, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Jerry Anderson, John Lennon, Jon Hendricks, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Levis Commons, Lexi Staples, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mannheim Steamroller, Mary Beth Zolik, Michael S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Panera Bread, Pat Dailey, Pink Floyd, Polka Floyd Show, Ramona Collins, Rick Woodell, Sheri LaFontaine, Skoobie Snaks, Tapestry, Teresa Brewer, The Grinch, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, The Wanna Bees, Toledo Transmission, Tom Brady, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, WPOS

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 7:39 am and is filed under Featured, Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

The local Make-A-Wish Foundation has more than 90 pending wishes to fulfill, which means it’s time to step up and help this inspirational and invaluable organization. Christmas may be more than 130 days away, but it’s time to start listening to holiday songs that will help the kids depending on Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For Christmas 2011, Toledo Free Press produced “Holiday Wishes,” a CD of holiday songs performed by Northwest Ohio musicians. The CD was a 25-track compilation that raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. It was underwritten by Toledo Transmission and UAW Local 14, so every dollar raised, through sales at Panera Bread locations, went directly to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Although Toledo Free Press had produced two previous CDs, one collecting historical recordings and one from a Toledo songwriting contest, neither approached the scale or complexity of “Holiday Wishes.”

The 2011 CD collected 25 tracks, with contributions from such Northwest Ohio stalwarts as Pat Dailey, Jamie Farr, Mannheim Steamroller, Sheri LaFontaine, Candice Coleman, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Bowersox and Alyson Stoner. It also featured new recordings from Kerry Patrick Clark, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Ramona Collins, TAPESTRY, Chrys Peterson & Hepcat Revival, Voodoo Libido, Mighty Wyte and Jameil Aossey, among several others.

With tremendous media support from the late, lamented FOX Toledo, WPOS, 101.5 The River and many of our media friends, the CD sold out in its Panera Bread locations, and even before 2012 started, we were thinking about a second volume.

Rather than start in late July, as we did last year, the 2012 compilation process started in January. Lexi Staples gave us a copy of a track her father, the late radio personality Dennis Staples, recorded of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” That required tracking down permission from Random House Publishing, Warner Bros. Studios and the estate of Dr. Seuss. With all those rights now granted, it will be a great honor to include that track on this year’s CD.

Pat Dailey has also generously granted use of another track. “River of Stars” is a gorgeous, soaring song that, while not strictly about the holidays, touches on many elements of the season’s most universal themes of spirituality, connection and unbridled hope.

LaFontaine has allowed us to include “Toledo My Hometown” on this year’s collection. It is a contribution that raises the bar for all the participating artists. “Toledo My Hometown” is a seasonal staple on The River, and it is an honor to have it on this year’s Make-A-Wish holiday project.

There are several artists returning from last year, but we’re keeping the collaborations and song choices under wraps until the recordings are complete. I will say that if the plans come together as hoped, we will be able to offer a CD that will raise the bar for future efforts. Suffice it to say that Stewart, White, Coleman, Peterson and our friends in Voodoo Libido and Hepcat Revival are among those talking to us about this year’s CD, and there are some exciting things on the way.

We are also working on a couple of historical surprises; if we do this right, each year’s CD will serve as an archive of Toledo’s musical history, even as it captures year-by-year changes in bands and styles.

This year’s CD will include a number of exciting new artists, from young country singers to veteran rockers. I am honestly not sure how we’re going to contain all this music on a single disc; it’s a wealth of riches.

Not that every wish comes true; we were hoping to include a track from Weezer’s 2008 EP “Christmas With Weezer,” but although bassist and Northwest Ohio native Scott G. Shriner was receptive to the idea, we were turned down by the group’s management.

The best news for the project is the return of three people who are behind the scenes, but are integral to the process; indeed, without them it would not have happened last year and would not happen this year. Chris Stoll, engineer at Zeta Recording, donates studio time and his finely attuned ears to the project. Matt Fehr engineers the CD and ensures the disc is produced to the highest standards of quality. Larry Meyer navigates the legal and publishing issues to make sure every t is crossed and every i is dotted.

My friend Eric Slough is no longer with the local Make-A-Wish chapter, but development officer Ellie McManus is a dream to work with and is a constant inspiration and reminder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission.

To that end, there is always room for more support. If your company is interested in making this year’s CD bigger and better, contact me or McManus at elliem@makeawishohio.org. Our area Make-A-Wish kids try to retain the hope and inspiration of the holiday season every day of the year. It’s a blessing and privilege to be able to contribute to their dreams and at the same time spread the joy of the holiday season.

It may be the heat of August, but if you pass my car in Toledo and hear Christmas songs, you’ll know there are scores of people working on a project to benefit some of our region’s most remarkable kids.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: 101.5 The River, Alyson Stoner, at Dailey, Candice Coleman, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson & Hepcat Revival, Crystal Bowersox, Danny Thomas, Dennis Staples, Dr. Seuss, Ellie McManus, FOX Toledo, Holiday Wishes, Holiday Wishes II, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Larry Meyer, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mannheim Steamroller, Matt Fehr, Micheal S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Panera Bread, Ramona Collins, Random House Publishing, Scott G. Shriner, Scott Shriner, Sheri LaFontaine, Tapestry, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Free Press, Toledo Transmission, Tony Thomas, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, Warner Bros. Studios, Weezer, WPOS, Zeta Recording

This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Performing one of the most popular duets of the holidays, Chris Brown and Candice Coleman collaborated to record “Baby It’s Cold Outside” for the “Holiday Wishes” album for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Chris Brown and Candice Coleman

Brown, who has played the past 33 years around Toledo, has been partnering for the last three years with Coleman, a former “American Idol” contestant, for shows around the city.

“It’s been fabulous; she is a breath of fresh air,” Brown said. “I have played with so many people around town. When I play with her, everyone has to stop what they are doing and turn around and listen. She has energy and there is just something about her voice that just catches everybody. I’ve played with a lot of people around town as duos but there is something special about her.”

In 2003, Coleman reached the Top 32 during the second season of “American Idol” before she was eliminated. Brown teaches at the University of Toledo and works locally as a commercial rep.

“I never thought twice about doing it [for Make-A-Wish],” Brown said. “When [Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller] asked me, I said yes. I knew Candice was very involved with a lot of charity things so I knew she would be all for it too. She and I play all over and I thought it would be nice to do together. It was fun.”

Tags: American Idol, Candice Coleman, Chris Brown, Holiday Wishes, Make-A-Wish

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Make-A-Wish.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Since early August, I have been listening to holiday music. Not because my Microsoft Entourage calendar is ahead of itself; I have been working with scores of local artists to compile a CD to a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jamie Farr, Alyson Stoner, Crystal Bowersox, Mannheim Steamroller, Pat Dailey and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra are a few of the contributors who have donated their talents to the CD, titled “Holiday Wishes: NW Ohio Artists Unite for Make-A-Wish.”

I have been thinking about producing a holiday CD of local artists for a couple of years, but had not seriously pursued it until late this summer, during a meeting with Eric Slough, executive director of Make-A-Wish’s Northwest Ohio Region. Slough mentioned his organization’s annual fundraiser, coffee mugs featuring art by a local Make-A-Wish child that are distributed in Panera Bread locations. As we were talking, the proverbial light bulb went off in my head and I pitched the notion of compiling a CD that would feature local artists; the art normally wrapped on a mug could be used for the front cover. Slough pitched the idea to Development Officer Ellie McManus and their board of directors; we met with Panera Bread; and in early September, we received a green light.

While I contacted artists and matched them with songs, Slough secured funding for the project from General Motors/UAW Local 14, ensuring there would be no costs charged to Make-A-Wish (and that 100 percent of the $9.99 retail price of the CD will go to Make-A-Wish).

My wife Shannon has long worked with Make-A-Wish, and I have seen firsthand the literal miracles the organization is capable of. Raising two blessedly healthy boys adds to my appreciation for the Make-A-Wish mission. That standard meant I would not compromise on the quality of the CD, and I set my sights on the stars.

Then, the first three artists I contacted turned me down. That initially shook my confidence and had me doubting I could make the CD a reality.

But immediately, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Kerry Patrick Clark and Ramona Collins all jumped in with great enthusiasm, and we’ve never looked back.

I have faced very few projects with such enthusiasm — and such ignorance. I had no idea just what I was asking of the musicians, producers and engineers, in terms of time and effort. There will be another time for a more thorough thank-you list, but it is important to note that without Christopher Stoll of Zeta Recording Studio, David Mariasy of Audio Matrix Recording Studio, producer Mighty Wyte and attorney Larry Meyer, who guided us through the licensing maze, this never would have become reality.

There will be two dozen tracks on the CD, ranging from a harp solo by Nancy Lendrim to a Stones-y blast through Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” by Voodoo Libido. Dave Gierke of Toledo School for the Arts helped secure Tower Brass, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and Crystal Bowersox. Many of our media friends — 13abc’s Lee Conklin, K100’s Harvey Steele, Clear Channel “Voice of the Rockets” Mark Beier and FOXToledo’s Laura Emerson & Shaun Hegarty — stepped up and contributed vocals to spoken word tracks. Chrys Peterson of WTOL 11 brought Graceland to Zeta Recording with Hepcat Revival and channeled Elvis on a blistering version of “Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me.”

I will not give away all the surprises on the CD, but mixed with classics recorded by Tapestry, Sheri LaFontaine, Kate Jordan, Chris Brown and Candice Coleman, and a chorus from the Toledo Museum of Art are original, newly recorded works by Reedius Maximus, Clark, Jameil Aossey and Charles Lane, and Rugby.

I was humbled by the lengths the artists went to. The Toledo Symphony Orchestra recorded “Sleigh Ride” during a September concert in Findlay, and captured a playful, majestic performance that redefines the song. Farr went into Marc Graue Voice Over Studios in Burbank, Calif., and performed a lively “Visit from Saint Nicholas” that will be cherished by many generations of Toledoans. Dailey and Sylvania native Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim Steamroller, generously and speedily donated tracks to the cause. Jeff Stewart recorded a Johnny Cash-inspired version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” then unselfishly opened the track to a singing chorus of local Make-A-Wish kids.

There will be a number of ways to purchase the CD. Regional Panera Bread stores will sell the album, starting around Thanksgiving. There will be a public kick-off concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at The Blarney Bullpen; those CDs will be signed by some of the artists, and special packages donated by Alyson Stoner will be available. If your company is interested in buying bulk copies as a corporate gift, please contact Eric Slough at EricS@makeawishohio.org.

The Thanksgiving issue of Toledo Free Press will contain a complete guide to the CD, with behind-the-scenes stories and photos from several of the recording sessions.

Since early August, I have been listening to holiday and Christmas music. People are asking me if I am sick and tired of hearing these holiday songs.

The answer is an emphatic no. I love every one of these songs, what they represent, and the kids who will be helped by them. I’m already thinking about 2012. I can’t believe no one asked about “White Christmas” this year, and I know exactly who I am going to ask to record it for next year …

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Alyson Stoner, Audio Matrix Recording Studio, Blarney Bullpen, Candice Coleman, Charles Lane, Chip Davis, Chris Brown, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson, Chuck Berry, Crystal Bowersox, David Gierke, David Mariasy, Eric Slough, General Motors, Harvey Steele, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Johnny Cash, Kate Jordan, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Larry Meyer, Laura Emerson, Lee Conklin, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish, Mannheim Steamroller, Marc Graue, Mark Beier, Michael S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Nancy Lendrim, Panera Bread, Pat Dailey, Ramona Collins, Reedius Maximus, rugby, Shaun Hegarty, Sheri LaFontaine, Tapestry, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Tower Brass, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, Zeta Recording

This entry was posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Pat Lewandowski has served organization for the unhoused since 1990.

Toledo blues guitarist Pat Lewandowski is increasing his involvement with 1Matters with a performance Oct. 14 in the “Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party.”

His love for the blues began in 1967 when he first heard the album “Raw Blues.”

“It was all people out in Great Britain like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, back when they all used to play the blues still, and John Mayall,” Lewandowski said. “I heard that and I really liked it. The stuff knocked me out the first day I heard it. I started looking at the credits on the record label. I started going back and looking for records from those guys. Everybody in my neighborhood played Beatles music, so if you wanted to play with cats in the neighborhood you had to play The Beatles. I shied away from that as much as possible. I wanted to play loud and played blues all through high school.”

Lewandowski has spent much of his career bouncing between bands and performing solo, but in the ’70s and ’80s he played with his brother for a few years in the Snooz Blues Band.

Pat Lewandowski

“We had a ball,” Lewandowski said. “My brother Jake played stand-up bass and Don Hayward played guitar and harmonica with us. We did that for quite some time. We used to play at the old Soup Kitchen Saloon in Detroit. We played together six or seven years. It was just fun. It was guys I liked whose musicianship I admired. That was basically it. We’d just show up, drink beer, flirt with girls and play the blues.”

The highest-profile performance for the Snooz Blues Band came in 1980 when it played at the Republican National Convention in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.

“We didn’t really fit in, as you might suspect,” Lewandowski said. “Never having been a registered Republican, I had some things to say from the stage that probably were not well-received. It was fun. As people do at conventions, they were drinking heavily and carrying on and eventually we pulled them over to our side, musically if not ideologically.”

Lewandowski has also pulled the Black Swamp Blues Society over to his side musically, with six wins in the 14 years of the Black Swamp Battle of the Bands.

“It’s good exposure for the Black Swamp Blues Society, and it’s good for the musicians,” Lewandowski said. “A lot of the musicians have, not a cutthroat attitude, but an attitude of, ‘Hey, you’re poaching my gig.’ To bring them all together and play, have a group of independent judges mostly from out of town to judge people strictly on blues content and talent, it gives everybody a look at themselves that they wouldn’t normally take. You look in the mirror and see a handsome guy. Somebody else doesn’t see you as quite so handsome. It’s good for the blues society and LaVonne Kujawa. She’s been the president for the last few years. She just works her ass off for it. She does a great job.”

The winner of the Black Swamp Battle of the Bands advances to represent Toledo in the International Blues Talent Competition in Memphis, Tenn.

“Going to Memphis is always fun,” Lewandowski said. “I’ve never won in Memphis, but it’s a paid vacation basically. It’s kind of hard to go wrong. I don’t do the networking and stuff like that. I’m not really concerned about my future as a money-making musician. Hell, I’m 58-years-old. I just go down there and have some fun and play what I like. I’ve gone down there and played all original music. I’ve gone down there and done slide work. It’s whatever pops into my head at any given moment. I always tell people, ‘I’m driving the bus. You can get on it, fine. If you don’t want to get on it, that’s OK, too.’”

Plenty of people have been getting on the bus including the Toledo Rock Rhythm and Blues Festival, which honored Lewandowski with the Little Walter Mitchell Award in 2000.

“That was truly special,” Lewandowski said. “I met Walter years ago down at the old Peacock Café. I was sitting in with The Griswolds, and I was not doing well with them. They had their own idiosyncratic way of counting measures. I was getting pretty frustrated. Walter came up and said, ‘Why don’t you just back me up?’ I did. He was a delightful little guy. He made me feel a whole lot better about my playing. To have the award named after him is an honor in itself because he was sweet. He said, ‘Come on, let’s go to South Carolina and make $10 a night.’ I was like, ‘Sure, let’s go.’ It was very nice of the people who give out that award to consider me for it, let alone give it to me. I guess it mostly shows I’ve just been around a long time and I’m not going away.”

Lewandowski is also not going away from 1Matters. He has served as the musical director for Tent City since 1990.

“I’ve been involved with them a long time,” Lewandowski said. “It’s something that I wish we didn’t have to do. I keep telling [1Matters founder Ken Leslie] every year, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to do Tent City again?’ It’s a grassroots organization. You certainly can’t count on the government assistance for the people who need it. It’s up to us to take care of each other and that’s what 1Matters does. That’s why I admire them.”

“Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party” is Oct. 14 at The Blarney Bullpen from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $5. The Blarney Bullpen is located at 601 Monroe St.

Musician Candice Coleman: ‘1Matters is an amazing organization.’

Candice Coleman has made a point of helping others with her music since leaving the second season of “American Idol” in 2003. In addition to her involvement with the 1Matters event Tent City, Coleman is performing Oct. 14 in the “Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party.”

“1Matters is an amazing organization,” Coleman said. “The thing about them that is really awesome is they are actually out there walking the walk. They aren’t just talking the talk. Everything is volunteer. Anything that comes in goes to the actual program. It’s not like they are paying people and nobody is pulling any money. Not too many nonprofits do that. They are truly a nonprofit.”

Candice Coleman

Coleman auditioned in Detroit for the second season of “American Idol” after her friend Brookelynn Meyers talked her into going. The Start High School graduate advanced with her performance of “At Last” by Etta James and made it to the top 32.

“It was very stressful and also very fun,” Coleman said. “It’s a unique experience. You get to know who you’re competing with. You build relationships and come to like them a lot because you are spending every waking moment with them.”

After leaving “American Idol,” Coleman returned home to her son and continued writing songs and playing music.

“I play on average two or three times a week at local places with Chris Brown,” Coleman said. “I’m also in a blues band here in town called Buck69. I do stuff at Tent City every year, usually playing on Friday or Saturday night. I lead my praise band at church. Incidentally, we also do the worship service on Sunday at Tent City every year.”

Buck69 is a seven-piece blues rock band formed by the father and son duo of Tom and Alex Clawson. Coleman has been friends with the Clawson family since she was 15 years old. In 2008, the band’s album “When She Whispers Your Name” was a Grammy finalist in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category. The band was also a nominee for the Texas Roots Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 2008.

Coleman is playing Oct. 14 with local musician Chris Brown. They will play what she described as an “eclectic mix” of blues, classic rock, New Orleans music and ballads, and the performance will be mostly cover songs.

“Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party” is Oct. 14 at The Blarney Bullpen from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $5. The Blarney Bullpen is located at 601 Monroe St.

“The thing that’s really cool about having the gift of music is there is so much you can do with it to help people,” Coleman said. “You don’t realize how impactful and how important it is until you see people get lost in it and sing along with it. Music really does encourage people, lifts people up and brings them to a better place, at least for the time being. That’s the most powerful thing about it.”

Tags: 1Matters, Blarney Bullpen, Candice Coleman, Ken Leslie, Pat Lewandowski, Tent City, Toledo Streets

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 at 9:22 am and is filed under Fundraiser, Star.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.