Event aids musicians with health blues.Byline: Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard Paul Biondi makes every show he plays a MEMA event - and the well-known sax man plays a lot of shows. As much as wanting to collect funds for his fledgling Musicians Emergency Medical Association, he wants people to learn about the nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. and its mission. Now, about a year and a half after its inception, Biondi and his association are ready for their biggest benefit to date: the 16th annual Secret House Wine & Blues Festival. "People without insurance, they get it (the MEMA concept) really quick," Biondi said during a recent interview in Eugene. At every opportunity, Biondi talks up the concept, which is to pay bills for musicians or music industry workers if they can't pay because of a medical emergency. MEMA also directs qualified people to other service providers, such as White Bird Clinic or Volunteers in Medicine. That way, the grants can cover such things as the electricity bill, which might not be covered by other social service programs. So don't be surprised if you are approached by a 50-year-old man, sometimes wearing a stylish hat, often with a cherub-like grin and a sparkle in his deep brown eyes Brown Eyes (브라운 아이즈) was a Korean musical duo, specializing in ballads. Although both members have powerful voices, they were initially disregarded because of their physical looks. . Aside from passing proverbial and real hats at shows, MEMA and its mostly musician board have organized a series of smaller events, most recently at Sweet Cheeks Winery. The group's first big event was last August at Secret House, which the venue hosted as an in-kind donation. The group has amassed support from, in Biondi's estimate, 400 volunteers. Many other musicians are as passionate about MEMA as he is. Biondi is the most visible and passionate advocate. The day before his own surgery, he collected money for MEMA at Earl's Juke Joint in Junction City Junction City, city (1990 pop. 20,604), seat of Geary co., NE Kans., at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers; inc. 1859. The rail, trade, and processing center of an agricultural and dairy area, it grew as the supply point for nearby Fort Riley, . Stephanie Detwiler, an accountant working with the group, said the organization has helped a few individuals so far and has about $10,000 in the bank. Harvesting the blues The Secret House event started in 1991 as a harvest party, said winery owner Patti Chappel. It always has been a blues event, and its first community beneficiary was Women- space. For years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time Relief Nursery received part of the festival proceeds. But when Chappel heard about MEMA, she thought it was a perfect fit for her event. "Blues musicians Performers in the blues style range from primitive, one-chord Delta players to big bands to country music to rock and roll to classical music. Early country blues
Biondi will be the first to admit to that. He said it's difficult to have healthy eating habits out on the road, and most of the free meals they get from venues are high in calories and low in nutrition. A session player for many years in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Biondi had health insurance in California through the musicians' union
Biondi said almost none of the musicians living in this state have insurance, and the ones who do have it from other jobs. Prior to starting MEMA, Biondi learned he had prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. , which he was fortunate to have had diagnosed and treated early. He overcame that, but now is dealing with kidney stones Kidney Stones Definition Kidney stones are solid accumulations of material that form in the tubal system of the kidney. Kidney stones cause problems when they block the flow of urine through or out of the kidney. . While his own health and financial crisis motivated him to start the organization, none of the MEMA money goes to Biondi. Before MEMA, Biondi often played other charity events, such as Relay for Life Relay For Life (often shortened to Relay) is a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, and is now held in many other countries. It is an overnight event designed to spread awareness of cancer prevention, treatments and cures, celebrate survivorship and raise money . As Biondi discussed the genesis of MEMA, he stopped to think of all the people who stepped up when he was in trouble. Tears started to come to his eyes, and he put on a pair of aviator sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses . "I'm OK. I'm covered. People I call friends have come forward," he said, choking up. "It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a we stopped doing individual benefits for this musician or that. ... That doesn't end up doing jack in the long term." Biondi and the board's dreams for MEMA are big. They want a celebrity spokesman, such as Bill Clinton (with whom Biondi has played saxophone saxophone, musical instrument invented in the 1840s by Adolphe Sax. Although it uses the single reed of the clarinet family, it has a conical tube and is made of metal. ) or Bono. They want to become a national model until the government gets around to health care reform. They want to give musical instruments and instruction to young peo- ple. "The private sector is such an immense power," he said. "We could take care of so much of (our needs as a society) with just the stuff people throw away." All musicians can benefit Because MEMA is powered by people in the blues community, Biondi wonders if people think the organization is more narrow that it is. He said he wants people to know that it reaches far beyond blues musicians. From hip-hop to polka, all musicians are eligible. Even clerks at record stores or the sales people at instrument shops can apply for a grant, he said. Norma Barton, a former MEMA board member who still volunteers for the cause, said when she learned about the organization she knew it was something worthy of her free time. "We all realized this is something that is urgently needed, not just here, but nationally," said Barton, a real estate agent who herself is uninsured. "What I've been surprised about is how many people in our society don't have health insurance. `Health care in the United States Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. The U.S. spends more on health care, both as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) and on a per-capita basis, than any other nation in the world. Current estimates put U.S. is a sham. You can quote me on this. I think it's ridiculous we don't have universal health care." For musicians, Barton pointed out how quick they are to help other organizations when they have a benefit. "I think they are most deserving," she said. "I don't think people understand how much musicians work for so little money. `They are putting in their heart and soul every day." You can call Serena Markstrom at 338-2371 or e-mail her at smarkstrom@guardnet.com. FESTIVAL PREVIEW Secret House Wine & Blues Festival What: Linda Hornbuckle, Henry Cooper Henry Cooper may refer to:
1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. Blow-off (hosted by Bill Rhoades) and Best of Eugene, including all eight blues "divas," Ben Rice, Dahman Beck Band When: 2 p.m. Saturday Where: Secret House Vineyards, 88324 Vineyard Lane, 2.4 miles west of Veneta on Highway 126 Tickets: $15 advance or $20 day of show Volunteer: Get free admission by donating your time; call 513-1177 Harp players: Register for the Blow-off by 4 p.m.; $5 registration fee. Bring your own harmonicas On the Web: www.memafund.org |
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