It may take a village to raise a child but for the millions of victims whose lives were ravaged by Hurricane Sandy last October, it’s going to take a whole lot more to put back the pieces of many lives that were interrupted by Mother Nature's work. Last night, the soldiers of rock and roll took to the stage for the Rockers In Recovery Hurricane Sandy Relief Benefit at The Cutting Room in New York City to show their support.
The night was hosted by DJ Ken Dashow (Q104.3) and Lynn Hoffman (A&E Private Sessions). Among those who performed were Ian Hunter, Gary US Bonds, Simon Kirke (Bad Company), Michael Des Barres (Silverhead, The Power Station), Billy J. Kramer, Lala Brooks (The Crystals), Handsome Dick Manitoba (Manitoba, Little Steven’s Underground Garage), Gene Cornish (The Rascals), Peppy Castro (Blues Magoos), Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter Rant Band, Garland Jeffries), Ross the Boss (The Dictators ), Joe Hurley and The Rockers In Recovery All Star Band, Ricky Byrd, (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel Band), Richie Supa (Aerosmith), Kasim Sulton (Blue Oyster Cult), Christine Ohlman (SNL Band) and Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge).
The four hour jam session brought the masses out of their chairs and onto their feet to the refrains of Lala Brooks vivacious rendition of "Beast of Burden", with Ricky Byrd and Richie Supa on guitar, Michael Des Barres electrical delivery of "Bang A Gong", with the lyrically divine Reagan Richards singing backup vocals, Ricky Byrd and Mark Bosch on guitars, and "Take Me To The River" performed by the Rockers In Recovery All Star Band just to name a few of the time-honored songs that rocked the night.
Sewn by the fruits of Ricky Byrd and his wife Carol’s labors, 100% of this event's proceeds, including ticket sales, Rockers In Recovery merchandise, and auctioned autographed guitars donated by Andrew Kowalczyk and signed by Carlos Santana, AC/DC, Chuck Berry, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers, were donated to The Graybeards, West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, and The Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department.
Sandy’s wrath may have demolished our coasts, halted our transportation and even robbed us of our loved ones, but the one thing it will not do is diminish our convictions to rebuild our shelters twice as strong and carry on with our lives.
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