[UPDATE: Those who can’t attend can send money to Charmaine Neville via PayPal to this address: [email protected]]
Recently, there was news of Sheryl Crow failing to recall the lyrics to her hit songs, which led doctors to the discovery of a benign brain tumor, but there’s a similar story surfacing that hits much closer to home.
Charmaine Neville at Jazz Fest. Photo by Sooz White.
After singer Charmaine Neville started forgetting who her musicians were, how to dance, and lyrics to songs she had been singing since childhood, while growing weaker each day and losing weight, doctors found that she had been suffering from CADASIL syndrome, which is the most common form of hereditary stroke disorder. The disease progressively gets worse and there is no specific form of treatment; however, doctors are confident Neville’s condition can be controlled. Since diagnosis, she has kicked her habit of smoking, and must undergo forty treatments of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to regenerate blood vessels in the brain.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw-TL9So5FM[/youtube]
Neville has gradually started to feel somewhat like her old self, though she’s been unable to fully support herself since the onset of her illness, and the New Orleans community is coming together for a benefit concert on Sunday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Westwego Farmer’s Market in order to raise funds for her treatments. Among the growing lineup of artists performing are: Dr. John, Marcia Ball, George Porter, the Young Nevilles, and Kermit Ruffins. Traditional New Orleans food and beverages will be sold. Tickets are $10 for purchase at the show entrance. All of the proceeds from the concert, food, and partial beverage sales will go to the benefit of Charmaine Neville.
Here’s the full lineup so far:
MC: P.E. Gilligan
Dr. John
Marcia Ball
The Young Nevilles, with Damion, Ivan, Cyril, and Athelgra Neville
Don Neville
George Porter, Jr.
J.D. Hill Jammers
Kermit Ruffins
Al “Carnival Time” Johnson
Kim Carson
Jo-El Sonnier, backed by the Treater Band
P.E. Gilligan, backed by the Treater Band
Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr.
Davell Crawford
Deacon John Moore
Jean Knight
Guitar Lightnin’ Lee
Donald “Lit’l La-La” Morgan
Smokey Greenwell & James Andrews
The Southern Groove Band featuring Ronnie Boudreaux, Richard Banquer, Duane Schurb, Will Cooper, T.J. Dewey, and Jules Albarada
Cool Breeze featuring Al Bemiss, Michael Pierce, and Michael Harris
Danny Alexander
Duane Schurb, Aaron Foret, and Skeeter Thomassie
