Living a Life with Spirit

I'm very excited to tell you about two charity projects, both produced by my band Deeper Blues: OPERATION: DEEPER BLUES and Foodstock Charities. First the what, then the why.


The purpose of OPERATION: DEEPER BLUES is to show our support for and appreciation of our Armed Forces serving in combat zones. To us, it isn't about whether or not you support the war - or any war for that matter - it's about offering a small bit of thanks for those who serve in our military and under the most dangerous of circumstances.

From now on, for every Dig the Hole CD Deeper Blues sells, we will donate a FREE copy to OPERATION: DEEPER BLUES for distribution to servicemen and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones. In addition, we are accepting donations to pay for even more CDs. Ever dollar donated buys another CD!

Every Dollar


Buys a CD!

Click on the button above to donate through our PayPal account, using your credit card or PayPal account. Every dollar buys another CD for our troops - Deeper Blues takes nothing, and also contributes one CD for every CD sold. We're even paying shipping out of our own pockets!

Foodstock Charities grew out of Danville Foodstock. It all started as a way for the band to commemorate the release of Dig the Hole, our first CD. We wanted to do something special, and worthwhile... something more than a "CD Release Party". We looked around our community and saw that there was a great need at Danville Area Food Pantry.

The pantry serves thousands of people every year, people who are unable to feed themselves and their children. Many have suffered layoffs in are factories or other businesses as the economy has worsened. Others are senior citizens on a fixed income. Of these, many have taken grown children, even grandchildren, back into their homes - again due to job loss or other economic setback.

In less than five weeks, the band produced a benefit concert that raised $5000 in food and donations. (For more info, see Danville Foodstock.) We also caught the community's attention. So much so, in fact, that we were immediately asked to mount another, even larger, event in the fall. The Danville Foodstock Fall Festival will take place at Lincoln Park, Saturday, October 11th, 2008. Nine hours (or more) of fun, food and music. All to raise funds for the food pantry.

Now, truth be told, we though it would take several years to build our event to the point that we'd be able to move it to Lincoln Park, which is the largest park in the city limits. (Ellsworth is larger, I think, but Lincoln will hold ten thousand people, so we're not worried.) Just achieving that milestone in less than a year is quite a feat! But it gets better! You see, Foodstock is going national!

Friends around the country heard about what we were doing. And some began to take notice. Now, groups in Sacramento, CA, and Nashville, TN are working to mount their own Foodstock events. I can't tell you how pleased I am... and how honored!

To keep up, we've created a new web site: Foodstock Charities. This will be the national rallying point for all Foodstock events. Soon, we will also accept donations at this national level for those who would like to spread their giving to the most neediest areas in which we work.

The wonderful thing about Foodstock - the thing that makes it different from almost every other benefit or charity organization - is that no money is taken off the top! That's right... no expenses, no salaries, nothing! We are proud to say that every penny and every pea donated goes directly to the food programs we support. One hundred percent of your donation goes to the cause!

OK. That's the what. Now, let's talk about the why. The answer is simple: because it's necessary, even required. Every religion and life way that I have studied teaches that charity and compassion for your fellow man (and woman) is a prerequisite to living a life with spirit. Listen to the words of Jesus of Nazareth:

Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me. ~ Matthew 25:40 - New Am. Standard

But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, … you will be repaid. ~ Luke 14: 13,14 - New King James

One of the Five Pillars of Islam is charity. Members of indigenous tribes prove their worth to the community in part by how they serve the neediest members of the village. Here is what Buddha had to say about charity:

The charitable man has found the path of salvation. He is like the man who plants a sapling, securing thereby the shade, the flowers, and the fruit in future years. Even so is the result of charity, even so is the joy of him who helps those that are in need of assistance; even so is the great Nirvana. We reach the immortal path only by continuous acts of kindliness and we perfect our souls by compassion and charity.

Study the teachings of your religion or life way. What does it tell you? I'll give you long odds that it teaches charity for those less fortunate, to show compassion no matter the color of the skin, the religion or the citizenry of others. We are taught to reach across all boundaries and obstacles and to do unto others as we would have done to us. And that's the foundation of why.

But, for us, it goes deeper. When Gary and I first met, we both though we had reached the pinnacle of our respective careers. Sure, we still had more music to play, more songs to sing, but at my age (52 next week), the odds of another chance at something more than regional work seemed rather slim. And while I wouldn't say we were happy with it, we were resigned to it, and grateful for the things we'd already gotten to do.

But it was magic the night we first played together. I've been playing music for 47 years now, 39 on bass... and more than two and a half decades as a professional, with a lot of semi-pro work before that. Gary's a decade younger than me, but still has 25 years as a career musician to his credit. And I've never been a part of anything like this. Gary is - without a doubt - the best, most soulful guitarist I've ever know, much less played with. And the Blues we play is deeper than anything I've ever done before. Once again, I've been blessed by a Gift of Spirit - and Gary feels the same way.

We know we've received an incredible opportunity, and we know from whence it came. And we believe that the best way we can honor that gift, the best way to show how truly grateful we are, is to give something back to the world. It is for that reason, and that reason alone, that Deeper Blues is so committed to its charity work. We believe it's necessary... that it's required of us. And we accept that requirement with open hearts and hands.

I hope you will join us in one - or both! - of our endeavors. We believe that both of them are very important to the vitality of our community. And we believe that, for anyone wishing to live a life of spirit, it is crucial to practice acts of pure charity and compassion.