This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Benefit Concert for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

OSSINING MUSICIANS "COME TOGETHER" FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS


 


Several local bands have joined together to present a concert to benefit the victims of hurricane Sandy. The concert will be held on Monday, December 3rd at the Ossining High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6 pm. Bands that are set to perform at the benefit are: Grammy Nominated SUNDAD, award-winning songwriter, and captivating vocalist /guitarist, KJ Denhert, Recording Artists Dead Weight Burden, Classic Rock Band Undercover, and Tom Grieve's electrifying band, Road to Ruin. General Admission is $10 and $8 for students K-12.  CD's, T-shirts and merchandise will be available for purchase and for raffle.

Find out what's happening in Ossining-Croton-On-Hudsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


 


For more information, contact Dee Osborn at 609-661-4525  or Ray Arrucci at the Cortlandt School of Performing Arts: 914-522-2454

Find out what's happening in Ossining-Croton-On-Hudsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


 


When Ossining resident Dee Osborn learned of the devastation of hurricane Sandy to her hometown, Monmouth County, NJ, she knew it was time to take action.  Thomas Grieve, her partner, immediately was on board, to help the best way he knows how.....through music.  Osborn's daughter's home in Monmouth had filled with water, and she lost most of her personal belongings from a house that is now uninhabitable.  "I've lost places where my childhood memories were made" explains Dee.  "But my family and friends have lost everything.  I am fortunate that Tommy and his talented friends volunteered to perform and at $10 a ticket we can put on an affordable concert, and everyone will feel like they are helping. In a disaster situation, $10 will feed one person for a day."


 


Tom Grieve thought of different groups of musician friends that he has either played with or had a close rapport with, and invited them to perform at this concert event.  That same night, the couple attended a gig performed by lifelong friend, Ray Arrucci and his band, Undercover. Tom and Dee then asked Ray and his wife, Carol, if they would like to help organize the event and also be part of the performance.  Tom and Ray have known each other since junior high school and have played classic rock together since that time, on and off.  "Ray and I would be looking for the first releases of The Beatles, The Stones, and other new bands of the late 60's together."  This bond between old friends helped them to formulate the idea for "Rock 'N' Roll Relief: Musicians "Come Together" for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Enter another school chum, George Camp, the past District Governor and member of the Ossining Rotary.  


 


George supported the project by offering his expertise and gave the project an avenue to funnel the concert donations.  Money collected through the Rotary will be forwarded within days to 4 or 5 days of the event to individual organizations working on hurricane relief in Long Beach, Breezy Point, Long Island,Bay Harbor, lower Manhattan, Staten Island and the Jersey Shore.   Bradley Morrison, Director of Cultural Arts for the Ossining School District welcomed this fundraiser and made it easy for everything to "Come Together".  Martin McDonald, Cable TV Station Program Director for the Schools, was enthused about lending a hand in professionally recording the concert with his students involved. T-Shirts will be sold to raise additional funds and donated merchandise from local businesses will be raffled. Through The Arrucci's, co-owners of The Cortlandt School of Performing Arts, donations of free music lessons from every teacher in the school will be raffled at 100% profit to the hurricane victims.


 


Carol adds, "This Ossining venture means a lot to all of us at my music studio in Croton. We are your neighbors, and we are joining in the spirit of "musicians helping those in need." "The Mayor of Ossining and good friend, William Hanauer will introduce the show for us" reports Ray Arrucci.  "This community means a lot to all of us- and being strong in a time of need is what Ossining is all about-people helping people."


 


Ossining alumni from these bands include, Thomas Grieve, Ray Arrucci, Frank Kerkapoly, Michael Brown, George Policello, Johnny Eurell, Sr., and Kendall Buchanan who will return to the stage where their first performances were as young budding musicians.


 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Ossining-Croton-On-Hudson