My favorite kind of show is where I can take my life and use it to inspire and entertain someone else as well as make a small difference in a community. Hopefully Gilbert, AZ is a little more inspired and entertained from my performances this week.
This Wednesday I had the pleasure to entertain and inspire several hundred Arizona youth and their families in both a day show and an evening show – the proceeds of which went to the Dempsey Burdick Memorial Foundation (
www.babyheadstones.org) and Coronado Elementery School in Gilbert, AZ. The red carpet was rolled out for me at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts as I played on the very piano that Ronnie Milsap played on just a few days prior. I definitely felt to Ronnie Milsap energy flowing through me as I had a couple near mistake-free shows.
Day Show. Following the mid-day show for the youth, I went out to sign autographs. I was nearly eaten alive by young students who viewed me as some kind of Justin Timberlake with sideburns. Many of the kids informed me that they loved my rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” while other’s begged me to sign their foreheads. Hoping the parents would forgive me (I didn’t sign any foreheads), I went ahead and signed hands, shirts, shoes, books, papers, tickets, arms, and shorts at the show. It felt good to be appreciated and the show organizers commented that during the show “this was the best they’d ever seen those kids behave.” Glad I could have been a catalyst for that.
Night Show. The night show for local families was slightly more serious, with me getting into some of the extremely sad stories of the families we’d helped at the foundation. I did break up the tears, however, with my super-medley rendition of Tiny Dancer, Cheers, Facts of Life, Charles in Charge, Greatest American Hero, and Laverne and Shirley. After the night show I mingled in the foyer with many old friends and new fans, signed autographs, and took photos. Many thanks to all of those that came out, supported, and donated to the foundation – as well as those who bought t-shirts, CDs, and posters – the support was hugely appreciated.
Thank Yous. Big thanks to Jared Platt for his intro and photography (I’ll be posting those next week), Jennifer DeTemple and Shayla Taylor along with Coronado Elementary for being their awesome selfs as the show organizers, Aaron “Chives” Chavez for coming out from Los Angeles to play amazing percussion with me, Senior Cody McCormick for his “Roadiness” and his excellent handling of Merch Sales, and the staff at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts for being so accommodating and easy to work with. It was a great day that I won’t soon forget!!
Photos of the show:
