A Benefit Concert For Paul Cardall

This is a picture of Paul Cardall and his darling wife Lynnette and their cutie pie Eden. He is the musician that is playing all of the instrumental music on my blog. I had his music playing for Gracie 24 hours a day for the last two weeks of her life. It was on when she passed away. That particular CD of primary songs will always be 'Gracie' to me when I hear them. I mentioned him in an earlier post, he has been waiting for heart transplant himself for over 200 days!!

When we knew that Gracie wasn't going to make it, my step-dad Gary told me that he had contacted Paul (without me knowing!) and asked if he would play at Gracie's funeral. He told me that he had said he would love to. I can't really describe the feeling I had when I heard that. It was just too nice, too much to take in. A small light in the middle of the sadness we were feeling at the time. I had not ever met Paul before the funeral. For someone to agree to play at a funeral of a person or family they never met, overwhelmed me. Paul had not played for anyone in public for over a year because of his health issues and he was going to come play for our Gracie. I was more than humbled.

He played 'I Am A Child Of God' and I was overcome with emotion. That song IS our girl. I felt like she was there with us. It was such a beautiful, perfect, addition to her service. He also played the music as we were walking out of the church with Gracie's casket. I told Tom that I didn't want to leave! I wanted to stay and listen to him play.

So, that brings me to the other reason for my post. Some of Paul's musician friends are having a benefit concert for him on MONDAY, APRIL 6TH. (By the way, we have been contacted by the director of the benefit concert and they want one of the musicians to sing a song in tribute to Gracie along with a slide show of her!!! Can you believe how thoughtful???) So don't miss it, it should be a great night!

I copied the following from the benefit website:

Kurt Bestor, Peter Breinholt, and Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, along with other talented artists will perform a benefit concert for Cardall on Monday, April 6 at Cottonwood High School. The “Living for Eden Concert,” so named in honor of Cardall’s 3-year-old daughter, will get underway at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will precede the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“It is a rare opportunity to see these three popular artists on a single stage,” said Jeremy Barron of the Baron Group, another friend of Cardall’s who is producing the concert. “I have produced a lot of concerts, some of which have been benefits. Never has a concert hit so closely to home as this benefit concert. Paul has helped a lot of people through his music, benefit events and work with other musicians. I think I can speak for all of us involved when I say that we are honored and excited to help one of our own."

Cardall, who was born 35 years ago with a severe congenital heart defect, has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since last August. He has been limited in his ability to support his family and to meet escalating medical expenses during his prolonged illness. Seeing their friend’s condition, Cardall’s colleagues decided to do what they do best – make music and use their talents to benefit Paul, his wife Lynnette and their daughter Eden.

“Each of us wanted to do something to benefit Paul,” said Peter Breinholt. “Coming together as we are is our way of paying tribute to, as well as helping, one of our own. A hundred percent of the proceeds will go to help Paul with his mounting expenses.”

"I’ve known Paul for many years,” said Ryan Shupe, “and we are honored and excited to help him in his time of need, not to mention we get to share the stage with some other incredible musicians. It’s going to be a great night!"

Tickets for the concert are available online at http://www.livingforeden.com/ beginning Wednesday, March 11th and they can also be purchased at the door the day of the concert. The cost will be $12.00 per person, while those buying groups of five or more tickets can get them at $10.00 each.