The idea behind Blues For A Cure was born during a phone call with my friend Dr. Paul McCarthy, owner of Honeybee Records. We discussed the notion that Blues music can effect positive change in the world. We then discussed how to support that notion by raising money for a charity, paying the artists a reasonable wage, and presenting an awesome showcase of live Blues worthy of festival designation. At the time, my mother was undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. My younger sister and stepmother are cancer survivors and my piano player, John Popovich, is in remission. The charity was clear.
I spoke with Lori Popovich, of The American Cancer Society, and got the official go-ahead to move forward with this concept. Soon after, I met Blues enthusiast and Mediu CEO Mike Berichon, who lost his sister to cancer the year prior. Mike loved the idea and wanted to be a part of it. In the summer, Mike and I met with Tracy Moran and Steve Chaykowski at The OSU James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute. They embraced the idea and educated us about the different ways we could donate.
Around this same time, I met Mark Puskarich, of A Christmas To Cure Cancer, through mutual friend and musician Brian Duress. I learned that Mark and I shared a personal motivation to raise money for cancer research. He had been doing so successfully for several years through his amazing work producing and selling CDs, promoting live music events, and donating 100% of the proceeds to cancer research through A Christmas To Cure Cancer. Mark dedicated his time and resources to our new idea, and Blues For A Cure was born.
-Sean Carney
We were so excited to be a part of this year's Blues for a Cure festival and recording session in Cadiz, Ohio. We drove all the way up there to take some photos, sell some copies of "Blues on Beale Street" and hang out with some awesome musicians! 15% of all of the "Blues on Beale Street" sales that day was donated to the Blues for a Cure foundation. You can still order your book and select "Blues for a Cure" as a benefitting organization in the dBlues store!
Check out some of our favorite shots below from the two days in Ohio, taken by Jenn Ocken.
