Happy Halloween From The BackUp Band

Celebrate Halloween early with The BackUp Band Friday, October 28, 2005 at the Greenville Inn, Chagrin Falls.







Larry says:
"Hey; If I knew brooms were this much fun, I would've been a janitor!"

Triumphant Return To Wilbert's

Last night we played downtown at Wilbert's to a crowd of about 15. We have only played the new Wilbert's once previously, and that was probably a couple of years ago. The evening featured Tommy Sharper on guitar.

Being surprised at the last minute booking, I asked owner Mike Miller if he had had a cancellation. He acknowledged that he did and felt that "since there was a Cav's game", he "ought to at least have something" meaning a live band, just in case someone actually showed up post game. I commented, "Yeah, we're definitely something".

I want to thank the friends who did show up, who are too few to mention by name (they made up about 50% of the audience.) Thanks also go out to Barry Weinberg for a great job running sound and Craig Clasen for rejoining the band for a night and playing great bass.

Check us out Friday October 28th for Halloween weekend. You never know what The BackUp Band will come dressed as. Usually, you don't want to know.













BackUp Band at Greenville Inn Halloween 2004

Saxophonist Michael Brecker In Need of Help

Get Tested to Save a Life! Help saxophonist Michael Brecker and countless others with life-threatening illnesses—get tested to donate bone marrow

Saxophonist Michael Brecker has been diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) and it's critical that he has a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. The initial search for a donor, including Michael’s siblings and children, has not resulted in a suitable match. In tribute to Michael, M-Audio will pay for the testing of as many people as possible at any National Marrow Donor Program center. Please read on for more information and specific details about getting tested.

You will be signing up to save the life of anyone needing a transplant due to leukemia, lymphoma, MDS, sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia and more.

Important Information About This process: Screening involves only a blood test to identify your tissue type—which is completely different than blood type. It’s easy to get screened at any donor center of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The cost for the test is generally $40 to $95, but the fee will be waived if you tell the center you are getting tested in connection with M-Audio. (Please note that testing is already free for minority groups). A match for Michael would be most likely come from those of Eastern European Jewish descent. If you or anyone you know are so affiliated, please make a special effort to get tested immediately. After the initial testing, all medical expenses will be paid for by the patient (Michael) or the patient’s insurance.

Go to www.marrow.org or call 1-800-MARROW-2 to find the donor center nearest you. If it’s difficult to make it to a blood center, private kits are available from Tepnel Life Codes (800-915-3695). Order the “HLA (A)(B)(DR)” kit for $140. You will need to have a small vial of blood drawn. Be sure to indicate to Tepnel that your test is for “Michael Brecker.”Should you be selected as a potential donor for Michael or any other patient, please understand that there have been tremendous advances in "bone marrow transplants" and the term itself can be misleading. In almost all instances, blood stem cells can be harvested directly from your blood at major cancer centers.

As a donor, you would simply be connected to a machine that extracts the needed cells before your blood reenters your system. On occasion, such cells may have to be harvested directly from your hip. You may experience a bit of tenderness for a few days—a small price to pay for saving a life.As a volunteer donor, you are never legally obligated to donate. However, a late decision not to donate can be life threatening to a patient, and among the most disheartening news a family can ever receive. Please carefully consider your decision to be a donor for Michael and all others in need.

If you have any questions, please read through the FAQs About Stem Cell Transplants.

If you have additional questions after reading the FAQs, please contact Michael's management office at (212) 302-9200 or info@michaelbrecker.com, or visit one of the sites below.

To order a private HLA kit:http://www.bonemarrowtest.com/getting_tested/pricing_kit_ordering/index.asp

For further information on whether you qualify as a donor:http://www.marrow.org/HELP/marrow_eligibility_guidelines.html

For learning where to get tested at a National Marrow Donor Program blood center:http://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/map.pl?ctr_typ=DC

If you’re Asian American:http://www.aadp.org or http://www.asianmarrow.org

If you’re African American:http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/bone_marrow.html

If you’re Jewish:http://www.giftoflife.org

If you’re Latino or Hispanic:http://www.icla.org