Hello to all and happy holiday of your choice! Below is some sad news, but also an opportunity for us to help a friend:
From: Dannythedoyler AT cs DOT com
Dear Friends,
Here I come again putting on the “poor mouth,” as they say. It is not for myself but on behalf of the extraordinary Scottish songwriter Andy M. Stewart.
For some years now Andy has had serious back problems which in recent months have grown worse which necessitated the cancellation of his Oct – Nov ’05 USA tour. This was a grave financial blow, as you can well imagine. I do not know the full extent of his illness and Andy is not the kind to lay his troubles on other people.
I understand he will have a serious operation that will leave him incapacitated for some time. In the meantime he essentially has no job and no income. I need your help.
We all of us, or most of us, sing some of Andy’s marvelous songs. Could we between us put our minds together and see if we can come up with an idea or ideas to raise some funds for him.
I have already received a most generous donation on his behalf. Danny O’Flaherty, who recently lost his pub in New Orleans, and who is himself in straitened circumstances, has donated $2,500.00 from the O’Flaherty Rescue Fund I organized here in DC. I am adding $500.00 to it and a bank cheque for $3,000.00 will be on its way to Scotland on Monday morning, to brighten Andy’s Christmas.
We all know intimately what a precarious, unsteady, hand-to-mouth profession we practice and how difficult it can be to just get by. Andy is now going to have a very hard time simply getting by which is why I am writing in the hope that we can rally round and help a wonderful talent who has given us such great songs to sing.
I would be gratefull if you would please forward this appeal to all your fellow folk musicians and any of your audience that might be sympathetic.
Please make any cheques payable to: Andy M. Stewart and send them to me at 10836 Moore Drive, Manassas, VA 20111, or if you wish you could send them directly to Andy. Let me know and I’ll forward his address.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas, lets get together and make Andy’s a warm one. By the way, he is not a great man at the e-mail but it would be nice if you sent him an encouraging message: andymmusic AT aol DOT com
Have a great Christmas and many of them,
Slainte, Danny Doyle.
PS. What would you think of putting together a CD of Andy’s songs sung by others, including ourselves. Each artist contributing a track would buy say 50 copies to sell at their gigs with the monies going to Andy. If you think this would work please let me know what Andy M. Stewart songs you have recorded and I’ll look over the titles and we’ll get the ball rolling.