Is This Thing Working?

Nov

2

The Final Farewell

Well, after a whirlwind weekend with our Light of Day Canada family and friends, it's time to say thank you to everyone who made The Final Farewell such a great night and a great send-off!

The first Thank You post goes out to our amazing volunteers, Cathy and Justin Stranges, our two stage managers, Jim Stranges and Joe D'Addio, David MacDonald, Ginger Blythin, Jon Hanna, Mary Jane Durksen and Sandi, Laurie Bf and her hubby on the Merch, Evan Rotella for helping with set-up, tear down and other things, Bill Proietti and Nicholas Proietti for the videography and photography, CTConsulting for the excellent sound, and a huge thank you to James Ball who was the reason it all came together as I was bouncing around like a pinball 🙂 You saved my ass, Jim!! I appreciate you all.
 
Thanks to Eric Martin and his awesome staff at Taps Brewhouse for all they did. Sponsoring the bands' drinks, letting us turn the place upside down, and just being great supporters of live music. Thanks.
 
Thanks to Andrew Vergalito from Italian Ice Cream and Gianfranco Loparco from Lupos Little Eataly for supplying dinner for the bands (and to Eric for allowing us to do it in his establishment). Every band member came up to us and told me how great the food was. Appreciate you both over the years.
 
Remember these establishments when you are choosing a place to eat or stop in for a drink. We appreciate you all and your generosity.
 
I want to thank Mike Minervini for inviting me to help him start this whole thing back in August of 2007. I want to thank Mark Matthews and Rick Rose who navigated Mike and me through the first year and helped us build a solid foundation.
 
I want to thank Tony Pallagrosi and Joe D'Urso for being amazing mentors over the years and for trekking up to Niagara for the final show...of this chapter.
 
Thank you to my partners in crime Sam Grosso, Gord Hunter, and Ginette Blais for all of your tireless work and efforts to make LOD Toronto and Kingston amazing successes and memorable evenings!! Also to Greg Campell (London), Peter Elkas (Halifax/Hamilton) and Andrea Rehill who did an incredible job in Hamilton.
 
A huge thank you to Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, and Willie Nile who helped us build Light of Day Canada in the beginning, and to all of the incredible artists who graced our stages over the years. When I think back, I pinch myself when I think that some of my musical heroes kindly played our shows - Steve Forbert, Gary U.S. Bonds, John Cafferty, the legendary Steve Earle, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. Surreal, indeed!
 
And of course, thanks to the amazing line-up from Saturday - JIN the Band, LMT Connection, Stephen Stanley Band, Rick Rose Trio, Evan Rotella Music, Jake Mathison, Joe D'Urso, Danny Gochnour, Dave Rave, and a special thank you to Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son for giving us one of the best ends to a Light of Day Canada show ever. Epic finale!!! Thanks Bobby!
 
There was a lot of love at Taps Brewhouse Saturday night, but that's what happens when you bring, not just incredible bands and artists together, but incredible people together for one purpose. That's what I'll miss the most. "That Feeling" that Light of Day brings...but we'll still be making our annual pilgrimage to Asbury in January to get that feel, the way only Winterfest can bring!!!
 
Every Light of Day Canada begins with us meeting up with some of the bands/performers the night before the show and always ends with a great breakfast before they head back home. One of my favorite parts of the weekend!
 
Sadly, over the years we lost a lot of key Light of Day Canada supporters who have been greatly missed: Don Robillaird, Lou E. DeMartino, Roddy Piper, Betty Sargeson, Robin Morse, Frank Spadafore, and Dave Rotella Sr.. Thank you for being a big part of our shows.
 
Thanks to all of the amazing sponsors over the years including; Wingate Arts Ltd., Edward J Freeland Foundation, YourTV Niagara, Crawford Smith and Swallow, DANIMA Creative Group, and all of the other great local businesses who helped us put on all of your shows. This year's sponsors Rob Greatrix Accounting, Lupos Little Eataly, Italian Ice Cream, Rodeway Inn Fallsview, DANIMA, YourTV, Big Texas, and The Canalside
 
Thank you to the venues who gave us great spaces here in NIagara to create some great memories. Greg Frewin Theatre, Meridian Centre, Scotia Bank Center. Niagara Falls, BIG TEXAS NIAGARA, Yank's Old Niagara Bar & Grill, Chip n' Charlie's Eatery & Bar and the old NFCVI
Auditorium where we held Light of Day Niagara's first show. Thank you also to the venues in Toronto, London, Kingston, and Hamilton.
 
Thanks to the great photographers over the years who helped document our 16 years here in Niagara - Bill Proietti, Lisa MacIntosh, Thomas Weller, John Cavanaugh, Isabella Daddio, Jeff Ross, Stephen Wilde, and Jill Lunn
 
And finally thank you to YOU. All of you who came out, gave of your time, and spent your hard-earned money to support our shows. Without you, there are no shows. But you made it more than a show, you helped us create a community. A community of like-minded individuals who shared a love of music and a desire to help our causes. I thank each and every one of you and I will be forever grateful to you for making this such a fun ride.
 
Though this chapter is closing, I'm certain someone will come along and create an even bigger and better Light of Day Canada. For now, I'll revel in the amazing memories we all created together and figure out what's next.
 
My biggest thank you goes out to Bob Benjamin who allowed us to play a small role in his dream to eradicate Parkinson's. He was truly our inspiration. Bob, you created a global movement that will one day have a big part in the cure for ALS, PSP and Parkinson's. You are a true hero and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of this incredible family.
 
God bless Bob Benjamin
God bless Light of Day
We'll see you down the road apiece!!

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