First, let me tell you a little about Ryan Vaughn.
Ryan came on to the Lower East Side music scene about 3 years ago, a waif of a boy with a big box in hand hailing from Arizona.  Although the Cajon (a kind of box drum played by slapping the front face) has been quiet commonly used in bands on the west coast for years, it was practically unheard of here in NYC.  There are many advantages to a good Cajon player, the most obvious of which is: all the beat of a drum kit, with none of the mounds of equipment to lug around and set up. 

Ryan became an instant hit, not just because he was a KICK ASS cajon player and all round percussionist, but because he was the nicest, most easy going and hard working kid you could ever find in New York. Case in point; night after night he would drive up from southern NJ where he was living (up to 3 hours) to play all night, often 2 or 3 shows all over the city because he didn't want to let anyone down.  No matter how exhausted, no matter how far, no matter who or where or when - if Ryan Vaughn was your percussionist he would be there, and put on an amazing show every time.

Needless to say everybody thinks of Ryan as a brother we adore, so when he sent out a message on Sunday night that the family of his girlfriend Kasey had been in a tragic car accident, it sent a shockwave through our tight little music community.  Kasey’s Mom, Dad, sister, brother-in-law and baby niece were traveling home from a vacation in Hilton Head when their suv was struck by a hit and run drunk driver in a stolen car.  It flipped the suv several times, killing Kasey’s Dad and throwing her sister from the car causing critical injuries.

A call went out and in less than 24 hours a huge benefit concert had been arranged to raise money for Kasey’s family so they could pay for a motel at $50/night in the area while Kasey’s sister was in the hospital in Greenville, SC (they never made it home to Tennessee).

After hearing the extent of the injuries – it sounded to me like it was going to be a long recovery.  I thought, these people need to be in a place that is much more comforting than a little motel room.  They need a home base – an extended stay suite with a kitchen and living space.  So I made a few phone calls, told their heart wrenching story and found them this beautiful place at The Hawthorn, only 7 minutes away from the Greenville Hospital, and got them to lower the price to less than the $50/night they were paying for an ordinary motel room.

Meanwhile the rest of Ryan’s music family were organizing an amazing spur of the moment benefit which brought local musicians out IN MASS in an overwhelming show of love and support which raised $2,500 cash at the show with ANOTHER $2,500 coming in thru pay pal at a benefit site set up by another friend!

Here is a small fraction of people in attendance:

…………

It was an unbelievable evening of music and friendship that makes this community so very special.

I love you all.