For those of you who knew Ben Schone, the prospect of a homeless J. show is a bit daunting. For those of you who don't know, Ben Schone took his life Tuesday, April 7th of Holy Week.Schone was a huge asset to homeless J. shows – liberally befriending strangers and sharing many good tidings with his closest friends. Of course he was also belting out lyrics at the top of his lungs. For many, the shows were a regular chance to catch up, hang out and take in life with Schone. I can't remember a show in Fort Wayne in the last 5 years when he was not there.
That said, a show without him feels almost sad and definitely looming. I honestly considered canceling the show for that reason. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized we had to play it, because of Schone. Schone's death is a tragedy, no way around it. His life, though, was and is a celebration of the Life – life to the fullest.
For those of you who knew Schone I ask you to come out and celebrate life as he would have. It won't be the same, to be sure. It will be strange. Together, though, through community, music, love and life (the very things that Schone embodied) we can celebrate his life. For those of you who did not know Schone, come and enjoy a toast to a good man, artist, and comrade.Thanks and see you Saturday, April 25th.