How to go
Who: Paul David Bach, Brothers in Arms, The Drive and others
Where: The Brig, 118 W. Main St. in Troy
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23
Cost: $10
More info: (937) 335-3717 or www.troybrig.com
Who: Diddley, Undone, Spoonful and others
Where: Tollhouse Tavern, 128 N. Main St., Union
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30
Cost: Free, donations accepted
More info: (937) 832-2010 or www.myspace.com/tollhousetavern
Jeff Madewell is a fighter. The West Milton native had Hodgkin’s disease when he was 19, which resulted in the loss of most of his vision. That didn’t prevent him from becoming one of the region’s most respected musicians.
Over the last several years, Madewell has faced numerous health problems, including respiratory disease histoplasmosis in 2007 and a benign skull tumor in 2008. In 2009, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He’s currently undergoing chemotherapy. In late February, he’ll head to the Cleveland Clinic for a bone marrow transplant.
“I don’t want anybody to worry or feel bad because to me it’s just another challenge,” Madewell said. “You always learn from the roughest paths, so this is just another chance to learn a little bit more about life and move on and make a good story one day.”
This positive attitude has always been one of the hallmarks of Madewell, who has spearheaded an annual clothing and toy drive for children on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in the Dakotas for more than a decade. He was recognized for his charity work last year when he was named one of 10 finalists in the national contest For All the Ways You Care, sponsored by CVS Pharmacy.
Over the next few weeks, Madewell’s friends and family will be joining forces for benefits at The Brig in Troy on Saturday, Jan. 23, and Toll House Tavern in Union on Saturday, Jan. 30.
“We’re trying to get as much money for Jeff as we possibly can,” said Erin Higgins, Madewell’s musical partner in the acoustic duo Higgins-Madewell. “We’re trying to raise money to pay for medical bills and any other bills he might have. Our duo was his primary source of income. He did some radio jingles and things like that on the side, but he obviously can’t play right now.
“We’ll have six main raffles at The Brig,” Higgins added. “We’ve had so many things donated. There’s going to be a couple of guitars, a flat-screen TV and thousands of dollars in gift certificates, which is awesome.”
Madewell says he is humbled to be on the receiving end of such generosity.
“I’m very honored everyone is doing this,” Madewell said. “Erin has just been an absolute priceless friend. It’s hard for me to be on the receiving end of something like this. It’s awkward, but I’m very honored and touched by all the hard work Erin and everyone else has put into all this. It means so much to me.”
Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
About the Author