Playing through the pain
Wednesday, March 07, 2007

By TANYA DROBNESS
of The Montclair Times

Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro knew it wouldn’t last forever.

But they didn’t think their harmonious blend would be hushed so soon.

“Eric is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, and with that, we know that we can’t go on forever,” Navarro said, trying to fight back tears.

Navarro has already had to start on his own.

As half of the acoustic folk duo, Lowen and Navarro, the 54-year-old guitarist is not used to owning the stage.

The spotlight is usually shared with Lowen, his music partner of 20 years.

But in the whirlwind of musical fame and bustling nationwide tours, Lowen could no longer hold his guitar firm in his arms.

Then more signs became visible.

A series of falls.

Ripples of twitching throughout his body.

The drag of his left foot.

That was three years ago, when 55-year-old Lowen was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Now Navarro will play alongside Robbie Schaefer, of the pop-folk group Eddie from Ohio, at Outpost in the Burbs in the Unitarian Church of Montclair, which is teaming up with the ALS Association on Friday, March 16, at 8:30 p.m.

At the event, representatives from the Greater New York Chapter of the association will provide informative materials, raise money through bracelet sales, and sign up participants for the “Walks to D’Feet ALS” that begins in May.

“We know we’ve got enormous challenges and a sad ending ahead, but we’re not letting it ruin right now,” Navarro said.

The progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease destroys motor neurons and eventually causes death.

ALS eventually causes paralysis, and robs those with the disorder of the ability to speak, move and breathe. There is no known cause, cure or effective treatment.

The life expectancy of ALS patients is two to five years after diagnosis, and death is usually caused by loss of respiratory function. The disease can affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. About 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS in the United States each year, and more than 30,000 are affected by it.

Every 90 minutes, someone dies from ALS.

Although the disease was identified during the 1860s, it was coined Lou Gehrig’s disease after the Yankees Hall of Fame baseball legend died from ALS in 1941.

“You take pleasure and pride in tiny, tiny blessings. And in this case, we’re grateful that his voice has been spared,” Navarro said of Lowen.

Navarro noted that he doesn’t want to start playing alone after Lowen decides to stop playing. Navarro is instead trying to ease into a “weird” and “challenging” transition performing solo.

But even though Lowen is confined to a wheelchair and can barely strum his acoustic guitar, the duo performed three shows at the Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tenn., two weeks ago. They are also booked for shows nationwide through to August.

“What I intend to do is just keep trying. It’s not that easy, but it’s not impossible either,” Lowen said, noting that he is looking forward to working through to the end of this summer. “I feel like it’s an important thing to do. It makes me feel alive,” said Lowen, of Valencia, Calif.

Since Lowen was diagnosed, the duo cut back performances from 10 to three shows a month, Navarro said. But they are still playing to sell-out crowds across the country. “I’m sticking with him till the bitter end,” said Navarro, who lives in Mar Vista, Calif. “It’s quite frightening. When you become more exposed to other people with ALS and you hear the stories and see the struggles, you cannot help but be moved and, frankly, committed to devote enormous time and energy to fighting this thing.”

Jennifer Lowy, director of marketing and special events for the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, which also serves northern and central New Jersey and New York City, said the organization is excited to work with Outpost and raise awareness about the disease.

“ALS remains a little-known and often misunderstood disease, so making people aware of ALS and the effects the disease has on its patients and their families is of utmost importance. Additionally, the monies raised at the Walks to D’Feet ALS help the ALS Association in our quest for a cure, and fund important patient programs and services,” Lowy said.

The organization, which is the only nonprofit voluntary health agency in the nation solely dedicated to finding a cure and treatments for ALS, also is holding the “Walks to D’Feet ALS” kickoff tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center at Montclair State University.

Lowy said Montclair residents have been supportive of ALS awareness events and activities, often participating in walks and giving donations.

Outpost member Rob Rinderman said Lowen and Navarro last played at the venue in 2005, and said next Friday’s concert is “a great opportunity” to combine music with ALS awareness. He said he is organizing a team for the June 3rd “Walk” in Saddle Brook.

Rinderman said it is part of Outpost’s community outreach efforts. While the group offers volunteer opportunities with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Newark and local soup kitchens, Outpost also began showcasing solo acoustic artists before it exploded as a major performance venue by the late 1990s.

Last year when Roger McGuinn performed at the Outpost, part of the proceeds were donated to the SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) Foundation, as members were motivated to help Al Mercuro, an Outpost member whose 5-year-old child is suffering from the disease, unable to walk and has little strength in her arms. Most children with the disease do not live past age 2, Mercuro said.

“It meant a lot for my wife and I to have this done,” Mercuro said.

Navarro also is grateful to merge music with his personal anguish.

“I’m dealing with the ending, but we haven’t reached the end yet,” Navarro said.

Though he said Lowen is his best friend, their relationship didn’t start out that way. The two met in May of 1978 when they were singing waiters at a restaurant in Los Angeles, Calif. Navarro was an avid songwriter. Lowen was more in tune with his guitar – and the women. “It was absolutely infuriating. The fact that beautiful women liked him more than they liked me,” Navarro laughed.

The mutual disregard lasted a year, until one night when they were singing at a table with a group.

Their harmonies were in sync.

“We learned that we had a vocal blend that was different than anything we had experienced in our lives,” Navarro said.

Their first album, “Walking on a Wire,” was released in May of 1990. They have since released 10 albums.

“They sell more tickets now than they probably did 15 years ago,” said their agent Mary Granata.

Although people are drawn to their upbeat lyrics about life and love, Granata said as many as 750 fans per concert are rushing to hear the duo perform “because it may be the last time.”

Even though Lowen will not be performing at next Friday’s show, which falls one day shy of the third anniversary of his diagnosis, Navarro said he will dedicate the performance to his partner.

For more information about the concert, call 973-744-6560, or visit www.outpostintheburbs.org. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information about ALS, visit www.als-ny.org.

Contact Tanya Drobness at drobness@montclairtimes.com.