Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada...Benefit concert for Parkinson's Disease July 6
 

Benefit concert for Parkinson's Disease July 6

Published Wednesday June 25th, 2008
http://miramichileader.canadaeast.co...article/335586

There will be a benefit concert in support of Robbie Tucker on Sunday, July 6, at Miramichi Valley High School. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and features well-known performing artists from Miramichi and Bathurst.

Miramichi performers will include Susan Butler, Mayor Gerry Cormier, MVHS vice-principal Terry Whalen and his band and Country Music Hall of Fame artist Jimmy Lawlor. Additional stars from Bathurst will include singer-songwriter Brian Melanson with guitarist Dave Guitard and bassist Frank Grennan.

Tickets are available at Books Inn and Night Owl Convenience in Newcastle, Bill's Kwik Way in Chatham and the Blackville Mainway. Tickets are $10 each.

Tucker, formerly of Miramichi, is now living in Montreal. A graduate of MVHS in 1995, Robbie was well known in the city for his musical abilities. Three years ago, at age 28, he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's Disease.

The diagnosis caused him to found MapMusic (Musicians Against Parkinson's), the chief objective of which is to render support to all those afflicted with this chronic neurological condition. His aim is to raise $1 million to use towards obtaining a future cure, and, in the present, to help those who await a cure keep their hopes alive while they try to remain secure with a disability that impacts on stable employment.

The benefit concert, organized by Tucker's father and aunt, is intended to raise awareness of the cause and to assist him in a scheduled trip in early July to Texas, where he has been invited to meet with Freddie Power, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price. During this trip Tucker will be accompanied by two professionals from Hot Smoked Pictures who are preparing a documentary on Robbie's story.

Those who want to know more about MapMusic can visit http://www.mapmusic.org.