Save Clyde Stubblefield

Anyway, he seems to be in good health the last couple of times I've ran into him, but I know that doesn't really mean anything. It is sad, but it's easy to see how it could have happened...he was just a working musician for JB, and we've all heard how uptight JB was with giving songwriting credit (not that Clyde wrote anything, even though all those beats he invented are so classic you don't even know that he DID invent them). Clyde wasn't a Maceo or a Fred Wesley who was interested in taking things into his own hands and touring with his own band, either (he's like the humblest guy on the planet btw)...hopefully the new cd he has coming out put together by a bunch of Madison musicians will make him some money.

Does he still work for that show on NPR?

Am I being too skeptical if I wonder where my money's going if I send a check here?

jess OTM in re: need for universal health coverage. A lot of people opt for actually keeping their money even when they have a regular job; and yeah, gabbneb, most musicians don't have any coverage at all.

but no, gabbneb, this address is on the up and up. I think his wife runs it--and yeah, he's really sick. Last I heard, though, he's at least feeling better, and his prognosis isn't necessarily dire in the short term...but Jordan would know more about that.

btw i had no clue dude was drumming for npr, but i went to the airing of whadya know this morning. when they announced stubblefield's name, i spent two hours being super psyched that he was on the stage, and i think i kind of spaced out during a lot of the jokes because i was just like daaaang funky drummer. totally rad when he was air drumming along to the musical guest while sitting at the back of the stage.

Clyde needs a kidney.

Clyde Stubblefield doesn't want sympathy. He wants a kidney.

And one of Madison’s most joyful and longtime performers hates to ask for that.

A legendary drummer who helped fuel James Brown’s band during its heyday, Stubblefield faces a daunting illness with failing kidneys. Since mid-June, after a five-day stay at UW Hospital, he has had four-hour dialysis treatments three times per week.

All this leads to a kidney transplant, which can happen no sooner than early 2010 after extensive tests to determine his readiness because Stubblefield, 66, is a bladder cancer survivor.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/459837

If it takes socialized medicine to save the funk, than SO BE IT, by God.

True six years back, true now...

From an e-mail press release I received:

Stubblefield, 67, who has overcome bladder cancer and is diabetic, now
requires lifetime kidney dialysis treatment. He remains optimistic as
deals with his new situation, determined to work steadily. "I just
want to be happy," he says.

"Give The Drummer Some!" is a donation campaign created by The
Coalition for Clyde Stubblefield for the purpose of helping
Stubblefield find financial relief through this process. A website at
chipin.com, a service tailored expressly for this purpose, has been
established to collect donations which are funneled directly to him
safely and securely through PayPal.

On the webpage, prospective donators can click on a widget and send
the donation amount of their choice. Participants are also encouraged
to join The Coalition by spreading the word and embedding the widget
on their own websites and social media pages. There are simple
instructions on Stubblefield's chipin page for making that work
instantly.

We're blessed with heavy-hitters onboard from every direction of the
music industry. They are our greatest asset for getting people's
attention and spreading the word of our effort, explains Stanoch, "We
want Clyde to have the opportunity to feel the soulfulness of everyone
whose life he has touched as we come together on his behalf.

For more information and to make a donation, visit:
http://clydestubblefield.chipin.com/clyde-stubblefield

# # #

Give the drummer some, indeed.

six-part interview with Jabo Sparks & Clyde Stubblefield

http://youtu.be/5acs-zU0TVI
http://youtu.be/2SFEoK8ENxU
http://youtu.be/PawTP7WzGjw
http://youtu.be/HWB3d_R_Tm8
http://youtu.be/sPHdyDqtKnk
http://youtu.be/7r8dz3UVasA