'Tears for Christmas'
Boogie Bone donates song to Shriners for kids
Usually, Boogie Bone is known for rocking hard and having fun, but the band knows that some people this holiday season will not be celebrating whole-heartedly. Boogie Bone has written Tears for Christmas in support of the care that Shriners Hospitals for Children will continue to provide this season to improve the health of young ones in the Portland area.
"We wrote the song, and we knew we wanted to do something charitable or for a cause," says Boogie Bone guitarist Steve Williams about the band’s decision to make a difference.
Raising awareness for Shriners benefits many people because it is a hospital that offers cost-free health care to families whose children are suffering. Located in several states and countries, the hospitals treat orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip palate. The band's personal experience with these services motivated them to write the song.
"I was there as a baby," says bassist Henry Gavaldon. "My right arm was shriveled and my family was poor, so Shriners was able to give my treatments for free."
Gavaldon has overcome the challenges he faced as a child by taking up music when he was 15 and continuing to play for Boogie Bone.
"I don't see any limitations," says Gavaldon. "That is the message that I want to get to the kids."
A child close to Boogie Bone, whose name must be kept anonymous, is currently receiving care at Shriners as well, making the hospital the right choice for the band's focus.
"She has issues like mine, but she's learning to deal with it," said Gavaldon. "She is an amazing little girl, and I think that everything is going to turn out great."
While this young girl works to get well, many local radio stations are supporting the cause by playing Tears for Christmas, in addition to the band's free download of the song on the Boogie Bone Web site. Although Shriners is grateful for the efforts, the band may never know how much money was donated as a result of the song's purpose.
"I don't think there will ever be any way to track it," says Williams. "Even if we get a few more people to pay attention, then it will be worth it."
The band held a media event at Music Millennium on Burnside on Dec. 4 to promote awareness of the children in need at Shriners. At the event, the band played live and sold their CDs, donating proceeds to the hospital.
"For us, it's the best possible scenario," Williams said. "We get to help people while doing what we love to do."
Although the donations may not be able to be tracked, the band has seen 130 downloads of the song from the Web site and hopes that at least one person is moved to contribute to the cause.
"Every little bit helps," says Williams. "It's easy to overlook the type of work that's done and we are trying to get people to pay attention."
For this holiday season, the band will be focusing on the children whose holidays may be less than joyful. It is Boogie Bone's hope that Tears for Christmas spreads the word about the care that Shriners gives year round.
"What they do up there is amazing," Williams says. "And if people knew about it, then they would be compelled to do something."
Go to www.boogieband.net or www.myspace.com/boogieboneband to download the song.