Benefit Concert for the Children of

Berry Griebel Sherman

For Directions Click here

My friend Berry, died on Monday, August 8th, 2005. She fought the good fight against non-hodgkins lymphoma and sadly, for us, succumbed. She leaves behind 4 children under the age of 8.

When we started this Benefit, it was to raise funds for a nanny to care for the children while Berry was in the hospital receiving chemo and then recovering. We were trying to make sure that these kids got to stay together. Unfortunately, god had another plan. Now, the money is to help these children transistion from a single family household to living with their two fathers. Berry had three kids with her first husband and one with her second. Eli, the youngest, was 5 months old when Berry was diagnosed with cancer.

These kids need all kinds of help at this point. School clothes for the older kids, childcare while their dads work, as well as counseling all the way around.

I can't express the grief that all of us are feeling for these kids and for our loss of a good friend. I know that we will do what we can do to help and I hope that you will also.

Here are the details of the concert:

It will take place August 28, 2005 from 5-9pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 333 DuBois Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Tickets are $20.

On the bill so far is: Nadine Rae and the Rich Chorne Allstars, Janet Griffin, Lea, Kathryn Gosnell. Big Joe Maher (Big Joe and the Dynaflows) and Jeff Sarli (John Mooney, Levon Helm) have agreed to be supporting musicians.

It should be an amazing night of music. For more about the musicians scroll down. You can email me to reserve a spot.

If you cannot attend and would still like to donate; donations may be mailed to: Benefit, C/O Janet Griffin, PO Box 241, Owings Mills MD 21117. Monetary donations can be made out to our treasurer - Pauline Schmitt.

Should you prefer to give a non-monetary gift, please feel free to donate gift cards for groceries (Giant, Safeway, etc. would probably be the most universal) restaurants such as Boston Market, Pizza Hut, etc., Drug Stores such as Rite Aid, CVS, etc. for prescription co-pays.

Musicians for the Benefit:

Nadine Rae

The Chesapeake Music Guide called her "the voice" and a "guaranteed show stopper." Nadine is currently the featured singer of the The Rich Chorne Allstars, and has also worked with some of the region's top artists such as Tommy Lepson, Ron Holloway, Tom Principato, The Persuaders, and Choo Choo Charlie Williams; just to name a few. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, this lady has the ability to captivate audiences wherever she performs. Her rugged, yet soulful delivery illuminates energy and passion that spreads throughout the room; igniting the power of joy that runs from heart-to-heart. She has opened for Shemekia Copeland, Kenny Wayne Shepard & Double Trouble, BBKing, and others. In her gospel days, she has also worked with various national acts such as Rev. Hardy Clifton of the Brooklyn Allstars, Olivia Branch Walker, the Hawkins Family, and others.

The Rich Chorne Allstars features Nadine on their soon-to-be-released CD, where she also debuts her songwriting skills for tunes such as "Thinkin' About It" and "This Thing Inside of Me."

Katie Gosnell

Currently living in Boston, Massachusetts, blues singer Katie Gosnell calls Annapolis her home. She has performed blues, rock, pop and country tunes with local talents Mike McHenry and Joe Glumsick, Monterey Pop, Zambezi, and in her own acoustic guitar duo with Jeff Muller. When in Annapolis, Katie can often be found on stage in the company of Meg Murray and Bryan Ewald, Dan Haas and others.

Katie moved to Boston last year to study voice full time at Berklee College of Music, where she will graduate this December. She performs regularly in her acoustic blues duo in Boston and Cambridge, and often jams with fellow Berklee musicians, coming from all parts of the world.

Katie offers a fresh take on the blues. Her voice is pure, soulful, and silky smooth.Katie's influences include Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Patsy Cline, and Eva Cassidy.

Katie believes in the power of music to bring people together, help promote positive change, or simply take your mind off of a hard day. It's been a tremendous blessing in her life to be able to connect with others through music.

LEA (click for her website)

LEA inherited her passion and propensity for music from her father who traveled the world, playing trumpet with the 70's soul band, Black Heat and her mother who taught her to sing from her soul by initiating her, at age 8, into the Jones Family Gospel Singers.

A major turning point came when LEA was given the option of recording her first CD or spending a year as an exchange student in Halle, Germany. The choice to go to Europe is one that continues to bear fruit. While there, she auditioned for the opportunity to sing at a music conservatory where her gift truly began to blossom. She performed her originals in cafes & clubs, sang with a classical chorus and a jazz ensemble and penned radio friendly tunes with the Brit pop band, Indigo Wild. LEA also took this singular chance to write, score, direct and act in an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale, The Happy Prince.

Upon her return to the United States, LEA returned briefly to the domestic theater to play the leading role in Montgomery College Dinner Theater’s The Wiz. However, her mind was set on recording her music.

In 2000, she released her debut CD, creation which earned her nominations from the Washington Area Music Association for Best Debut Recording, Best New Artist, Best Contemporary Folk Vocalist – Female. When her next CD, Looking Forward hit the streets, LEA was nominated Songwriter of the Year!

LEA has released 5 independently produced recordings, one of which is a collaboration demo with German hip-hop group, Jazzafact.