Sean Costello Memorial Fund Update

Stay Connected Support the Fund   As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all donations to The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research are tax-deductible. There is no amount too small. Donate today to make a difference. Order Your Sean Costello CDs and Merchandise Proceeds from CDs, t-shirts, and other merchandise sales benefit the Fund. Don't forget to buy your copy of Sean Costello's most recently released CD, "At His Best - Live." Check out our store. Bipolar Disorder Resources The Fund is dedicated to helping individuals with Bipolar Disorder, their families, and friends. View our list of resources. Leadership Read about the Fund's Officers, Directors, and Scientific Advisory Committee on our website.	E-Newsletter                                          Issue 13 - August/September 2012   I am really excited about this year's benefit for many reasons, the first of which is the music. How lucky are we to have such blues greats as Tinsley Ellis and the legendary Kim Wilson?  The show doesn't end there, though. We also feature two past nominees of Blues Blast's Sean Costello Rising Young Star Award: Gina Sicilia and Dave Gross, who are now touring together. A surprise guest is Virginia Martinez. Virginia hails all the way from Uruguay! Backing her and Kim are the great Paul Linden and Ray Hangen, former members of the Sean Costello Band, as well as the very talented Billy Burke on bass and Jon Justice on guitar. Last, but not least is the up and coming Atlanta guitarist, Truett Lollis. That's a lot of music for the price, or any price, for that matter, and it really is a donation to a good cause. Secondly, we are dedicating this benefit to the MOJO Project, something we've spoken about many times. It can potentially save lives, but definitely will improve the quality of musicians' lives through education and suggested intervention. As an organization, we are dedicated to helping musicians with bipolar disorder, or symptoms of bipolar disorder, which includes difficulty sleeping. This would be a major contribution of the SCMF, an organization which each of you has built. This year, we return to Sean's alma mater, North Atlanta Center for the Arts (formerly N. Atlanta Performing Arts High School). It will be our second time there, and the last time everyone there will tell you how special it was. The school's auditorium has been renovated and is beautiful. It's all stadium seating with a professional sound system, plenty of room for Silent Auction shopping, and the amazing food of Fat Matt's. What else can you ask for? Free Parking, you say....well, you got your wish. As always, we need you to keep this organization alive. For those who cannot attend, I'm going to try to figure out how to stream it live through YouTube. Wish me luck! Happy Labor Day!  See you in September,  Debbie a.k.a. Sean's Mom FRIENDS OF SEAN HEADLINE ROOTS AND BLUES FESTIVAL IN ATLANTA   Saturday, September 29 Doors open at 6:00pm North Atlanta High Center For the Arts 2875 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 In case you haven't heard yet, some of the brightest and most talented musicians will be headlining the Fund's upcoming benefit concert. We invite you to join us for an evening of fun and entertainment, as we honor Sean's memory and raise money to help fund research for bipolar disorder. Tickets are $25 in advance (plus applicable service fees) or $30 at the door. Our headliners also happen to be some of Sean's dearest friends and supporters. Get to know a little more about our headliners and some of their greatest memories of Sean.  One of Sean's former bandmates, harmonica and keyboard player Paul Linden, sent us the following message: The "Sean Costello, all-star pickup band" will be replacing the originally scheduled band of musicians rumored to have played with him earlier than all others! While trying to pin the tail on the donkey of who is or is not in the original Sean Costello band may lead to general malaise, one thing is certain: the "Sean Costello all-star pickup band" is, in fact, composed of musicians who were known to have been picked up by Sean Costello at some point in time. And isn't that what this is all about? If you've been picked up by Sean or his music, you could also be in this band. Check your schedule, it's nearly showtime. On down and nasty rhythms, jump in with Ray "hey HEY hey" Hangen. He's thumpin heavy with Bill "Holmeslice" Burke on all four stings. Funk it ALL up with the Cincinnati Jigalo, Jon Justice who got both of his natural ballers, Paul "cracklins" Linden and surprise guest, Jon "poke-salat" Liebman. On account of the fact that all these cats and fo'day creeps were picked up by Sean for studio and/or live performances, they were universally acclaimed as "all stars" at that time. And who's that struttin' in town, breathin' four foot flames through a little tin sandwich? Why none other than Muddy's appointed harp man, Kim Wilson. All around the world, Sean and his pickup players opened many a show for Kim with his T-Birds back in the late 90s. Raoul's in Portland Maine, the Denver and Duluth Blues festivals are a few memorable occasions where Sean and Kim were hangin tall tales off the edge of stage. Sean had played alongside of Kim in Memphis back in his "call the cops" times- after the show Kim exclaimed, "he was born to back up a harp player!" But Sean had other plans. Now its our turn to tune in and show out for the young man who played so well. We can all get together this Sept 29 at North Atlanta High.         "I met Sean on Beale Street in Memphis when he was 15 years old. I could not believe my ears when I heard him play that night. We got very close musically and personally, and both recorded together and performed together many times. He helped me become an better guitar player, and I helped him with some of his business stuff. I consider him to be the most talented guitar player that Atlanta has ever produced and am happy that his music continues to be released by Landslide Records. I miss him very much and think about him every day. He was like a brother to me." - Tinsley Ellis (Atlanta, GA) Hard-rocking, blues-soaked guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Tinsley Ellis sings and plays with the energy and soul of all the great Southern musicians who have come before him.                  Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s: "Tuff Enuff"and "Wrap It Up." He started with the blues in the late 1960s and was tutored by people like Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Albert Collins, George "Harmonica" Smith, Luther Tucker, and Pee Wee Crayton, and was influenced by harmonica players like Little Walter, James Cotton, Big Walter Horton, Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. Wilson continues to perform up to 300 concert dates per year at blues music festivals and clubs all over the world, both as leader of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and with the Kim Wilson Blues Allstars.               "I never had the honor of meeting Sean, but I was immediately connected with him through his music the first time I heard him." - Truett Lollis This up-and-coming blues artist is taking Atlanta by storm! Reviews have claimed, "Seeing Lollis on guitar is very much like what it must have been like to see a young Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray Vaughan before he was discovered. He's that good."                             Uruguayan singer Virginia Martinez has performed with and opened for Shirley King (BB King's daughter), John Primer, Kim Wilson, Billy Flynn, and King George, among others. In the 90s, she performed throughout Europe, meeting many other musicians along the way. Since her return to Uruguay, she has performed with Mexican, Uruguayan, Brazilian, Chilean, and Argentinian blues musicians, as well as American musicians. In 2008, she founded the "Mercoblues," a movement that tries to improve the relationships between Latin American blues musicians. This movement has been declared of cultural relevance by her country's culture ministry. We are excited to welcome this international blues sensation to the stage in Atlanta!                         Young Philadelphia songstress Gina Sicilia exploded onto the scene in 2007, as her debut CD, "Allow Me to Confess," was met with joyous acclaim by fans and critics alike. In 2008, she was nominated for "Best New Artist Debut" at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee, just as her sophomore release, "Hey Sugar," proved her also to be a legitimate contender in the worlds of Classic Country and Americana. Gina's singing and songwriting continue to break new ground, showing remarkable depth, power, and seemingly unstoppable growth.                      At only 23 years old, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, Dave Gross is an artist reminiscent of some of the finest and most respected musicians in the history of roots music. In 2007, he was nominated for "Best New Artist Debut" in the Blues Music Awards. Despite his young age, Dave has already shared stages or recorded with such renowned blues and jazz artists as Hubert Sumlin, Duke Robillard, Bob Margolin, Nappy Brown, Les Paul, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Popa Chubby, the Tommy Castro Band, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Debbie Davies, Bettye LaVette, Mark Hummel, Arthur Neilson, Sax Gordon, Doug "Mr. Low" James, "Monster" Mike Welch, Nick Moss, JW Jones, Willie Kent, Dennis Gruenling, Jason Ricci & New Blood, Big Ed Sullivan, Christine Santelli, Matt Munisteri, Jon-Erik Kellso, Scott Robinson, Mookie Brill, Dan Block, Evan Christopher, Nicki Parrott, Stephane Wrembel, Doña Oxford, among many other notable artists.  SEAN COSTELLO REMEMBERED One of Sean's fans recently sent the following heartwarming message to Sean's mom, Debbie: Hi, My name is Pere Mallén, I'm a singer and guitar player from Spain. I write to you because with my band, Mallén Trio, we released a CD, and it's a tribute to Sean Costello, 'cause I loved his music. A friend of mine, Carlos from a radio show (blues syndicate), told me that maybe you'd be happy to know that. Best wishes Pere Mallén   One national radio personality also reminds us that Sean's memory lives on through his music: Hi Debbie, Erik here with The BluesMobile (formally the House of Blues Radio Hour), you and I last spoke a couple of years ago when we featured Sean's last interview on our program. I'm writing because we've discovered that Sean performed a song live for us in-studio during that interview. We'd like to post the song to our website (along with a few words about Sean and a link to the Memorial Fund's website) with your permission. I'll also gladly pass the link along to you when it's finished, so that you may share with Sean's fans and supporters. All the best, Erik Read the article and hear Sean's performance.  KEEP THE MOJO GOING - HELP FUND BIPOLAR RESEARCH THROUGH MOJO PROJECT   There's still time to support the Fund in this initiative. Through the MOJO Project, the Fund can develop a mobile and web-based application to monitor sleep and warn of impending danger of sleep deprivation. This is a particular problem for musicians. Here's how you can get involved:  Learn more about the MOJO Project...lack of sleep is a trigger for mania, and mania is dangerous.    Donate. Every dollar counts.....$1, $2, $500, whatever you can afford. The amount of one soda from McDonald's, or one over-priced coffee from Starbucks. Whether you donate or not, please share the Fundrazr link and the campaign's importance with everyone you know. Success comes with numbers, and no one can tell the story better than a person committed to our cause. Use Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, or Pinterest for more than conversation. Use social media to do good, every time you log on.  Thank you for your continuous support! DONATE FOR FREE!  Use GoodSearch every time you do an internet search, GoodShop when you purchase something online, and GoodDining to start earning donations up to 6% for your cause today! Be sure to select Sean Costello Memorial Fund to Benefit Bipolar Research (Marietta - GA) as your cause.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP: Support musicians who donate their time to the Fund through concert ticket and CD purchases. Most of the musicians who have given of their time to the Sean Costello Memorial Fund have done so at no cost.   We also encourage you to check out Rockers in Recovery, dedicated to supporting musicians and music lovers in recovery, or who support recovery. Right Turn combines innovative outpatient treatment with supportive housing for addiction.  Become patrons of businesses such as Datadirect, D.B.A. Barbeque, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, High-Tech Tennis, NoizePro, and Northside Tavern - businesses who continually support the Fund. In Sean's memory, we hope you will share his music with your family, friends and colleagues.  "Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." - Voltaire Thank you for all that you do to help the Sean Costello Memorial Fund continue its mission!