Carol Sloane, noted Concord-label recording artist and substitute host for MusicAmerica for nearly ten years, was the evening's Emcee. Sloane, who offered two songs, was joined on-stage by Paul Broadnax, Donna Byrne, Artie Cabral, Michael Calmes, Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter, Steve Marvin, Cercie Miller, Gray Sargent, Paul Schmeling, and Marshall Wood— all of whom contributed their talents to raise money that would be offered to Boston radio station WGBH upon restoration of the popular afternoon program of classic American music. Proceeds from the evening's performance and related fundraising activities reached the $20,000 mark.
One of the evening's highlights was the presentation of an award by Sue Ellen Hershman, President of the Boston Musicians' Association to Ron Della Chiesa. The plaque cited Della Chiesa for "18 years of dedication to the presentation and promotion of our members on MusicAmerica." It went on to state, "Your efforts have had a profound impact on the appreciation of live music." Carol Sloane accepted the award on behalf of her colleague, who was not in the audience.
The Save MusicAmerica Trust continues to solicit tax-deductible contributions which should be mailed to the Save MusicAmerica Trust, at 207 Union Street, South Natick, MA 01760.
The Trust's trustees include Carp Ferrari of Natick, its founder and a member of the Committee to Save MusicAmerica; Steve Low a business consultant from Lincoln; Joan Mayhew of Mashpee, a long-standing jazz patron and WGBH contributor, Robert B. Parker, Cambridge author of the Spenser mysteries; Peter Fontecchio, a business executive from Medfield, and Carol Sloane of Stoneham.
Ron Della Chiesa's MusicAmerica program kept classical American music alive for 18 years and reached a weekly audience of 100,000 listeners at the time it left the air. The Listeners for MusicAmerica, a separate organization sharing the Trust's mission, is continuing its campaign to restore the show and maintains a 24-hour hotline, 617-662-0853.