Supporters, fans and fellow musicians have raised over $100,000 to help the family of Nova Scotia guitarist Jay Smith.
The Cape Breton native was on tour with Halifax rocker Matt Mays in Edmonton when he died suddenly in his hotel room on March 27.
A benefit concert was held yesterday in Halifax to raise money for his family and celebrate his life.
“Of course we had to be here,” said Jon Landry of The Stanfields. “He means a lot to all of us. Look around and you see so many people here.”
About 20 bands and artists performed at the concert in Halifax, and many are scheduled to perform at another benefit tonight in Sydney.
Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson is among them.
“We’d do crazy things like play music from television commercials all night long,” recalls Sampson. “Anyway, it was just two kindred spirits who kind of found each other.”
Plans for the two benefit concerts began just hours after family and friends learned of Smith’s death. All the money raised through ticket sales and a silent auction will go to a trust for his family and two children.
“It was a great way for us to direct our energies and put all of it in a positive direction, as opposed to sitting around and crying in our beers, which is what we all wanted to do,” says event organizer Mike Campbell.
Smith’s parents say they are overwhelmed by the amount of support they have received since their son’s death.
“I hope our son knows what he meant to people,” says his mother, Nancy Smith.
“We had 34 years. That’s a lot of memories. Some parents don’t even get that, and what he’s left us with, I only had one son, but he’s left me with so many more.”
Tonight’s benefit concert will be held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling 1-902-539-2300.
