Dan Haley Plays it Forward April 1st at The Laurelthirst

Dan Haley says, “We all need bread to eat, a roof over our heads, clean air and clean water. But we also need emotional sustenance that connects us to other people. To me, music is the most powerful force for that.” That’s why Dan is donating a recording of his songs performed by local musicians to the JWF Musician Health & Services Program. It’s his way of giving back to a community that always watches out for each other.

Join Dan Haley, Sattie Clark, Mike Danner, Jim Brunberg, Janet Julian, Greg Newman, Tim Acott, and special guests
Saturday April 1st at the Laurelthirst Public House to celebrate the CD release of
CHORD GARDEN: A TRIBUTE TO THE SONGS OF DAN HALEY.

An interview with Dan Haley
By Claire Levine

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the venues . . .

Dan Haley thought things were getting back to normal. It was the end of 2021, about 18 months after Covid-19 shut everything down. The larger venues were hosting concerts again. The clubs were reopening – and the musicians were getting back to work.

Dan’s three bands were starting to play regularly, and he was scheduled to go back to his solo gigs in nursing homes.

And then the virus caught up with him.

For two full weeks, he was exhausted – so tired that he couldn’t move, couldn’t check his email – and certainly couldn’t figure out how he was going to pay his bills when he couldn’t work.

But one of the first things he was able to do when he started to get his strength back was contact the JWF Musician Health & Services Program. And they responded in a way that was just what he needed.

Program volunteers communicated with Dan to learn about his monthly expenses and his anticipated loss of income. Together, they determined Dan’s most urgent assistance needs. Jeremy Wilson showed up in person to give him credit cards for gasoline use and to go on line with him to pay his auto insurance. The program also covered Dan’s electricity bill.

The relief he felt from knowing the foundation was there to help was tremendous. “I was able to put away all my anxiety. I know I was going to get up and running,” and, for the first time since he got ill, “I didn’t have that fight or flight feeling, wondering if I was going to have to give up my place and live in my car.

“It’s hard for me to ask for help, but they made it easy for me. They made me feel comfortable.” As the foundation had done for others of his friends who were out of work because of a serious shoulder injury or a hip replacement.

Melanie, the social worker, encouraged him to take other steps to make his life easier and reduce worries about money. “I was convinced to apply for food stamps, which I haven’t ever done before.”

Dan feels that live music, along with the other arts is an essential part of a healthy life. “It’s something that keeps us sane,” he said. “Some people depend on coming out to these gigs – they come out to dance once a week or three times a week” or even more. 

“We all need bread to eat, a roof over our heads, clean air and clean water. But we also need emotional sustenance that connects us to other people. To me, music is the most powerful force for that.

Dan has seen his music inspire nursing home patients to get up and dance to a familiar song – people the staff have never seen respond to anything else. Almost every musician can tell you a similar story. 

“Supporting a foundation that keeps musician’s health together is supporting your own mental health, whatever your position is.”

Dan is grateful to the JWF Musician Health & Services Program for helping him through a rough time. In return, he contributes his time and energy to help others in similar situations. He also is grateful to the donors, sponsors and other volunteers who help keep our community healthy.

And there’s a beautiful “pay it forward” act here:

 About 30 years ago, friend and musician Sattie Clark offered to organize a tribute album featuring Dan’s original songs. She rallied local bands to pull together something that Dan was proud of – but which, as often happens, was never released. Recently,Sattie Clark and recording engineer Brian Jones uncovered the original master, and they are ready to produce the recording.

“So many people were involved in creating this that I felt like it was a gift from the community,” Dan said, “so I thought about giving something back, and of course, I thought about the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.”

So, he is turning the completed project over to the foundation as a fundraiser. The JWF will keep all the proceeds to help musicians needing assistance, and the foundation will spread the word about Dan’s music to the wider community. It’s the ultimate win/win.

Dan is back out and playing a lot these days. Check his website to find out where you can hear the wide variety of music he creates and performs.