Benefit for Alabama Banjo Picker Planned!

It was just a year ago that we first told you about Kevin Decker.  Kevin is an Alabama Banjo player with his band SOUTHERN DRAWL who has been undergoing numerous serious medical procedures. 

Now another Bluegrass Benefit Concert is to be held for Kevin and his wife, Amy, at Johnny’s Lakeside RV Resort, 15810 Hwy 59, Foley, AL 36536 on Saturday, Feb 16th beginning at 12 noon and lasting until 8:30pm. Eight fantastic bluegrass bands will be performing.  (See the line-up at the end of this post) .

In 1998 Kevin was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. His colon was removed and he has lived the next 13 years dealing with multiple hospital visits with blockages in his small intestine.

In Nov. 2011 he was admitted to the hospital with a blockage and it was determined that surgery was necessary. It should have been a normal blockage removal surgery but 10 days after the initial procedure a second surgery had to be done. At that time all but less than a foot of his small intestine were removed.

After more than a year of hospital stays, doctor visits, infections, and blood clots, Kevin spent the past month at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland Ohio being diagnosed as a transplant candidate.

Multiple issues were corrected during this time to assist him in sustaining life until an appropriate small intestine becomes available. Until then he will continue to be under the care of the experts at the Cleveland Clinic.

Kevin, nor Amy have been able to work for over two years. Needless to say, they can certainly use help. All proceeds from the Benefit Concert will be donated to them.

If you will not be able to attend the benefit, donations can be mailed to Kevin Decker, 554 Park Ave., Foley, Al. 36535. Or online at http://prayersforkevindecker.webs.com/and using the Paypal "Donate" button.

FEATURED BANDS

• 12 noon Down Home
• 1 pm  The String Slingers
• 2 pm The Jason Boone Band
• 3 pm Bubba & Them
• 4 pm Kevin Decker & Southern Drawl (30 mins)
• 4:30 pm Delta Reign
• 5:30 pm Winky Hicks and Frontier Bluegrass
• 6:30 pm High Cotton
• 7:30 pm Andy MacDonald and Fat Man Squeeze
• 8:30 pm Dat's all folks (lights out)

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Emcees will be:

Bertie Sullivan, President - Magnolia State Bluegrass Assoc (MSBA)

Charlie Robinson, Chairman - Southeastern Bluegrass Assoc (SEBA)

David Boley, Director - Alabama Bluegrass Music Assoc (ABMA)

Mike Blanton, President - Gulf Coast Bluegrass Music Assoc (GCBMA)