Garry Marshall Shider, iconic diaper-clad singer and guitarist and right-hand to George Clinton in the Parliament/Funkadelic menagerie, died on June 16, 2010 from complications stemming from an ongoing battle with lung and brain cancer.
Barbara Thomas, administrator of the Garry Shider Medical Fund, issued the following statement:
Dear family, friends and fans,
It is with a broken heart to say that on Wednesday, June 16, 2010, that we lost one of the greatest vocalist, guitarist, music arranger and showman of our time-Garry "Star Child" Shider.
Over the past four months, Garry fought each day against one of the deadliest diseases, so that he could do what he loved, which was to return to the stage. Which he did. For those who know Garry, you know that his determination was fierce and that he was not going to give up on life.
Over the past forty years, Garry put his stamp and signature of everything that he did musically. HIs talent was and always will be unmatched.
I, along with my fundraising partner, Pete Shipman, Jr. and the Shider family would personally like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who so generously made a donation to the Garry Shider Medical Fund. You all reached out unselfishly in Garry's time of need. We cannot thank you enough. Also, we want to personally thank Rob Max and the Sweet Relief Musican's Fund, for assisting us with our fundraising administration, and Aaron and Muruga Bookvich and Darrell McNeil and the Black Rock Coalition family for stepping up immediately to assist Pete and I with our fundraising efforts by organizing benefit concerts which are upcoming. We must also thank all of the artists who truly wanted to help Garry by immediately signing on to perform at the benefit concerts.
We hope that everyone throughout the world will continue to support musicians that are in need. Remember, no person should be denied healthcare. We urge you all to continue to keep healthcare and health insurance for all, on the minds of those who will listen. Garry would want it that way.
Thank you Garry for the musical joy that you gave us. Goodbye to our Star Child.
Barbara Thomas and Pete Shipman, Jr.
Fundraising Team for the Garry Shider Medical Fund
Fundraisers organized by the Black Rock Coalition (BRC), Sweet Relief and Soul-Patrol.com ahead of Garry's transition, will move forward as planned at Multimedia Arts Center in Bloomfield, NJ on Saturday, July 10 and at
B.B. King's in New York on Sunday, July 11. "The family was always candid about this being a possibility," said Darrell M. McNeill, director of operations for the BRC. "We prayed for the best but were prepared for the worst. Now we need to tend to Garry's legacy-the funk must go on. We're celebrating the music he created and will keep him alive through the music."
Shider had been in an extremely dire state of affairs, fighting cancer, touring whenever he could. Like so many performers of Shider's renown, he didn't have health insurance. The Black Rock Coalition and Sweet Relief are working in partnership to raise funds and administer to the costs of Garry's care and funeral arrangements.
"Garry's unfortunate departure won't lessen the financial burden on his family," McNeill added. "Whatever money we raise will ensure they won't have to deal with any outside problems. It will be difficult enough adjusting to his absence."
Confirmed performers include Living Colour, Bernie Worrell (SociaLybrium; ex-P-Funk, ex-Talking Heads), Miss Lady Kier (ex-Deee-Lite), Melvin Gibbs (SociaLybrium, Harriet Tubman, ex-Rollins Band) and Ronny Drayton. FUNK-KIN, a New Jersey based band comprised of Shider's brothers and cousins, will open at MMAC show only. Recently added to the bill were P-Funk guitarist Dwayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight for both shows and Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey for the B.B. King's show only. On both nights, there will be an all-star P-Funk jam, powered by the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra. Other special guests will be named in later press updates.
The benefit details are:
Sunday, July 11 @
B.B. King's Blues Bar & Grill, 237 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036-7297, (212) 997-4144, www.bbkingblues.com, 6PM doors, 7PM show, $25 advance/$30 door.
The BRC and Sweet Relief are also asking for donations through Garry Shider's Relief Fund website for those who cannot attend: www.garryshidermedicalfund.com. All proceeds go to the administering of Shider's medical care and financial expenses during treatment.
For more information, go to www.facebook.com/blackrockcoalition, www.sweetrelief.org and www.soul-patrol.com.
