Live music benefits HAAM

by Olga Campos

published October 2, 2007

originally published at: www.kvue.com

Austin earned its reputation Tuesday as the "Live Music Capitol of the World" during the second annual citywide fundraising effort benefiting HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.



This year, more than 175 stores and restaurants hope to raise $100,000 to meet the medical needs of local musicians.

Roger Blevins, Sr. is a HAAM member and plays bass with Mingo Fishtrap. Despite the band's success, Blevins and 900 other musicians depend on HAAM for medical care. It saved his life after he experienced congestive heart failure.

"If I hadn't had any insurance with HAAM, I never would've gone to a doctor. I never would've checked it out. I probably would've died," Blevins said.

But Blevins is alive and performing. So is Abie Tapia outside City Hall. In fact, more than 80 musicians are helping raise funds for HAAM.

"The musicians enrolled in HAAM, the majority earn less than $15,000 dollars a year. That's barely enough to make rent and food let alone pay for health care," said Carolyn Schwarz, of HAAM.

New this year is the staff of volunteers at the ME-TV studios. They are taking donations over the phone.

"I've played music all over the country and several other countries and this is the only town that's got something like this," said Blevins.