Musician: 'HAAM saved my life'

by Amy Hadley

published October 2, 2007

originally published at: news8austin.com

In 49 years of playing guitar, Tommy Joe Hill has gotten pretty good. But almost a half-century of performing has taken a toll.

Earlier this year, Hill found out he had a heart condition. The only reason he even headed to the doctor was because he signed up for HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

"The left side of my leg was blocked 100 percent. The scary part was knowing I couldn't do anything about it," Hill said.

The surgery would have cost about $60,000 out of pocket. With the health insurance plan, it cost Hill $300.

Of a group of about 900 Austin musicians, most of them make less than $15,000 a year, according to HAAM.

"People like me, we can't afford $100 a month for insurance. We don't have it," Hill said.

Turns out, Hill needed a stint and a bypass. That was almost six months ago. He said he would have died without the surgery.

"After you do something for 50 years, two things can happen. You either quit or you get pretty good at what you do," he said.

Hill's not set on quitting, but an out-of-pocket bypass sure could have made him.

These days, he plays gigs here and there, publishes and produces music, and has even made a movie. He's not ready to quit. And he doesn't want other musicians to have to, either.

"It's not charity. It's people helping people. There's a difference," he said.

In the two years that HAAM has existed, it has helped musicians with heart surgeries, diagnosing things like diabetes, and even one musician who had a collapsed lung.

A big part of what makes HAAM possible is a partnership with St. David's, the Seton Family of Hospitals and the SIMS Foundation.

Tuesday marked HAAM Benefit Day, and more than 150 local businesses and restaurants are donating five percent of today's sales to HAAM.

The nonprofit sees it opportunity as a way to give back to a group that characterizes Austin's identity.

"Musicians' health is so important. In the Live Music Capital of the World, where our musicians bring in over $1 billion of economic activity each year, yet they're among the lowest income in our community. So getting access to health and mental health services is nearly impossible without a program like Health Alliance," organizer Carolyn Schwarz said.

Last year's HAAM Benefit Day raised $107,000, including matching grants.