Benefit in Santa Clara on July 7 to raise money for Magic Makers

 

Magic Makers is a rock band of special needs kids, most with varying degrees of autism. They do have one thing in common. They are all quite accomplished musicians.

There will be a benefit in Santa Clara July 7 at Mariani’s Inn for Magic Makers and organizers invite South Valley folks to come to support this worthy cause.

Magic Makers is the brainchild of retired Buchser Middle School music teacher David “Ladd” Anderson who is also a former Morgan Hill resident. The dream of a special needs band started in September 2008 from a couple of interested parents and Anderson. Before the first audition, nobody predicted to what level and how much talent the band could inspire from the kids making the music as they do. Anderson simply sat back and let them play as they wanted at that first rehearsal. One started playing a Beatles song, then another played along, another one joined in singing harmony and the sound just grew and grew …

“We all heard it! They don’t communicate well, in fact they weren’t even looking at each other. If you saw them you would swear they were unaware of anyone else on the stage, yet somehow these boys were making magic with their instruments and each other.

In October 2008, Magic Makers gave their first performance at Santa Clara Convention Center for the Friends of Children with Special Needs Annual Gala. In June 2010, Magic Makers sold out their 2nd annual concert at Santa Clara High School Performing Art Theater, playing to a standing room only audience. Magic Makers has done more than 10 performances annually for community events such as  Day in the Sky, City of San Jose Disability awareness, Autism PTA, Santa Clara Sister Cities, Area 5 and City of Santa Clara July 4th Celebration. And they performed in Los Angeles in 2014 at the World Special Olympics Celebration.

The Magic Makers use the “Magic” of rock music to engage and bring out the singularly unique talents of these special musicians to become better citizens and show we can all contribute in our own way to our community. Magic Makers currently has 10 members and is part of the nonprofit Music is Special.

Not only do the band members benefit from being in the only band of this kind in the area, but also those who hear and see the magic that is shared on stage are changed. The Mission of the Magic Makers: To expose our developing young men and women to the life of a musician.

The Magic Makers use the “Magic” of rock music to engage and bring out the singularly unique talents of their special musicians to become better citizens and show they can all contribute in their own way to the community. Magic Makers has currently 10 members and is part of the Nonprofit: Music is Special.

The $40 ticket includes a full buffet dinner, performances by both bands and the opportunity to swim in the pool at Mariani’s Inn.

In addition to the performance by Magic Makers, vintage classic rock band Chubby’s All Stars will be joined by their newest member David “Ladd” Anderson on sax and flute. Chubby’s All Stars has performed in Morgan Hill numerous times including a show at the old Granada Theater prior to the remodel, The Friday Night Music Series, and the Mushroom Mardi Gras.

All proceeds benefit Magic Makers. Doors open at 4:30  p.m. and dinner about 6 p.m. For tickets online visit abcsanjose.com/magicmakers

On another note, The Gilroy Downtown Live concert series starts at 7 p.m. Thursday evenings on Monterey Street through Aug. 15. You can see and dance to top notch bands including Polo Jones & Friends July 11, Low Noon July 18, Jordan T. July 25, Joint Chiefs Aug. 1, Rock The Heat Aug. 8, and Sweet Daddy and the Bad Cats Aug. 15. Details: (323) 363-6455.

Credo Studio 1 in San Juan Bautista is running a Women of Song Gourmet series July 13, Aug. 3, and Sept. 14.  The $35 ticket includes wine and hors d’oeuvres paired to original music. Details: (831) 245-8470.

Gilroy Garlic Festival’s inaugural major Saturday evening concert features Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat with her new band Gone West, on the Amphitheater Stage. The concert is included with admission, and the grounds will remain open until 8 p.m. so guests can enjoy the show and all the festival has to offer.

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