Benefit Concert for Sterling Smith

Before the pandemic there was a plan to honor The Grayps, a band that was formed in Columbus in the mid-1960s. The plan was put on hold, as was much of the world. This summer it morphed into including a benefit concert for Sterling Smith, one of the original members of the Grayps (pronounced grapes). 

The concert was held at the Valley Dale Ballroom and featured music by Driving Guitars (Sterling's brother Tom's local band, made up of former Danger Brothers band mates) and a Rolling Stones tribute band called The Rolling Rock Show. The Valley Dale originally started in 1918, but unfortunately burned to the ground in 1923. Two years later it reopened better than before and became the local place where all the Big Band musicians performed, including Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, and Tommy Dorsey. They used the forced closing of the pandemic wisely and spent over a million dollars renovating the space. It positively glistens!

The benefit concert had one more morphing when Uncle Sterling passed away on July 29th, it became a memorial concert. The concert was lovingly recorded by Cousin Laura and Matt and is immortalized HERE on YouTube.

Sterling made quite a name for himself in the music scene as much for his musical talent as for being himself. He helped everyone who needed it. In a world where people use drugs and alcohol to keep up the energy needed to perform, Sterling fueled himself on chocolate milk and fig newtons. When Don, Ashley, and I went to Los Angeles in 2010, we connected with him and his sister, Aunt Joanie, on what became an epic tour of the local Starbucks. Thirteen years later we cannot pass a Starbucks without thinking abut him and that tour. I remember in 1982, the summer after we met him at Aunt Debra and Uncle Tom's wedding, we went out to California where Sterling took us for a ride in his big red convertible. I credit that ride to why I wanted a convertible.

The concert was a lot of fun. I enjoyed hearing Sterling stories. Made me wish I had spent more time getting to know him. That's often the case at memorials that turn into parties and celebrations.

The next day we gathered for Massey's pizza, chocolate milk, and fig newtons in his honor. I represented New Jersey ("God's Country," as his mom, Marge Smith, used to say). Others came from Michigan, and throughout Ohio. The weekend felt as if Sterling would walk in the room in any moment. That's when the sadness would set in.

Some pictures from the show and next day party:

Trip to Jeni's for us out of towners

A whirlwind of a weekend.