More help for musicians in need

The Wichita Eagle

March 13, 2008

The late local blues musician Pat McJimsey used to give this piece of advice to his fellow musicians: 'Don't start believing your own press.'

But McJimsey was one person who should have believed his own 'press,' his friends, family and fellow musicians say. In his life, he was a friend, a mentor, a loving son and a good husband -- someone who inspired the best in people, they say.

'He was my brother,' said Jenny Detra, a former bandmate and friend. 'I loved him dearly, as anyone who knew him did.'

McJimsey is the namesake and inspiration for PAT (Performers Assistance Trust), a fund that provides emergency financial assistance to local musicians or immediate survivors who do not have health or life insurance.

On Saturday area musicians will perform in the annual PAT Bash at the Orpheum to raise money for the fund.

PAT was started by Barb Pearce-McJimsey, Pat's widow, after his death at the age of 54 from a heart attack in 2004. She started the fund with donated money from a benefit concert a week after his death.

'After the event at the Roadhouse where everyone played, we had more money than we needed for the funeral,' she said. 'I knew that Pat wanted me to do something with it.'

That money rekindled the defunct musicians relief fund. The fund was then renamed after McJimsey and administered by the Wichita Blues Society, Pearce-McJimsey said.

'Pat was often asked to do benefits,' she said. 'I thought it was a fitting tribute.'

Saturday's show is designed to appeal to a larger variety of musical tastes and to get younger musicians involved, she said.

'We want to continue this for the people who have never heard of Pat,' Pearce-McJimsey said.

The first set will feature some of McJimsey's former bandmates as well as his friends.

The second set will include country music from Steve Barnes and the Country Money Band.

The final set will have more of a contemporary rock feel with the Sluggos and the Sleepy Truckers.

For some local musicians, the fund represents a safety net.

'Being a musician is like being an independent contractor,' said Tom Page, one of the musicians performing on Saturday. 'Many musicians can't afford to have insurance.'

Page has seen how important the fund is to musicians firsthand. When one of his friends died, the PAT fund helped his family pay for his funeral, he said.

Detra, who knew McJimsey for most of her life, said that a record deal doesn't make a musician successful -- it's the love of music and art. That's what makes a musician's life difficult, she said.

'It's difficult to hold a full-time day job and do music. You're burning the candle at both ends. It's either feast or famine.'

If you go

PAT BASH

Where: The Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

How much: Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets are available at Select-A-Seat outlets, by phone at 316-755-SEAT, or online at www.selectaseat.com

Send donations to:

The PAT Fund

c/o The Wichita Blues Society

PO Box 8273-Munger Station

Wichita, KS 67208

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