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Click below to launchI had the honor and privilege to work with Carl a number of times.
There is a great story about him that I'd love to share with you. Every
year for the past 10 years, I organize a benefit concert to raise money
for a non-profit organization in Orange County, California, called High Hopes that
helps people who have suffered traumatic head injuries. These concerts
have become big events, drawing thousands of people and have featured
many famous guest artists. But 10 years ago, our first concert was held
in a very inauspicious little room at a local Orange County community
center. We set up on a very funky stage in front of only a few hundred
people. I called Carl to see if he would consider being our celebrity
guest artist. There was no money to offer him for the rehearsal or the
show, no place to stay and a very long drive from where he lived. I think
our pre-show meal consisted of water and a bowl of corn chips!
I warned Carl about all this when I called him so he would know everything
up front. He didn't hesitate to say that he would be happy to do it. That
first little concert raised over $40,000 and it was largely because of
the draw of Carl Anderson. The success of that concert helped us to move
to a much larger venue the following year and now, 10 years later, we
have raised over $1,000,000 for this charity. Carl was touring Europe
that following year but joined us for two more shows before his passing.
At that first concert, my daughter Katie, who was 11 at the time, was one
of our background singers! (We took advantage of every resource possible!)
Even then she was a great little singer but she was very nervous. Carl
didn't mind at all that one of his background singers was an 11-year-old!
In fact, he took her aside and gave her some very sage advice in a way
that only Carl could communicate. He told her that, even at 11 years old,
he could tell that she "had it" and that there was nothing holding
her back. Those words of inspiration stuck with Katie. She is now graduating
from USC with a bachelor's degree in Musical Theater and, if she chooses,
is headed for Broadway. Carl Anderson was an inspiring musician and a
real humanitarian and I was very proud to call him my friend. We miss
him terribly but we're left with the beautiful music, kindness and spirit
that he gave to us all.
With Love,
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