One Band Plays from the Heart, the Other Plays Its Heart Out

Long Time Gone, a Crosby Stills Nash & Young benefit band played two benefits in January that raised more than $36,000 to fight cancer - the Stars fund raiser for John Silveira and the Peak Gala of Hope for the Jimmy V Foundation.  Peak City Blues Project played a magical evening at Deep South the Bar to raise the spirits of over 150 people.  January was a music band performance trifecta for my two bands playing three successful shows.

Long Time Gone Plays at Stars Theater for the
John Silveira Fund Raiser

On Friday, January 6, 2012, the Stars Theater and Arts Center in Fuquay Varina was packed to overflow capacity and Long Time Gone, was rocking - all in the spirit of community to raise money for the John Silveira family. John has been courageously battling Leukemia and Lymphoma for several years.

Beth Silveira, John’s wife, spoke to the crowd at Stars Theater and later said,  “There are no words that have been invented to express our thankfulness. John's benefit …was amazing and overwhelming. I just couldn't sleep (that) night thinking about all the people, all the love. Enough money was raised to pay all of the outstanding medical bills from 2008-2011. We could not do any of this with out all of the people who love us and care about us,” said Beth Silveira.

This Photo has my other side at Stars Theater

John Silveria is a Senior Engineer employed at Emerson Network Power in Cary, NC.  He moved his family from Massachusetts to Willow Springs and began a long association with Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church (FVUMC) and the community.

Long Time Gone - featuring several FVUMC praise team members - performed for two hours, covering classic rock songs such as CSNY”s “Teach Your Children” and  Neil Young’s “Rocking in the Free World” among others .  The event was created by Ed Williams, Long Time Gone’s lead guitarist/singer and supported by Banded Brothers.  The Stars Theater donated the space that evening for this important cause.  Over $6,000 was raised by the event and 100% of donations went to the Silveira family.

Peak City Blues Project Plays Deep South on a
Magical Evening in January

Long Time Gone could not have pulled off such a successful event by themselves.  Banded Brothers, an organization of men to help support important local causes was instrumental in making the evening a big success.  Banded Brothers matched the first $500 of donations, got the work out to the community and was on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly at Stars.

On January 7, Peak City Blues Project played at Deep South the Bar in Raleigh.  Old fans and new fans showed up to pack the place.  Over 150 enjoyed the evening as we danced off the holiday blues.  Seemed everyone was ready for a party. It was such a special evening with the crowd feeding off the band and the band feeding off the crowd.  These type of evenings don't happen all the time, but when they do, they are very special.

The  Peak Gala of Hope for the Jimmy V Foundation was a fitting climax for the month of performances. Three Apex High School seniors planned and organized this charity event to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Students Katie Godfrey, Megan Gravley and Sydney Snedeker hosted the Peak City Gala of Hope on January 22 at Peak United Methodist Church in Apex.

They want to show the impact of cancer in the community, and the impact the community can have on cancer research.  They wanted to raise $10,000.  The raised over $30,000!

Testimonies of hope were offered by three-time cancer survivor and NC State Auditor Beth Wood, Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski, NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow, as well as various cancer survivors, loved ones and the students themselves.

Live music was provided by the band Long Time Gone and heavy hors d’oeuvres were provided by various Apex restaurants.  The evening also included a live and silent auction.

While Long Time Gone cannot take full credit for raising all the funds at these Charity events, we are pleased we were a part of effort.

You may still donate:


Peak City Gala of Hope Donations can be contributed through this secure website.


Support the Silveira family please make checks out to Banded Brothers with Silveira General Donation on the memo line and mail to:
Banded Brothers
P.O. Box 1145
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526