SoSara

Northern Lights to host benefit

CLIFTON PARK (Sept. 24) — Tony Leonardi heard that one of his bandmate’s children was suffering from a rare form of cancer, he decided he had to help.

So Leonardi, who is a member of the Capital District Marching Band, put together a concert to benefit 8-year-old Emily Quick, the oldest of drummer Graig Quick’s four children. Proceeds will be used to help pay for her medical expenses.

Fluid Motion band leader Tony Leonardi will be among the musicians participating in the Benefit for Emily Quick, a concert Sept. 27 at Northern Lights.

“It’s the least I could do,” said Leonardi, who is also the leader of 8-piece horn band Fluid Motion, 1 of 7 bands that will be appearing. “They have a full family, and then they are trying to pay medical bills.”

Leonardi is excited about the bands that volunteered to play. He didn’t know many of them beforehad, yet they wanted to be involved.

“My bass player knew two of them,” said Leonardi, a trumpeter who has has played with Doc Severensen, Al Hirt, Maynard Ferguson and Chuck Mangione. “There will be rock bands, alternative rock, a folk singer, a pop band.”

Also making an appearance to sign autographs is model Tina Dame, a Schenectady resident who appeared on ABC’s “The Ex-Wives Club.”

“She just called me out of the blue and asked to help,” Leonardi said.

Emily Quick suffers from Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, which swells the insides of her bones. LCH affects about 1 in every 200,000 children a year.

The concert will be 2-9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Northern Lights, 1208 Route 146 in Clifton Park. Tickets are $8 presale at the Northern Lights box office and $10 at the door. Children 12 and under are free.

“Bring your kids and have some fun,” Leonardi said.

The lineup: