 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-09 03:07
Frank Vignola has organized a fundraiser for the amazing clarinet virtuoso Ken Peplowski. While that word is often thrown around, Ken is truly one of the most amazing players to ever pick up the clarinet.
Like many, Ken struggled through the pandemic with the lack of work and income. He was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma and will be facing extensive treatment and costs.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/6sw88q-ken-peplowski?utm_source=customer
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2022-07-10 20:18
Such a wonderful player, I'm so sorry to learn about this. Please contribute if you can, even a small bit helps.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2022-07-11 21:24
$37,390 of $50,000 raised so far.
Quote:
I’m completely overwhelmed by your acts of kindness. Thank you a million times. Ken
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Author: jim sclater
Date: 2022-07-13 01:14
Another lovely solo by Ken. He makes it look so easy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgawVsHQt9U&list=RDMM&start_radio=1&rv=9MUwb3eNZzE
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-13 04:04
Yes, great clips. I am always in awe of his playing- terrific sound, amazing technique, impeccable style and taste.
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2022-07-13 17:09
Thanks for sharing the Stompin' at the Savoy clip, I have only recently discovered Ken and what struck me from the start is his ability to play so gently and delicately without ever losing absolute control of the instrument, a true marvel.
Also very tasteful guitar playing , well matched to Ken's approach, lovely to listen to.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2022-07-17 07:32
i dont understand why a big star player dosnt have good health insurance at this point. when i got cancer i had expencive health insu and it payed all but 3000$ of my treatments.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-18 01:20
I would have no guess what kind of healthcare he was able to afford. I would bet that while he is a prominent player, the gigs may not be as lucrative as many of us would think.
He has posted an update on the site about his treatments and what he has been dealing with. Like with many players, the time of Covid has been a real hardship with gigs being non existent during lockdowns and distancing. As things were coming back, his treatments made it impossible to tour. It seems like lousy combination of circumstances to have to deal with.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2022-07-18 01:34
Dan,
I do think your question touches on an important point for some (especially the younger folks who might be evaluating clarinet performance as a primary source of income.)
There are many ways in which to earn income playing music. Some of which pay well and are packaged with retirement packages, insurance, etc., and others that pay very poorly/sporadically - and many gradations between.
I attended an adult class with one of the world's most in-demand living jazz clarinetists. One of his statements stood out to me, "You know, if my 50 year-old self could tell my 17 year-old self how things would be - I'm not sure this is the path I would have chosen. My non-music friends all appear financially set at this point in their life - more so than I am. They seem more prepared for the various health issues that arrive. I've had a great life and love doing what I'm doing - but I'm not sure I would have taken this path." (Words to this effect)
Another oft-cited jazz biography contains a snippet where the author recounts how he was flown all over the world (sometimes in first class), stayed in some of the finest hotels - performed in front of royalty and heads of state (all on the host's dime)...but back home, he had trouble finding enough money to scrape the rent together.
I think your question is valid in that it exposes one of the traps young people can get caught up in - following their dreams to the point that it causes them real discomfort or loss of independence in the later years of life.
Business sense is important in a life of music. In my opinion, working a "primary job" makes you no less of a musician - any more than being a professional musician means you're incapable of doing other things at a professional level.
If a person can gain/create a position which allows both a performance-only income, and life-long security...great! But when looking at the number of "musicians" alive today - only a very small minority achieve this.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-07-18 03:36
I abandoned trying to find out the net worth of Ken Peplowski or whether he has insurance or not.
Instead, I decided to find out the typical costs of treating multiple myeloma. From the article listed below, it appears that multiple myeloma is or can be an extremely costly cancer to treat depending upon which methods are used. I personally found the article to be very informative.
https://health.costhelper.com/multiple-myeloma.html
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-07-22 04:42
Oh, my...just when I thought things couldn't get any worse for Ken.
I just came from his Go Fund Me webpage. Only this time, I went further on down the page and discovered that he had been giving updates.
Here's his latest:
July 18, 2022
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Well my update today is that I tested positive today for Covid and so, sadly, I have to cancel my appearance with Rossano Sportiello this Thursday at William Paterson College. My apologies but I know Rossano will knock them out regardless."
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-22 18:17
As it can be easy to get down or frustrated with things in our own lives, it is worth considering things like this. It makes me realize that any struggles I might be dealing with are nothing compared to this. I really hope things turn around for Ken and he is able to keep sharing his wonderful playing with us.
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Author: Mark Charette ★2017
Date: 2022-07-22 19:59
Dan Shusta wrote:
> "Well my update today is that I tested positive today for Covid
> and so, sadly, I have to cancel my appearance with Rossano
> Sportiello this Thursday at William Paterson College
As the old corollary to Murphy's Law states:
"Badness comes in waves"
![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-07-27 00:59
Ken put up an update today. 7-26-2022
Updates (5)
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Well, I’ve lost most of my hair and I’m winding up looking like Martin Short playing the banjo player in Deliverance (see photo). I have a meeting with the hospital August 9 for yet another bone marrow extraction as they need me to quarantine from them for three weeks since I just had Covid again. I did take a nasty fall from being weak but luckily I mostly just fell on my brains so it’s a little painful to sit down!! I will be at the Litchfield Jazz Fest on July 30 with my pal Houston Person so I’m looking forward to that! Then the difficult part of deciding what next and what gigs I have to cut. I can’t thank you all enough for your help and encouragement." ❤️Ken
p.s. I was unable to post his photo. If you go to his GoFundMe webpage, I honesty don't think you'll recognize him. My heart goes out to him.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-27 21:32
Quote:
p.s. I was unable to post his photo. If you go to his GoFundMe webpage, I honesty don't think you'll recognize him. My heart goes out to him.
That is because it is a pic of Martin Short as the kid from deliverance. Ken posted that pic, showing that his great sense of humor is still intact
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-07-27 23:46
WOW! What a whopper of a mistake I made! However, at 75, I'm starting to be a lot more forgiving of all the fumbles I make during each and every day.
Yes, Ken's sense of humor appears to be very firmly intact and I find that to be quite amazing! And, added to that, he's planning to play at the Litchfield Jazz Fest on July 30th! His scheduled performance is supposed to begin at 5:15pm.
Ken has become a source of inspiration for me. Although my problems have continued to mount since being declared disabled in 2006, I know there is no comparison to what Ken is going through.
I used to live in CT many years ago. However, if I still did, I know I'd be in Litchfield to hear Ken play live! What a treat that would be!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-07-28 01:43
Reading his post, it would be easy to make that mistake
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-07-28 21:45
New Update: #6
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
So here’s my update for today, July 28: as you can see, Corky is “taking care” of me! I’m kind of in a frustrating limbo right now as I wait to go in on August 9 for bone marrow biopsy number 3. I’ve lost about 65 pounds and it’s been a struggle getting some of that weight back (not all - I was a little chunky pre-2020!) but I’m working closely with the nutritionist on all this, along with trying to build back my strength. I’m so looking forward to playing Saturday at the Litchfield Jazz Festival. That’ll be great therapy! Most importantly, thank you all - friends, fans, colleagues and complete strangers for all your help - and I do mean all- financial, spiritual and the overwhelming support I’m getting out there. I’m so grateful. ❤️Ken
p.s. Please see Ken's video of how Corky is "taking care" of him.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-08-02 02:42
Ken played at Litchfield!
Updates (8)
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Thank you so much, everyone, for your continuing support and encouragement. I played on Saturday in Litchfield and felt really good getting out there and making music! Now I’m working on a producing job for a recording session here in NY in August but first I’m trying to stay healthy for my next bone marrow biopsy on August 9. Much love and gratitude to all of you. ❤️Ken
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-08-07 23:31
Updates (9)
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Thank you so much for your continuing support and encouragement. It’s been a tough week. My friend Howard Stone passed away - he not only was the artistic director of Vail Jazz, but he was an incredibly compassionate and positive person. As it turned out, he’d been treated for many years for a cancer similar to mine, and we had many conversations about this and shared much tears and laughter. He was a real friend and I’ll miss him along with the many, many people whose lives he changed for the better. On another note, I’m in the process of paring back the next round of gigs so I can get my next bone marrow biopsy and subsequent treatment. So these are the gigs I’ll be making at this point: Coral Gables August 14, Mezzrow August 19/20, Birdland August 23-27, Vail September 1-4. Toronto, September 22. Newport Oregon (Oregon Coast Jazz Party) September 30/October 1st. NOTE: all of my other west coast dates in September will unfortunately have to be canceled, including the Siletz Bay Music Festival, LA club gigs and Cafe Bistango in Newport Beach, Ca and some dates around Medford, Oregon. My apologies and hopefully we can make these up in the future. ❤️Ken
p.s. If you click on the GoFundMe URL listed in the OP's message, you'll see a picture of Ken. However, I don't know if it's recent or not.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-08-15 09:47
Updates (10)
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Well, I'm in Miami performing one concert with the great trio LaLucha, then back home tomorrow for some dates in NY, but most importantly, so I can see my doctor in the next two weeks and figure out (a) why I'm feeling so bad and (b) his/our plan for the immediate future. The traveling is pretty tough, but, like I've always said, the music is the easiest part, especially when it feels like we've really connected with the audience. The photo, incidentally, is from the session I produced last week for John Pizarelli and Manu Lafer. Looking at it, I realize I've got to get even smaller suits! Anyway, I thank you all for everything - your constant support, your financial help, and all those encouraging words. You are literally and figuratively keeping me going, and I'm so grateful to all of you! Ken
https://www.gofundme.com/f/6sw88q-ken-peplowski?utm_source=customer
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-08-31 01:58
Yesterday (08/29/22)
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Well, I just wrapped up a week at Birdland, complete with strings (that's me in the hat in the picture - I lost most of my hair, hence the chapeau). I feel exhausted but great at the same time, as the audiences were both plentiful and wonderful. Now I go to Vail to pay tribute to my friend who just passed away, Howard Stone. Then it's back to Mount Sinai the second week of September to decide my fate re. another stem cell harvest attempt or not.....thank you all for your help - I really appreciate it, and it's much needed - for example, I've had to cancel another three weeks in September for various medical things...I'm trying to make as many gigs as I can as it's truly the best therapy, but I'll be juggling said gigs with treatments, at least in the short term. Much love and gratitude to all of you wonderful people out there who have offered encouragement, financial help, and support in so many ways. The jazz family is the best! Ken"
Update from today (08/30/22)
Updates (12)
Today
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Well, sadly, I have to cancel my appearance at the Vail festival this weekend. I'm still losing weight and having trouble keeping it on, still having nausea and neuropathy problems, etc., and the doctors feel that the trip and the altitude in Vail will just do me in, so I'm waiting patiently until my appointment next week and following my nutritionist's advice along with my doctors. Ohm, and I broke/bruised a rib somehow along the way! I'm still planning on making everything else I have, but I think the week at Birdland did me in - too much excitement!!!! :-) So, thanks again for everyone's kind thoughts and generosity - it means the world to me."
p.s. There appears to be a very recent photo of Ken below today's update.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-09-05 21:10
Update 13 posted 09/04/22
Yesterday
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Thank you so much, everybody, for all your support in so many ways! I'm just waiting for the big doctor's appointment on September 8th and trying to regain some of the weight I've lost (I'm 8 clothing sizes down from where I was two years ago.....) along with my strength. And I appreciate all of you and your kindness and help in getting me through this. I'll give you another update after I see the doctor on the 8th. Stay well, everyone, and much love and gratitude to all of you!"
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-09-10 01:34
Updates (14)
Today (09/09/22)
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"OK, folks, here's my update - I saw the doctor yesterday along with some other members of the medical team. They've determined that I'm not a good candidate for harvesting stem cells. That's the bad news. The good news is that I am officially in remission! However, to finish this thing off, at least for the short term, I have to get four more treatment cycles (that's three weeks on and one week off for four months). Welcome back chemo and steroids!!!!! But I'll take that if that enables me to return to my (ab)normal life for a while. And, again, I can't thank you enough for your support, your kind words, and your generosity. I'll try my best to thank you all in music. With my eternal gratitude and love, Ken"
https://www.gofundme.com/f/6sw88q-ken-peplowski?utm_source=customer
p.s. Below the update, there appears to be a very recent picture of Ken playing.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-09-10 04:23
I don't believe that is a recent picture. Ken has lost a tremendous amount of weight.
Post Edited (2022-09-10 04:25)
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-09-10 04:25
Attachment: Ken P.jpg (129k)
Here is a pic from his performance a few weeks back in NY
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2022-09-10 05:39
Peplowski has talent and grit to spare. I first paid attention to his playing when he came out with the 1996 CD, "The Other Portrait," alternating jazz improvisation with a fine classical performance of the Darius Milhaud clarinet concerto. Goodman commissioned the Milhaud but probably never gave a public performance. He didn't care for the piece and said there was no place to breathe in it. When Mitchell Lurie performed the Milhaud (very well), he quipped that it had "too many notes." Peplowski wasn't daunted by too little breathing space or too many notes, and got through it quite well, with no complaints. With luck and care, let's hope he pulls through this health crisis just as well.
Post Edited (2022-09-10 05:40)
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-09-22 09:55
September 19, 2022
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"Hi, everyone - just want to give you a quick update....I played a couple of gigs this past weekend - one in Morristown, NJ with Frank Vignola and a recording session for a project by Michael Mossman....meanwhile, I'm eagerly awaiting the beginning of my four month cycle of treatment which I start next week. I am planning on making every gig that I have left in the books, as I'm gradually getting back my strength and stamina. I know there will be some setbacks, but hopefully all that is in the distant future. I thank you all again for literally keeping me going. Your support, kind words and friendship are invaluable and I remain overwhelmingly grateful and appreciative." Ken Peplowski
Yesterday, September 20, 2022
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
"All I've known how to do since I was a child involved learning how to express my internal self through something, anything - for me it was music, books, writing, drawing and performing. That helped get me out of a childhood largely crippled by fear, sadness and sometimes violence. Never an easy life, but the rewards were great - meet all kinds of interesting people, see lots of the world, new experiences just around the corner, etc. Now that I face a bout of health issues I'm realizing how precious all of those moments were and are, and I'm also learning how to cope with less music, less traveling and a lot less income!!!!!!! What have I learned? If you want to live, you have to find even one thing to cling to, one thing that makes life worth living. Well, I have many things - I have the unbelievable and unconditional love of my dog Corky, who probably had a rough start, too, but is the sweetest, most loving dog I've ever encountered; I have a great girlfriend who has been nothing but supportive through everything; and I have what I like to refer to as the "jazz family" - that would be all my fellow musicians and fans, some of you close friends, but all of you lending a hand or two (four?) when the chips are down. I thank you all and I am truly grateful to you all for everything." Ken
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-09-28 06:04
Updates (17)
Today 9-27-22
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
OK, folks, not a great update - I played last in Toronto wherein I began throwing up in the evening, continuing onto the fight home, and even in the customs hall in NY. Then hospital visits again, mostly fruitless. I've now lost 75 pounds and still dropping, and am extremely weak and nauseous. They know that the Multiple Myeloma is in remission so now they're trying to figure out what else is causing this. Tomorrow morning it's off to the gastroenterologist...so, sadly and very disappointingly for me, I cannot travel to Oregon this weekend for the OCJP. I'm sorry to let everyone down, I truly am, but I can't physically make it out there at this point. I'm also going to have to pull out, for the second time, from the Amelia Island Festival and again, you'll never know how much I regret having to do this. So now it's back to the doctors performing their very delicate but deft wallet extractions.....thanks for being there by my side, and again, I am so sorry for this setback. Sincerely, Ken Peplowski
https://www.gofundme.com/f/6sw88q-ken-peplowski?utm_source=customer>
p.s. There is a picture below today's update.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-06 06:59
October 2, 2022
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Hi, everyone - just want to thank you for your continued support. I'm busy trying to get my strength and weight back and the hospital is busy trying to help! So I'm working on it, folks, and I can't thank you enough for keeping me going through all this. I'm forever indebted to you all. With all the gratitude and love I can give, Ken PS. As you can see in the photo, Corky is "taking care" of me!!!!
October 3, 2022
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Well, as if by magic, this week I have a PET scan, an endoscopy/colonoscopy and blood work - They should know more about me than I do by Sunday!!!!! Hoping for some good news.....!!!! And thanks again for your help, everyone! KP
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-08 05:54
Yesterday (10/06/22)
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Well, sadly, I've had to cancel the next couple of weeks - gone is Springfield, Oregon, with the wonderful Swing Shift Jazz Orchestra and Miami w/my dear friend Shelly Berg. Still struggling to keep the weight on, but this week will provide many answers (I hope!). I have all intentions to make my November dates - should know more next week. And, again, thank you for all of your financial help, emotional support, etc. I literally could not have made it this far without you. Much love - Ken
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-19 08:18
Yesterday (10/17/22)
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
OK, folks, this may be the last update as the GoFundMe runs out the beginning of November. Once again, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to all of you dear people out there who have literally gotten me through this. Am I out of the woods? Not quite - they're still trying to pin down the source of the weight loss and muscle loss; it's likely that it's a bad gastric ulcer largely caused by the chemo, etc. They're still waiting on the results of one polyp biopsy, and that will determine my treatment options. I still have four cycles to complete, which will be four more months of trying to juggle work and treatment, but if I'm still in remission by then I can rest easy at least for a little while. Staying home the last month has allowed me to rest up and add at least five pounds, so at least things are moving in the right direction. I will be in Cleveland next month and I'll be headlining Birdland the week of November 22 - 26. Please come for my NYC comeback - we're going to be putting on some great shows there! Love to you all, Ken
Today (10/18/22)
by Kenneth Peplowski, Beneficiary
Thanks so much for your ongoing support and positivity. Believe me, it really helps. So, the doctor's assistant phoned yesterday - they're saying the biopsies show no traces of multiple myeloma, which means that part is in remission (this cancer is never considered "cured"). So we're focusing on the gastritis problems and working on treatment for that, even as I have to finish the four remaining cycles of chemo/steroids/Revlimid/etc., so another four months of juggling work and treatment....but I'm in a much better place now and they're giving me flexibility so I can make the gigs I still have on the books; then it's time to kickstart my career back into full gear. Hoping for the best...Love to you all, Ken
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-31 04:35
October 28, 2022
by Ken Peplowski , Beneficiary
Well, folks, we're wrapping this fundraiser up at the beginning of November. Big thanks to Frank and Don for setting this up on my behalf - incredibly selfless and generous of them. What have I learned? That Multiple Myeloma is going to be a lifetime issue for me, and it will certainly give my life lots of interesting ups and downs. Still working on getting the weight back up - that's the biggest challenge....but I've also learned that I've got lots of friends out there and don't ever for one moment think I take that lightly. I promise, as much as is in my ability (for a man who hasn't been able to secure a booking agent for over twenty years!) to get back out there on the road and give back in my small way to all of you. I am truly forever in your debt and leave you for now with much love and much gratitude. Ken Peplowski
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Author: Ed
Date: 2023-05-12 04:00
From a recent post from Ken
"Just an update for everyone inquiring about my health (and thank you all for your kind thoughts and concerns), I’m in remission right now from Multiple Myeloma, receiving post remission treatments and having some ancillary side effects that I’m dealing with, but as you can see from this video (This was hour four or so of our drive up from NYC) I’m genuinely happy and grateful to be working again and in this case working with my friend the great guitarist Diego Figueiredo in the town of Fredonia! I’m feeling strong and finally feeling like I’m playing like my old self again, so to all you promoters and agents out there, book me, please!!!! I need the work after missing the large part of three years and it’s not just about paying off my medical bills and other expenses - this is my life and I need to make music for all of you out there!!!!! So happy to be back and thanks again to all my friends and fans who have kept me going in so many ways!!!!"
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The Clarinet Pages
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