The Light of Day Foundation is currently celebrating 17 years in its global battle against Parkinson’s Disease and related illnesses “through the awesome power of music,” with LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2017: The Beat Goes On. To aid in its goal again, renowned photographer MARK WEISS has donated 21 of his classic Rock & Roll photographs from the ’70s and ’80s to kick off this year’s annual Charitybuzz fundraising effort, with proceeds directly benefitting the Light of Day Foundation.
The 10-day festival will bring more than 150 music acts to 30 venues over 10 days in three New Jersey cities, New York City, and Philadelphia, in January, following holiday season tours of Europe and Canada. Last year alone, the Foundation raised a record $525,000, to bring its 16-year total approaching $4 Million!
Weiss shot the cover photos for two of the most memorable albums of the ‘80s ─ Bon Jovi’s multi-platinum breakthrough, Slippery When Wet, and Twisted Sister’s smash hit album, Stay Hungry. Photo sales are expected to move briskly this year, featuring iconic images of David Bowie, Van Halen, Prince, Guns N’ Roses, the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen from his original River tour in 1980. All photographs are signed by Weiss. The auction is running NOW through Dec. 15, 2016 at www.charitybuzz.com/lightofday.
Mark Weiss is extremely passionate about his photo auctions, which he started in 2013 to benefit Lunch Break, the soup kitchen in Red Bank, NJ, by launching an art program with the Boys and Girls Club. Weiss also recently raised money with his photographs in support of the Rockit Live Foundation’s live music education mission at their 2016 Gala, where Maureen and Steven Van Zandt were honored for their lifetime devotion to the arts.
“I never imagined when I was 16 and sneaking my camera into concerts, that I could make a living out of it, much less help out those in need by donating the sales of these photos some three decades later,” says Weiss. “My career as a photographer has been a dream come true, and it’s time to give back.
“Whether helping the people in my hometown with life’s basic necessities or supporting the overwhelming battle against Parkinson’s, we all do whatever we can,” Weiss continued. “I am honored to stand alongside the generous and talented musicians I have worked with for decades to once again help make this year’s LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST an epic success. I have been humbled and inspired by Bob Benjamin’s story and by the powerful snowballing impact LOD has had for the last 17 years.”
Benjamin, an artist manager and music industry veteran, has been living with Parkinson’s since 1996, two years before he co-founded Light of Day with concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi and musician Joe D’Urso. Benjamin put together the first fundraiser show on his 40th birthday at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank, NJ, and raised $2,000. From that small event, the LIGHT OF DAY Foundation was born in 2000. Benjamin named the Foundation after the Springsteen anthem with the fitting lyrics: Well I’m a little down under, but I’m feeling okay – I got a little lost along the way – I’m just around the corner to the light of day.
Light of Day WinterFest has gained international acclaim for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 11 of the previous 16 years, and always at the Paramount Theater since Bob’s Birthday Bash was added to the festivities. New Jersey power pop legends THE SMITHEREENS headlined last year at Bob’s Birthday Bash, the sold-out all-star anchor event of Light of Day WinterFest in the Foundation’s global battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and the Parkinsonisms in our lifetime “through the awesome power of music.”
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Except for the Paramount show, plenty of tickets are available for all other Light of Day WinterFest 2017 events in Asbury Park, and New York City! Complete, up-to-the-minute information on all Light of Day events can be found on the official Light of Day website.
Tickets for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2017 events, with the exception of Bob’s Birthday Bash, are on sale NOW for live music events being held at such other fabled rock venues as the Stone Pony, the Wonder Bar, House of Independents and the new Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, as well as the Cutting Room in NYC, World Café Live in Philadelphia, and Outpost in the Burbs in Montclair, NJ. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. A wide variety of combination ticket packages — as well as single tickets to each show — are available.
For more about Light Of Day Foundation, go to www.lightofday.org.
For more about Mark Weiss, go to www.WEISSGUYgallery.com.
For hi-rez print media images, send requests to mark@markweiss.com.
