When guitarist/sax player Steve Hutter moved from Louisiana to DeLand six months after Hurricane Katrina, the life-long musician knew no one in the area. "I was in town, desperately looking for income," Hutter says. He met longtime area singer-guitarist Reuben "Lounge Lizard" Morgan at an open jam Morgan was hosting.
"When we shook hands, it reminded me of a Muppet movie, one of the songs in that thing: Old friends who had just met," Hutter says. Morgan introduced Hutter around and, he says, "Within three weeks I was working four or five gigs a week."
Including three of the five days Morgan played weekly at a time-share.
"He just gave me three of those days," Hutter says. "I know it wasn't like 'I got tons of money. I don't need that.' He'll have a gig and say, 'Hey man, I'll give you half my money, just come play.' I've seen him turn many other people on to gigs. If there's a benefit for anybody, Reuben's always there in the thick of it."
Now Morgan himself will be on the receiving end of a benefit. The 55-year-old Daytona Beach resident was diagnosed with hepatitis C, a liver disease, several months ago. He began treatment last week. The "No Worries" Benefit, so named after a favorite Morgan saying, will be April 26 at the Coliseum/Arena in downtown Daytona Beach. Proceeds will help Morgan and his wife, June, with medical expenses.
The musicians and bands scheduled to play the three stages at the
benefit read like a who's who of area artists: Caribbean Posse, Mark
Hodgson, Anthony Wild and the Suspects, the Daytona Blues Society
All-Stars, the Ride, Push, the Eddie Reynolds Band, Pickin' Kind, the
Jeff White Band, Steve Hutter, Tom Redmond and Morning Buzz, Expresso
Jazz featuring Linda Flynn, Brad Yates and the Soul Surfers, Minister
Theory, Then2Now, James Crouch Band, Chuck Bob Carnes and the Honky
Tonk Heroes, the Elderly Brothers and Mr. AJ's School House Blues Band.
Also, the band Rampage, featuring some of Morgan's longtime friends from his home turf in the Macon, Ga., area, will perform. Bob Collins will host jams throughout the event. And Morgan himself will attend and perhaps play, he says, "if there's a guitar around."
"It's very humbling but well-appreciated to be on the recipient end of a benefit," Morgan says. "It's overwhelming that so many people in these economic times are taking the time to donate their musical talent. There's a camaraderie among musicians in this town. They come together for a cause, whatever it might be."
Morgan has continued to perform since being diagnosed. The hepatitis C treatments affect people differently, he says, but he's hoping to continue playing gigs once he gets settled into a regimen with his weekly treatments.
Though Morgan has health insurance through the employer of his wife, "the deductibles are pretty high," he says. "We're running behind the train keeping up with it. To say that in these economic times, and to still have a roof over your head and to be able to get by is a luxury. We're thankful."
"Reuben is a real mellow guy," Hutter says. "His motto is 'No worries' and that's kind of how he lives it. Everybody's gonna see a big expression of how much everybody loves Reuben. The benefit is going to be an inspirational, cool thing."
(Donations can be made to the "No Worries" account at any area Riverside Bank. Checks should be made payable to June Tarallo.)
If You Go
WHAT: "No Worries" Benefit for Reuben "Lounge Lizard" Morgan
WHO: Caribbean Posse, Mark Hodgson, Steve Hutter, Tom Redmond and Morning Buzz, Expresso Jazz and other local musicians
WHEN: 12:30-10:30 p.m. April 26
WHERE: Coliseum/Arena, 176 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach
ADMISSION: $10, includes buffet from 3-7 p.m.
INFORMATION: 386-868-7181
Also, the band Rampage, featuring some of Morgan's longtime friends from his home turf in the Macon, Ga., area, will perform. Bob Collins will host jams throughout the event. And Morgan himself will attend and perhaps play, he says, "if there's a guitar around."
"It's very humbling but well-appreciated to be on the recipient end of a benefit," Morgan says. "It's overwhelming that so many people in these economic times are taking the time to donate their musical talent. There's a camaraderie among musicians in this town. They come together for a cause, whatever it might be."
Morgan has continued to perform since being diagnosed. The hepatitis C treatments affect people differently, he says, but he's hoping to continue playing gigs once he gets settled into a regimen with his weekly treatments.
Though Morgan has health insurance through the employer of his wife, "the deductibles are pretty high," he says. "We're running behind the train keeping up with it. To say that in these economic times, and to still have a roof over your head and to be able to get by is a luxury. We're thankful."
"Reuben is a real mellow guy," Hutter says. "His motto is 'No worries' and that's kind of how he lives it. Everybody's gonna see a big expression of how much everybody loves Reuben. The benefit is going to be an inspirational, cool thing."
(Donations can be made to the "No Worries" account at any area Riverside Bank. Checks should be made payable to June Tarallo.)
If You Go
WHAT: "No Worries" Benefit for Reuben "Lounge Lizard" Morgan
WHO: Caribbean Posse, Mark Hodgson, Steve Hutter, Tom Redmond and Morning Buzz, Expresso Jazz and other local musicians
WHEN: 12:30-10:30 p.m. April 26
WHERE: Coliseum/Arena, 176 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach
ADMISSION: $10, includes buffet from 3-7 p.m.
INFORMATION: 386-868-7181
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