Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend 2005
Just my own personal experience in Texas:)
I went to Austin for the Dennis Quaid event and helped the volunteers Saturday. I meet a lot of nice people in Texas. I think every Texan I meet asked me where I was from because of my heavy New England accent. They’d go, “Maine? Why would you come down here”, and I told them. Yep, Texas from what I have seen of it is a nice place, one of the nicest places I visited so far when it comes to the natives. OK, now back to Don. I heard Don’s rehearsal and concert and it was amazing. Don opened with HC, then he did the following Eagles songs: “Take It Easy“, “Tequila Sunrise“, “Life in the Fast Lane“, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and even did Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” and Lynard Skynard’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” (The songs are not in the correct order.) I will never think of "Sweet Home Alabama" & "Old Time Rock & Roll" the same way again! I actually preferred Don's versions. Sorry Bob & L.S. Same goes for the Eagles songs Don did......
Don’s kids Leah & Cody were there and Leah sang a couple songs and she rocked. Leah & Cody are definitely gonna go places!!!!! Cody's a drummer and does percussion. Leah is also a musician and can play the guitar and drums I believe and maybe piano too. Along with being a model and actress. SHE'S A VERY TALENTED LADY!!!! I met Cody & Leah briefly a couple times and they are really nice. They take after their dad and look just like him too. I'm sure they must hear that ALL the time, but dumb old me says, "Oh My God you look just like your dad!" to Cody when I first met him. What a lame thing to say, just didn't expect him to be a spitting image:) If you get a chance to see Leah & Cody live, do it. You won't be disappointed!!!!!!!
Back to the show... Bruce Greenwood also did a couple songs and he was great too. He's an under rated musician. Then Dennis Quaid did a "Whole Lotta Shaking” and “Great Balls of Fire.” A lot of talent was on that stage. Also Jeffrey 'Skunk' Baxter from the Doobie Brothers was there. They played all songs that I knew but I just can't remember the name to some of them. So if I don't say what songs were sung by who. That just means I can't remember the titles. But I'll try to find out for everyone if I can:)
Hearing Don up front and singing again was amazing. He gets better every time! It's a shame people don't get to hear more of Don center stage. He's a incredible guitarist but he's so much more too. It‘s the Eagles loss as far as I‘m concerned. He doesn’t need them! I hope he tours so more people can see how great he really is. He is so under rated as a performer!
About the golf tournament. Austin’s a nice place just too hot. LOL... I went to golf tournament and didn’t stay with Don the whole time he was there. Too hot and I’m not use to that kind of heat. When I left Maine it was 50 raining and damp all week. Then I come to Austin and I can now say I know what a lobster feels like when it’s boiled to death. So I don't have much footage from the golf tournament.
I totally recommend people go to events or concerts that Don is at and say hi. He’s a really a sweet, wonderful funny guy and I have had so many people in Austin tell me the same thing. The volunteers who meet him (drivers and hospitality mostly.) thought he was wonderful. When you go to these events not only do you get a chance to say hi to Don and other celebs with the purchase of your ticket you’re also helping raise money for the charity you’re attending. If anyone ever thought about volunteering for events they should. It’s a lot of fun and you meet a lot of nice people (not talking about celebs here. Talking about other volunteers, but you do meet celebs too from time to time.)
I got a e-mail from someone who meet Don at the concert and he said that he met some of the other Eagles in Texas at various times and Don was the nicest. Don IS great with fans. Always has been, always will be, it‘s just his nature. I have never heard anything from anyone about him being rude to a fan:) At Avery Ridge (Golf course where the golf tournament was played.) He was so sweet, wishing fathers a Happy Father’s day after he’d sign their autograph and I watched as this little girl (about 7 I’m thinking.) walked up to him and asked him to sign the back of her shirt. He smiled that big smile of his and said something funny and signed it. The girl was all happy and grinning: )
Don also visited the local children’s hospital, children’s shelter and other places that were involved with the charity event and did a radio interview. He really does care about the charities and the causes he gets involved with and it’s shows. The celebrities that weekend were run raggered from dawn to dusk and it seemed like Don was running more than most because of the radio interviews and the concert not to mention the golf each day and the fashion show. He's like the energizer bunny on steroids. He just keeps going and going and going.......
Someone emailed me and asked if the celebrities get paid to go to these events? No one was paid and the celebrities had to pay for their own air transportation and rooms. Though transportation while they are there is provided by Hummer who donated their vehicles for the event. Don, Dennis, Bruce and everyone else did it because they care. Though this isn't always true with some celebrities. I read a article a while ago about certain big name stars who will not go to events unless they get free hotels and air and are COMPENSATED for their time and the charities that they were attending would pay it all just to have that big name star there at their event. I can't remember the events or the stars but I was shocked to read that instead of using the money to help the cause they are using it to cater to big egotistical stars and for years I thought everyone was paid to be at a charity event, but it's not so. It's a shame some people think of themselves instead of thinking of others who need help. Luckily 85 to 90% of the stars who attend charity events are there because they want to help. Like Don:):):):):):):)
Sorry there’s no video of the concert. I did take some video of the golf event, but I can’t get my Dazzle to work. I’ll try again later when I get back to Maine.
