[robin-mills]

Just posting to say that it’s absolutely great to know there’s another harpist who plays the banjo; that’s too cool:)

[robin-mills]

Thank you Marie, for your warm homage to Chris. If you look him up on Facebook, you will see lovely photos and commentary of his impact on the harp world. Every kind word that came his way, all along the way, meant a great deal to him. He has imparted a great deal musically and otherwise and, as the master of pibroch and good heartedness, will always be an inspiration to me.

[robin-mills]

Here is some additional information, as of this evening, 12/11/12. You may have already received this from Chris’s assistant, Beverly Riverwood, directly. A few more fundraisers are mentioned, if you live close enough to attend and would like to. Thank you for reading. And thank you for any understanding you can afford him.

Dear Friend of Caswell Music,

Here it is holiday time, a time of seasonal celebrations. Ordinarily this letter would be a simple announcement of a wonderful upcoming concert at the Occidental Center for the Arts. And Chris is indeed scheduled to play “A Harper’s Yuletide” concert there this coming Sunday, December 16 at 4 pm. This is a special celebration concert indeed, and because of that I must take this time to bring you some sad news.

Chris has been ill this last year, but did not have medical coverage, and so was not diagnosed with inoperable stage four liver cancer until September. Then there was time taken to decide on treatment formats as the recommended chemotherapy would have taken his hands and paralyzed them. He could not chose that. So now he and his wife, Roxanne, have chosen some treatments from both Eastern and Western modes of medicine. The pain he was suffering is now handled by appropriate pain medications and he has been playing a few small concerts mostly in the East Bay for small groups of friends.

The news of this illness has been slow to spread as people are naturally hoping for a miracle. But now the word is out.

There are several benefits being planned – one at the Dickens Faire on Saturday, Dec 22 from 7:30 to 10 pm. Go to Eventbrite and look up “Farewell to the House,” a benefit for Chris Caswell. It’s possible to reserve a ticket and/or to make a donation from that site. As you can imagine, this illness which prevents him from working his usual full schedule at the harp shop has plunged the family into a financial crisis.

There is another benefit planned by Danny Carnahan which will be Feb 4, 2013, at the Freight and Salvage, details to be announced soon. Chris, ever the optimist, hopes to be playing a little at these benefits.

However, the diagnosis was made quite late. I have to speak frankly. There is no real way to know the window of his vitality.

This weekend, Sunday, Dec 16, Chris is scheduled to play a concert “A Harper’s Yuletide” at the OCA in Occidental from 4-6 pm. This will most likely be the last concert he will perform in Sonoma County. I have made no further bookings for Chris anywhere for 2013, (althought I still hope for a miracle). I am hoping to help organize a benefit for the family in early 2013, perhaps in March or April here in Sonoma County.

As his assistant and booking helper, I think this means that his 40 year stage career is to all intents and purposes, very near the end. Chris tells me his playing has not been touched yet, and he is looking forward to this concert, not really conceding the above, but to be safe, I want everyone who wants to hear Chris in this life to come on over to Occidental and hear him now.

I think that you may be in touch with many of Chris’ old friends and/or fans, and if so, I hope you will let them know what is happening so that they will not later wonder why they didn’t know or have a chance to step up with help and concern. Many would probably not only want to attend the last concert, but would like to make a donation. I am especially interested in raising money to get him to the recording studio to lay down some tracks of the very great music he has developed since the “Holy Wood” CD. His music is his legacy to the music world and should be preserved. Only 2,000 stands between us and these recording session at Skyline in Oakland, his choice of studios. But that project is for another day.

So, please forward this to your music loving people. We’d like to have a full house for this very special concert next Sunday. I would not like to say this is a “goodbye” concert, but in fact, that is what it may have become.
Here is a verse from Chris’ song, “Farewell to the House” written in 1983.

When I’m weary with road, behind and before me,
When old friends are gone, and young love had died,
May fate and its fortune return and reclaim me
At evening and lay me to bed.

May we find home, home, wherever we roam
Though night and storm lay between us,
Home, home, the morning will come,
With friends to renew us again.

Love and blessing, Bev Riverwood
Assistant to Chris Caswell

[robin-mills]

I ordered a Sweetharp w/full set of levers and pick up, and paid for it in full, the summer 2011. I have yet to find Chris less than straightforward about his circumstances with production and/or health issues, and feel no need to contact BBB or the California Attorney General. I cannot imagine being in his shoes, dealing with a backlog of work along with a painful, inoperable, cancerous tumor or holding any of that against him.

Getting reorganized to surmount a backlog takes time and can even have new, unanticipated setbacks, especially in tandem with serious illness. That needed time is something there seems to be little patience for on this forum, as seen by the comparisons made by others who are self-employed.

I realize some replies to this post will include responses like, “I agree/disagree with what you said , and he still could/should have done things better/sooner.” If you are yourself a cancer survivor or have loved ones who are survivors, or you have lost loved ones to cancer, I encourage you to dig down to a deeper place of understanding for what is taking place here.

Currently on his web site is a message that he is no longer taking new orders. He is in the process of contacting his current clients to see whether they prefer a refund or to hang on. I know that to be true, because last week I received an email and follow up phone call from him regarding just that. There are now people in his shared workspace, completing harps. Fundraisers in the Bay Area are already happening for the purpose of refunds and health care. Also grants are being sought by foundations who take up these very causes. Clearly, forward steps are being taken.

If you live in or near the Bay Area/San Francisco and would like to spread the word, here is the next fundraiser:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4986516806/eivtefrnd

Those refunds and harps are still going to take time; because, given the circumstances, time is what is needed.

Consider gifting Chris some encouragement and well wishes during this holiday time. It won’t cost a penny extra.

[Author]

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