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!! NEWS !! (May 17, 2025)
A BIG THANK YOU to all who came out to Medina Entertainment Center on Sat. April 26 for the benefit/fundraiser for Pat Hayes of The Lamont Cranston Band. About 600+ people showed up to support him. The huge silent auction of about 140 items was tremendous and everything was bid on and sold except for 4-5 things. A pair of Front Row seats donated by Bonnie Raitt, along with other items donated by Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Famous Dave Anderson, and more. Pat Hayes even had 5 of his own paintings up for auction. What a variety of things; 3 guitars, lots of art and jewelry, Resort getaways, Golf packages, Festival and Concert tickets, etc. It was a big success, and it raised a nice chunk of money to help Pat along on his road to recovery. He's still on a long road to recovery. We will keep the GoFundMe up and running for anyone that may feel like offering a little more help along the way.
Mick Sterling did a great job as the emcee, and read some heartfelt words from Pat Hayes himself that he passed along to be read.
"I'm blown way and really humbled by all of the support from all of the people, the fans, and the musicians out there. I hope to work my way back onto the stage as soon as time allows. THANK YOU. THANK YOU."
Thanks to John Hammer at Blue Monday Monthly for the nice article and to Gary Eckhart for the great photos.
www.bluemondaymonthly.com
CBS News Minnesota:
Medina Entertainment Center holding benefit concert for Pat Hayes
** Please donate to help with Pat Hayes' Medical Bills and Expenses **
Go fund me.
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"Watch for a new link coming soon for RICO'S MUSIC MEMORABILIA & COLLECTIBLES ONLINE STORE."
From the rural hometown settings of Hamel, Minnesota and the river banks of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the blues influence surfaced as early as the mid 1960's for what was to become The Lamont Cranston Blues Band.
Pat (Lamont) Hayes (with his brother Larry) founded the band in 1969 and he hasn't stopped driving the renowned boogie blues train of the one and only Lamont Cranston Band. This Minneapolis based band has a rich history in the music scene, having recorded 14 albums and written and produced a number of hit songs including the chart topping 'Upper Mississippi Shakedown." The band is going strong and turning out new material all the time.
The Cranstons have shared bills with some of the biggest names in the industry including Muddy Waters, Luther Allison, Albert King, Albert Collins, Jimmy Rogers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Charles Brown, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Thackery, Junior Wells, Keb Mo, Jonny Lang, Robert Cray, Son Seals, Charlie Musselwhite, Earl King, Mighty Joe Young, Sugar Blue, Otis Rush, Elvin Bishop, Little Feat, Delbert McClinton, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Percy Sledge, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, The Climax Blues Band, Tower Of Power, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Animals II, Kansas, Yes, Jeff Healy, Wilson Pickett, Bonnie Raitt, The Blues Brothers and many more. One of the biggest thrills was opening for The Rolling Stones on a leg of their North American tour in 1981. In 2010, the band was inducted in the Mid-America Music Hall Of Fame. Just another of many well-deserved honors the band has been blessed with.
Lamont Cranston has also received the numerous Critic’s Choice AND Reader’s Choice awards for “Best Twin Cities Blues Band” by City Pages.
The band has also been featured regularily on Dan Aykroyd’s House Of Blues Radio Show. In fact, Aykroyd (the original Blues Brother!) is quite fond of Cranston proclaiming, “No one infects venues with the party virus quite like Pat Hayes and The Lamont Cranston Blues Band. They’ve always been my favorite.”
Blues great Bonnie Raitt has also showed Cranston love saying, “It’s great to hear Lamont Cranston back on the scene. Pat Hayes plays some of the baddest harp and guitar around!"
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