By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — An all-star cast of actors and singers will tell the story of legendary R&B singer Donny Hathaway when they perform his hit songs during “The 988 Lifeline Charity Event Featuring: Heart & Soul – A Musical Tribute to the Life & Times of Donny Hathaway” set to take place at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Sept. 8.
The goal of the show, presented by Get Together Foundation in cooperation with Rock Cellar Productions, is to raise awareness of the nationwide suicide prevention hotline 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly an 800 number), and to raise funds to help increase the level of care and support for those potentially at risk of suicide and their families.
Kevin and Mare Wachs are the founders of Get Together Foundation, which believes every child deserves access to opportunities and resources necessary to thrive.
“The reason we’re doing this event is because no one knows about the 988 hotline,” Kevin Wachs said. “People don’t know that they can call that number instead of 911. When you call 988, you get a trained mental health professional. When you call 911, you get police officers. With 988 you get someone who is trained in that area. That’s really important.”
Wachs, whose foundation produces two events per year, said the goal of the event is to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and to raise funds for the organization that administers the number.
“The problem is they are underfunded coupled with the fact that no one knows about it,” said Wachs, drummer for the band, The Tribe. “We want people to come out so they can share the info, and so we can raise some money. All of the money raised goes to Didi Hirsch. They are the ones who administer the 988 services. We don’t keep any of the money. We volunteer our time to put on this event.”
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which operates 11 centers in Southern California, is a national leader in whole-person mental health crisis care and substance use services. The organization provides compassionate mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services to individuals and families, especially in communities where discrimination and injustice limit access.
According to its website, Didi Hirsch has served 158,291 persons through outpatient, residential, outreach and education, and 24/7 crisis line services. The organization works with children, teens, adults and seniors.
Wachs said they chose to pay tribute to Hathaway because he struggled with mental illness.
“He took his own life at the height of his career,” Wachs said. “He might be the most well-known pop singer, besides Kurt Cobain, to take their own life. Donny is an icon to so many people. Another reason why we chose to honor him is because we’re friends with his daughter, Donnita Hathaway, who will be in attendance.”
Hathaway, who died in 1979 at the age of 33, suffered from severe mental illness, which, allegedly, led to him committing suicide. A keyboardist, songwriter and soul singer, Hathaway, a Grammy Award-winner who often sang duets with Robert Flack (‘Where is the Love,” Back Together Again” and “The Closer I Get to You”), was known for the hits “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” “For All We Know,” “The Ghetto,” “Little Ghetto Boy,” “ This Christmas,” “A Song For You” and more.
The show, directed by Richard Cummings, Jr. (“Northern Exposure,” “Hollywood Shuffle,” “thirtysomething”), features R&B legend Freda Payne, Rob Morrow (“Billions,” “Quiz Show,” “Northern Exposure”), Alisan Porter (winner of “The Voice”), Andy Vargas (Santana), Terrell Edwards (East Bay Soul), Carly Smithson (“American Idol,” “We Are The Fallen”), Monica Calhoun (“The Best Man,” “The Players Club,” “Love and Basketball”), Jaidyn Triplett (iCarly), Joshua Triplett (“The Neighborhood”), Roberta Freeman (Guns n’ Roses, Pink Floyd), Van Hook (Phil Collins, Lyle Lovett), Ciamara Morales (Filipino singer), and Nia Padilla (Latin pop singer).
Cummings, a producer, director and former actor said he got involved in the event after his friend, Rob Morrow, with whom he co-starred in the show, “Northern Exposure,” called and asked if he would consider working on the event.
“I immediately said, ‘yes’,” Cummings said. “I said, ‘I’m in. What do you need me to do?’”
Turns out they needed a director.
“When we were looking for someone to direct, Rob Morrow suggested Richard Cummings,” Wachs sach. “It turns out he is exactly the guy we wanted and needed. He is a super-talented dude.”
“I was more than happy to direct this show,” Cummings said. “For me, the draw is mental health. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had stuff to deal with. Everybody needs to see this show. Everyone needs to learn about 988. I didn’t know anything about 988.”
He added: “Everyone needs to learn there are tools for those who feel they are in or going into a dark place. Hopefully after seeing the show, it touches you somehow. Hopefully it moves you in some direction, so you remember what the message is when you walk out of the theater. More people need to know about the available resources. Buy a ticket — save a life.”
The all-star band includes Leland Sklar (bass), Herman Matthews (drums), Sean Holt (percussion/saxophone/vocals), Tariqh Akoni (guitar), Steve Postell (guitar) and Kenneth Crouch (keyboard).
The Get Together Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 2001 by the Wachs. Their fundraising efforts have included numerous all-star concert events and telethons, raising money and awareness for various causes.
Foundation programs provide direct services to children and families in need, crisis relief, and more. The foundation has extended its reach by partnering with other like-minded organizations to provide a greater continuum of care for the community.
Recently, the foundation launched a music enrichment program for underprivileged youth, Together in Tune.
For information, visit www.gettogetherfoundation.org
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
