Coda fund reflects
well on KC

Source:
KCS
Friday, November 28, 2003
Edition: MID-AMERICA,
Section: METROPOLITAN, Page B1
Byline: STEVE PENN

The enthusiastic support for the Coda Jazz Foundation is proof that Kansas Citians clearly cherish their jazz musicians.

Since the fund began in 2001, there has been an eagerness and a willingness to show that affinity financially.

And why not? The Coda Jazz Fund is a noble cause. The fund pays costs associated with the funeral and burial expenses of indigent local jazz musicians.

The 2nd annual Coda Jazz Fund Benefit Concert held this past May at the Gem Theater was a huge success. Contributions and proceeds from the sell-out event put the total of the fund at $65,000. The goal is $100,000.

Planning is under way for a third concert next spring.

During the event last year, the crowd placed money in a "kitty."

Jan Durrett, the widow of bandleader Warren Durrett, placed a $5,000 IOU in the jar.

A few months later, Durrett sent a check for $5,000, a final pension payment that had come from a musicians' union where her husband was a member.

" Warren would definitely have approved of the contribution," said Durrett.

" Warren helped musicians who were stricken. When he saw a musician having a problem, he'd help. He thought all musicians should do that."

And then there was Sophie Unterman, who pledged a percentage of her bat mitzvah money to the fund .

Like Durrett, Sophie also made good on her promise, sending the fund $200 after her special day was held.

"I hope this money can help a family cover a jazz artist's burial or tombstone," Sophie wrote. "I hope jazz in KC still stays strong. You're a great organization."

It certainly will help.

And let me tell you whom it will comfort.

Families like that of Lawrence Wright Jr., a bandleader who died November 13 at age 76.

He had played jazz and blues here for 50 years, starting out with Claude "Fiddler" Williams in 1958.

From 1963 until 1988, Wright headlined his own group, Lawrence Wright and the Starlighters. His last group was known as Lawrence Wright and the Outlets. He recorded several CDs, one titled "Hot And Spicy."

"He wasn't just a pretty good performer," said Debra Hollis, his daughter. "He was an outstanding performer. He gave it his all."

When Wright died, his assets amounted to just more than $200.

Last week his daughter feverishly tried to raise enough money to pay for Wright's funeral and burial.

Fortunately, someone told her about the Coda Jazz Fund . She called, applied and received $2,000 toward the cost of the services.

Hollis advises musicians to become better-prepared for the inevitable.

"If they don't have an insurance policy, they need to get one and keep it," she said. "It's too much of a burden on a family to try to scrape up all that money. It's something the musicians just aren't thinking about, and neither are their families."

Hollis is grateful for the assistance provided by the Coda Jazz Fund . Since the fund was created, Coda has helped to bury and place gravestones for a dozen musicians like Lawrence Wright.

This winter, markers will be placed for a half-dozen more musicians who were buried anonymously years ago.

"Thank God for the organization," Hollis said. "I really appreciate it."

If you'd like to contribute to the Coda Jazz Fund , send contributions to P.O. Box 412116 , Kansas City , MO 64141-2116 .

To reach Steve Penn, call (816) 234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com