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Music News

Friends and Community Members Launch Fundraisers For Musicians Affected By L.A. Wildfires

Tim Darcy of the Canadian bands Cola and Ought, Zachary Cole Smith of the L.A. band DIIV, and pop duo Brijean are some of the many Los Angeles residents who have lost homes in the fires.

Firefighters watch the flames from the Palisades Fire burning a home during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Firefighters watch the flames from the Palisades Fire burning a home during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Apu Gomes/Getty Images

Friends and community are rallying to support musicians facing devastating losses in the Los Angeles wildfires.

Tim Darcy, of the Canadian rock groups Cola and Ought, lost his home in the Eaton Fire. A GoFundMe has been launched to support the musician and his partner Amy Fort.


"Amy and Tim are two of the kindest, most generous, talented, special, beautiful people. Let's come together and help them recover from this devastating event. We know they would do the same for us," states the GoFundMe.

Nearly 180,000 people are under evacuation in Los Angeles as fires rage in several neighbourhoods. Many musicians are sharing fundraisers for friends, collaborators and loved ones affected.

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Pop duo Brijean lost their home and music studio in the same Eaton Fire as Darcy. A GoFundMe is raising 70K for the couple. Fundraisers have also been set up to support rapper Anthony Obi, who releases music as Fat Tony, as well as Zachary Cole Smith of rock band DIIV, who lost his music gear with his home.

Musicians' advocacy group UMAW shared resources from Mutual Aid LA Network, with information about shelter, animal boarding and where to find free items.

MusiCares (which has pledged $1 million with the Recording Academy in aid for music professionals affected) is encouraging musicians affected by the fires to get in touch at musicaresrelief@musicares.org or 1-800-687-4227 for possible access to emergency funds.

The fires have also forced cancellation and postponement of major events including the Oscar nominations announcement. Find a full list here. Head here for a list of organizations providing relief for music industry workers.

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Kate Hammett-Vaughan
Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Kate Hammett-Vaughan

FYI

Obituaries: Canadian Jazz Singer Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Scottish-Canadian Folk Star Enoch Kent

This week we also acknowledge the passing of former Santana vocalist Alex Ligterwood and Jamaican ska pioneer Carlos Malcolm.

Kate Hammett-Vaughan, a Vancouver-based and Juno-nominated jazz vocalist, died on May 7, at age 69, after a long illness.

An obituary posted in the Vancouver Province reports that "Kathryn Andrea Vaughan was born in 1957 in Nova Scotia. She studied English at Acadia University where she started singing jazz. The Great American Songbook would be her passion and profession for the next 50 years."

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