Benefit Concert to Honor Taj Mahal

- The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund was founded in 1994 by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and struggled with medical bills. - The fund provides financial assistance to career musicians and music industry workers for medical and living expenses when they are facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. - Honoree Taj Mahal, born Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr., is a five-time Grammy Award winner known for blending blues with non-traditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, and the South Pacific. - Over his career of more than 50 years, Taj Mahal has released dozens of albums and has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and the Pointer Sisters. - The concert venue, The Masonic, is a mid-century modern structure that opened in 1958 and serves as a meeting place for the Masons of California as well as a public concert hall. - Previous benefit concerts for Sweet Relief have featured a wide array of artists, including Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, and a tribute to Ramblin' Jack Elliott that also took place at The Masonic. - In addition to grants for individuals, Sweet Relief manages designated artist funds to help specific musicians facing overwhelming medical expenses. - The organization has a history of responding to widespread crises, such as creating a COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide emergency aid to music professionals affected by the pandemic.