Rock Royalty Reigns at Philanthro-Palooza for The Children’s Inn
Words by Dan Rozman
Photos by Mark Raker
In the spirit of its mission to “make childhood possible,” The Children’s Inn at NIH received an extra dose of joy before the annual Rock and Roll for Children benefit concert. On the Friday prior to the event, Inn residents were treated to a special performance by Roger Earl of Foghat, noted blues musician Chris Pati, and talented local attorney/musician Mike Nakamura.
As Liz Gouldman, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at The Inn, shared, “We were honored and delighted to have Roger Earl, Chris Pati, and Mike Nakamura at the Children’s Inn at NIH today performing for our families. Music has an incredible power to uplift spirits and bring joy, and I am thrilled we were able to provide this special opportunity for residents to come together and experience moments of respite and happiness during their time at the Inn.”
Roger Earl, the passionate drummer for Foghat, echoed the sentiment, “With music, it’s a passion. You don’t get really good unless you practice, practice, practice and more importantly, you have passion, you have a love for doing something.” Earl went on to say that that applies to everything you do and expressed his appreciation for all of the doctors, nurses, and staff who take care of the kids and their families at the Children’s Inn at NIH.
The following evening on March 9, that same musical spirit united rock legends and passionate philanthropists for an unforgettable philanthro-palooza at the Fillmore Silver Spring. Presented by the nonprofit Rock and Roll for Children (RRFC) Foundation, the annual benefit concert raises vital funds and awareness for The Children’s Inn.
Headlining were blues-rock icons Foghat, led by the very Earl whose passion and sincerity were evident at the Children’s Inn families just the day before. Foghat has an impressive eight gold albums, plus platinum and double platinum sales milestones, their music has captivated generations of fans.
Founding drummer Roger Earl shares Foghat’s enthusiasm for this special event, “We have been wanting to do something like this to help children and their families for a long time.” The band has been touched by childhood illness so,” this is something the band really cares about.”
When talking about his introduction to music Earl said, “I grew up in southwest London. And most of my musical heroes were American bands playing American music. So when I first came here in 1969 it felt like coming home. America has given music to the world.” Foghat electrified the Fillmore crowd with anthems like “Slow Ride,” “Fool for the City,” and tracks from their recent No. 1 Billboard blues album, Sonic Mojo. Earl even auctioned off his authentic Ludwig drum kit used on Foghat’s 1994 album, a priceless piece of memorabilia.
Stream Sonic Mojo by Foghat on Spotify:
But the star power didn’t stop there. Opening for Foghat was Tusk, hailed as the world’s premier Fleetwood Mac tribute. Local favorites Mojo Sun and esteemed saxophonist Ron Holloway also entertained attendees. In special collaborative performances, celebrated “Beehive Queen” vocalist Christine Ohlman joined Foghat and Mojo Sun on stage.
The philanthro-palooza extended to an impressive charity auction giving fans a chance to win autographed guitars from music icons like The Eagles, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and even two signed Taylor Swift guitars.
Since its inception in 2004, the RRFC’s signature annual concert has raised about $1 million for children and families battling significant health issues, with over $500,000 directly benefiting The Children’s Inn’s mission of providing a free “home away from home” for seriously ill children receiving treatment at the National Institutes of Health.
As RRFC founder and co-chair Jon Belinkie stated, “The Children’s Inn at NIH is truly one of the most special places.” The philanthro-palooza vividly demonstrated the music community’s power to rally together, allowing kids facing life-threatening illnesses the chance to simply be kids.
Earl, who has been drumming since childhood, shared “There was always music in our house. Like my mother and father, I can play the piano but drums are my passion. I was always bagging and kicking stuff all my life. would play knives and forks were the favorite sort of instrument at the beginning. I played on china and mum would say ‘doing that you’re gonna break the plate’, and I’d play on the table, lampshade would make a really good cymbal.” To this day Earl still carries drumsticks with him and will find surfaces on which to play.
The electric performances, incredible auction prizes, and philanthropic atmosphere celebrated music’s healing capacity while generating crucial funds for The Inn’s invaluable work. “I’m having the time of my life. I play in a great Blues Rock and Roll band. Our current album, Sonic Mojo has been in the Billboard Top 10 for a blues record. It is our first number-one album,” Earl exclaimed with joy.
This unforgettable night undoubtedly rocked while warming the hearts of all in attendance. As Earl so passionately stated, “Having such a broad spectrum of folks coming to see us play and to help the cause, that’s what makes it really worthwhile.”
RRFC’s sole fundraising beneficiary is The Children’s Inn at the NIH. Families travel from around the world to the NIH when conventional treatments fail to adequately help their child’s illness. The Inn gives them a free place to stay together during treatment. For kids, it’s a respite from being patients — a place to play and enjoy their families after long days of medical procedures.
Certain aspects of the research and/or drafting for this piece may have employed AI.
Here are some photos of Roger Earl’s visit to The Children’s Inn at NIH. All pictures by Mark Raker. Keep scrolling for pictures of the concert!
And here are some photos of the Rock and Roll for Children benefit concert headlined by Foghat at The Fillmore Silver Spring on March 9, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Mark Raker.
