Brian Courage

Presented by BlueStem Jazz and Audio for the Arts.

A message from BlueStem Jazz:

Help Mars Williams beat cancer:

Mars Williams is a beloved member of the creative music community whose influence radiates outward from his home in Chicago to every corner of the globe. As a grammy-nominated saxophonist, composer, and bandleader he’s fronted too many ensembles to count, ranging from his long standing working band Liquid Soul, Witches and Devils, NRG Ensemble, Extraordinary Popular Delusions, An Ayler Xmas, XmarsX, and Boneshaker. In the rock world, he's legendary for his decades of recording and touring with The Psychedelic Furs, as well as stints with The Waitresses, Ministry, Power Station, Billy Idol, Die Warzau, Jerry Garcia, Billy Squire, and countless others.

At the end of last December, Mars was diagnosed with a rare cancer known as ampullary cancer, in which a tumor develops near the bile duct and pancreas. He underwent major surgery in January, followed by a three-week hospital stay to recuperate. And in March he began a six-month course of chemotherapy. Despite these challenges, his attitude is totally upbeat, and he’s tackling this like everything else in his life – head on. But he needs our support to make it through.

Extensive medical bills, high drug costs, and at least 9-months of being unable to work are all taking a severe toll. While he does have insurance, that only covers a portion of the monumental expenses. And like most lifelong working musicians, he doesn’t have the savings to see himself through a crisis of this magnitude.

Please give generously to help show your love and support for someone whose years of fearlessness and fire have given inspiration to so many friends, fans, and admirers. Take one major concern off the list for him, as he works hard to get back onstage where he belongs.

AND DON’T FORGET TO SHARE THIS GOFUNDME AS WIDELY AS YOU CAN! PLEASE POST TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, EMAIL LISTS, ETC. People around the world know Mars Williams through so many different contexts, let’s try to reach as many of them as we can to make this mutual aid effort successful.

gofundme.com/marswilliams

[Dave Rempis is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Mars Williams]